A/N: I'll say hey now cause I have a sinking feeling that you may be angry at me by the end of this chapter :) I adore you all and I'm so grateful to everyone reading this.
Disclaimer: I don't own Pitch Perfect or Girls like Girls or Should've Been us. Make sure to listen to both songs if you don't already know them.
"How's this?" Chloe asked, spinning in a slow circle to give Stacie the full effect of the cocktail dress.
"Best one yet," Stacie replied, not even looking up from her place on Chloe's bed painting her nails.
"Stace you didn't even look," Chloe pouted with her hands on her hips.
Stacie sighed and dropped her head forwards. "This is the fifteenth one Chlo. Why did you even bring so many clothes with you?"
"For this reason! None of them are right!"
"Did you ever consider that if you had packed fewer clothes then you would have less to choose from and we wouldn't be spending 2 hours in your room on a beautiful Saturday morning?"
Chloe sighed and dropped down onto her bed beside Stacie. "I'm sorry I'm ruining your day Stace. I just really want to look stunning today."
"In front of a bunch of fourteen year old boys?" Stacie questioned.
"No!" Chloe gasped, swapping Stacie and almost spilling the open polish. "I'm performing. I always like to look my best," she tried to cover.
"When did we start counting you plus a guitar at a barbeque as performing?" Stacie teased.
"Well you just help me?" Chloe groaned, returning to her wardrobe and pulling out yet another dress.
"Admit you want to look pretty for Beca and I will help," Stacie offered.
"It's not for Beca."
"Fine," Stacie shrugged, returning her attention to her nails.
"Oh my gosh, fine! I'd like Beca to see my dressed up for once."
"Why? I thought you two were 'just friends'?"
"We are! It's just… Sometimes she just gets this look, like I'm the most beautiful person in the world. I love it." Chloe blushed, thinking of the slightly glazed over looks Beca sometimes gave her.
Stacie frowned and slid off the bed. "That can also be pretty dangerous Chloe."
"Why?"
"Because Chloe, there may come a day when you are ready for a relationship and on that day you may realise that it was Beca you were looking for your whole life and when you realise this you might find it's too late because you let her put you on a pedestal where she thinks you are perfect and unattainable."
Chloe blinked.
Stacie smiled and lightly held Chloe's hand in one of her own. "I have experience with people that have a Chloe pedestal and I don't want to see you get hurt when you don't mean to do it."
Chloe searched Stacie's eyes for answers. "Is that what happened?" Chloe asked softly.
Stacie's smile dropped slightly, growing sad. "She never told you why we broke up?"
"Never. She said you ended things and that was it. I barely knew you back then. I actually thought you hated me right up until you took me shopping a week after the break up." Chloe returned Stacie's sad smile, squeezing the brunette's hand.
"I did hate you. I was crazy about Bree but all she could talk about was you. I blamed you for that but once we got close I realised that you were just oblivious," Stacie shrugged self-deprecatingly.
Chloe bit her lip. "I'm sorry Stace. She has never said anything to me. Do you still like her?"
"I still love her."
"Then why don't you tell her?"
"What if I do but I'm still just her second choice. You might not have feelings but she may."
"It's been years Stace, I'm sure she would have said something to me by now if she still had feelings."
Stacie shrugged and shook her head slightly. "This isn't about me. This is about you and what you will wear today." Stacie dug through Chloe's wardrobe before pulling out a blue dress from the bottom. "Hmm?"
Chloe nodded eagerly.
"Argh!" Beca groaned, ripping her shirt off a throwing it across the room before pulling another on. "No!" she yelled again as she pulled off another shirt.
"Wow," Jesse gasped as he entered the room. "When did you become a totally girl?"
Beca glared at him. "Shut up and help or get out."
"I'd love to be your queer eye. What look are you going for? Fuck me or marry me?"
"Perv! It's a fourteen year old birthday party!" Beca gasped.
"I'm sorry, I thought the frantic changing of clothes was for Chloe not some kid."
Beca glared at her friend as she pulled on another shirt. "How's this?"
Jesse scrunched his nose and shook his head. "Do you own anything that isn't… black?"
Beca looked down and around her room finding a plaid shirt and pulling it free, holding it up for examination.
"OK. Anything that isn't black or plaid?"
Beca shook her head hopelessly.
Jesse tapped his chin for a moment before he lit up and ran from the room. "I have an idea, grab those high waiste skinny jeans and a plain black button-up!" he yelled over his shoulder.
Beca just shrugged and quickly grabbed the items. She slipped into the bathroom to change and found Jesse back in her room when she finished. "This was your bid idea?" Beca frowned as she looked down at herself.
Jesse gave Beca a stern look. "Can you manage nothing? Tuck your shirt in."
Beca quickly tucked it in, smiling slightly as she noticed the way the pants made it look like she actually had a good figure. "Oh. Thanks Jess."
"There's more!" With a flourish Jesse pulled out a red vest. "It's too small for me but I kept it anyway."
Beca quickly pulled it on and buttoned it. It was still a little loose so Jesse pulled at the back to tighten it.
"Tada!" He said as he stepped back. "Styling."
"Thanks queer eye," Beca joked, her trademark smirk back in place now that her problem was sorted. "You ready to go?"
"Yep. Amy meeting us there?"
Beca nodded and headed out of the door towards Josh's party and Chloe.
Beca parked out the front of her mother's house, noting a few other cars already parked there. She didn't recognise any as Chloe's rental but Stacie or Aubrey may have driven instead. Beca and Jesse walked round the back of the house to the yard where it was all decked out in music themed decorations. There were various tables set up and enough chairs for at least fifty people. Each table had a centrepiece of black music note helium balloons; the same balloons were all over the fence. There were a few longer tables set up with various snacks, finger food and soft drinks. Beca was impressed; it was definitely the best party she'd ever seen her mum through. The best part, though, was the area of the porch that had been set up like a stage. It was covered in black with a keyboard, guitar, portable sound system and microphone already set up. Fairy lights surrounded the stage and reached over most of the yard. It would look stunning when the sun faded. Beca found her mum standing by the food tables, setting up decorated cupcakes as she spoke with a few of her work friends that she'd obviously invited.
"Hey kids," Grace spoke when she saw the two approach.
"Hey Ma," Beca greeted, letting her mum pull her into a quick hug.
"Hello Grace," Jesse smiled as he received his own hug.
Grace pulled away from Jesse and noticed her daughter looking around the yard quickly before staring at the house. Grace chuckled. "I asked Chloe to go grab me some ice. The poor girl has been here for hours helping me with everything."
Beca's eyes bugged. "Ma! Why didn't you call me if you needed help? Chloe shouldn't have to do that!"
Grace waved Beca away, "She offered and she makes it very hard to say no. I'm sure she'll be back soon- oh there she is! Chloe dear, can you bring the ice over here?"
Beca turned and gasped. Chloe was dressed in a simple blue-stripped sleeveless dress that pulled in at the waist and flowed down to just above her knees. Beca could see how bright it made her eyes even from the other side of the yard. Beca snapped out of her drooling when she noticed Chloe struggling with the three bags of ice she was carrying. Beca quickly scuttled to her side and grabbed the two biggest. She was rewarded with a classic Chloe smile.
"Thanks Bec."
"No, thank you. You didn't need to help with all this."
Chloe shrugged. "I needed to set up the stage anyway, the rest was just fun." Chloe leaned close to Beca's ear while they were still walking. "I may have sucked helium for the first time."
Beca choked on a laugh in her surprise, shaking off the shivers Chloe's breath on her face created. "How'd it sound?"
"I make a great chipmunk."
"I'm sure you do." Beca dropped the ice beside the table, indicating for Chloe to do the same, before leaving them for her mother to deal with as she grabbed Chloe's hand and pulled her inside. Once they were there she pulled Chloe into a hug, now the second she'd initiated and both for Chloe.
Chloe gasped slightly at the action but quickly returned it warmly. "What's this for?" She asked against Beca's neck.
"For being you."
"Oh well in that case, you're welcome."
Beca laughed and pulled back, missing Chloe's touch immediately. "What songs are you gonna do?"
Chloe pulled a sheet out of her bra and handed it to Beca who opened it with a raised brow.
"Grace said these are Josh's favourite songs. There's a tonne of Paramore on there. I'm going to add my own stuff in between though, maybe some stuff from my musicals."
Beca nodded. "Any of your new stuff."
"I don't have the backing tracks."
Beca smirked and held up her phone, "I have the first four on here."
"You carry around my tracks on your phone?" Chloe teased. "What a good little stalker."
Beca rolled her eyes and pulled Chloe back outside before her mother or Jesse could yell at her for being anti-social. The yard had filled up slightly while they were gone so now there were fourteen year old and some parents milling around in groups everywhere. "Where's Josh?" Beca asked, only just not noticing the birthday boy was missing.
"He stayed at a friend's place last night so we could set up. He doesn't know that I'm going to be here."
Beca smirked. "I can't wait to see his reaction, please make sure I'm there."
Chloe wrapped an arm around Beca's waist. "You'll just need to stick by my for the night."
"The horror," Beca teased as she wrapped her own arm behind Chloe.
"I wish my parties looked like this," Stacie said as she walked up to Beca and Chloe with Aubrey. "Grace has done a good job."
Aubrey rolled her eyes. "I bet the free labour helped."
"Aubrey," Chloe chastised. "Nice, remember? You promised."
Aubrey eyed the physical connection between Chloe and Beca. "So did you."
Chloe sheepishly withdrew her arm from Beca missing the other girl's frown at the loss of contact.
"Where's the birthday boy?" Stacie asked. "I have quite the present to give him."
"He's not here yet," Beca answered. "But there's a table over there that looks like it's for presents."
"It's not really something I can put on a table," Stacie winked.
Beca blinked and turned to Chloe. "Did your friend just joke about doing something sexual with my baby brother?"
Chloe bit her lip and shrugged. "I told Aubrey to be on her best behaviour but I forgot to give Stacie the same talk."
"Do your friends always need you to explain social situations to them before they go out anywhere?" Beca joked.
"Like you can talk pipsqueak," Aubrey cut in not liking the banter between the two.
"Why short jokes?" Beca asked glancing at Aubrey while still facing Chloe. "It's like the one thing about myself that I had nothing to do with."
"I'm sorry, did you want to talk about your ear monstrosities or the obvious toner you have for my best friend?" Aubrey snapped as she took a step and glared down at Beca.
"My what?" Beca asked, recognising the word from Ellen but not knowing what it meant.
"Toner. Musical boner," Aubrey said as if it was obvious.
"Yeah… that's not a thing and why do you even care?"
"Cause she is my best friend and I don't need you breaking her heart."
"Yeah well maybe-"
"And scene," Stacie cut in, stepping between the two. "Kid birthday party, remember? We're all friends here so let's act like it. Kapeesh?"
"Fine," Aubrey spat, still glaring at Beca.
"Yeah, fine," Beca returned glaring straight back.
"Oh look! Josh is here!" Chloe chirped, glad for the interruption, as she grabbed Beca's hand and dragged her towards the table Josh and Grace were standing at.
"Ma! This is great! Did you do this all by yourself?" Josh asked, the awe in his voice obvious as he looked around. This was definitely not the small barbeque he'd been expecting.
"I had help," Grace smirked as she saw Chloe approaching behind Josh.
"By who?" Josh asked as he looked around once more.
"Your entertainment," Grace hinted.
"You got me entertainment?" Josh's eyes bulged and he jumped slightly. "Who?"
Grace pointed over Josh's shoulder and he spun quickly coming face to face with a smiling Chloe Beale.
"Happy birthday Josh." Chloe leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Josh's cheek and pulled him into a quick hug. She laughed as she pulled back and saw Josh's mouth hanging open and his eyes glazed over.
Beca reached forward and snapped his mouth closed with a smirk on her face. Chloe had just made that kid's life.
"Ch-chloe B-beale," Josh finally got out. "Ma, Chloe Beale is at my birthday party," Josh repeated, obviously in shock.
"No, Chloe Beale is singing at your birthday party," Grace corrected.
"Speaking of," Chloe said glancing over her shoulder at the makeshift stage. "I should get to it now that the birthday boy is here." Chloe sent Josh a wink and skipped towards the stage, leaving the Mitchell clan to stare after her, Josh in shook, Grace in appreciation and Beca in… love.
"Hello people of Josh Mitchell's birthday party!" Chloe greeted through the microphone drawing the attention of everyone. "My name's Chloe and I will be playing for the next few hours. I'm open to requests as long as I know it."
"That's Chloe Beale!" Yelled a girl from the crowd somewhere.
Chloe squinted but couldn't quite make out who it was in the fading sun. "Yes I'm Chloe Beale. Josh is a really good friend of mine so make sure you wish him a great birthday, OK? I'm going to kick things off with Josh's favourite song. Josh, you're a great kid, happy birthday."
Chloe quickly plugged her phone into the sound system and set the backing track to play while she attached the microphone to the keyboard and began to play.
Stealing kisses from your misses, doesn't make you freak out
Got you fussing, got you worried, scared to let your guard down
Boys, boys
Tell the neighbors I'm not sorry if I'm breaking walls down
Building your girl's second story, ripping all your floors out
Beca felt her heart pound as she recognized the song Chloe was singing. She was sure it was beating so hard that Chloe could hear it half a yard away and over the sounds of cheering coming from josh and his friends.
Saw your face, heard your name, gotta get with you
Girls like girls like boys do, nothing new
Isn't this why we came? Gotta get with you
Girls like girls like boys do, nothing new
Girls like girls like boys do, nothing new
Always gonna steal your thunder, watch me like a dark cloud
On the move collecting numbers, Imma take your girl out
Chloe sang adding a breathy quality to her voice to imitate the intimacy and sexiness of the song.
We will be everything that we'd ever need
Don't tell me, tell me what I feel
I'm real and I don't feel like boys
I'm real and I don't feel like boys
Saw your face, heard your name, gotta get with you
Girls like girls like boys do, nothing new
Chloe found Josh in the crowd and sent him an exaggerated wink, smiling into the song when he blushed.
Isn't this why we came? Gotta get with you
Girls like girls like boys do, nothing new
Girls like girls like boys do, nothing new
I've been crossing all the lines, all the lines
Kissed your girls and made you cry, boys
Chloe stopped playing the keyboard and grabbed the microphone with both hands, singing the last chorus in almost a whisper.
Saw your face, heard your name, gotta get with you
Girls like girls like boys do, nothing new
Isn't this why we came? Tell me if you feel it too!
Tell me, girls like girls like boys do, nothing new
Girls like girls like boys do, nothing new
The crowd let out an ear-bursting scream as Chloe finished and the music faded out which made Chloe laugh. "Thank guys! But remember, we have neighbors and we don't want the cops coming 'round, OK?"
Chloe was met by another cheer before deciding to just move on to the next song.
Two hours later and Chloe was exhausted. It had been a long week and the studio and she was giving her all for this impromptu concert. The requests were coming hard and fast and she hadn't even had a break to say hi to Jesse and Fat Amy. She finally saw Grace waving at her that the cake was ready and gave a sigh of relief.
"OK guys, I hope you've had a good time cause we're gonna take a break for cake before I sing one more song."
Chloe was met with 'nawws' as she stepped down from the porch and towards Grace. "Thank you god," Chloe breathed as she took the water Grace offered her. "My throat is killing me. I can do two Broadway shows a day for months but I can't do two hours of singing, it's weird," Chloe chuckled, rubbing her throat.
"I really appreciate this Chloe. So does Josh. He has been on the moon all night."
"Good, I'm glad."
Grace turned back to the cake, quickly lighting the sparklers and candles. The guests crowded around the table and Josh pushed to the front, standing in front of his cake with a large smile and shining eyes.
"1, 2, 3," Grace counted as everyone began to sing happy birthday, even Chloe though her throat protested as it burned painfully.
"You OK?" Beca asked as she handed Chloe a piece of cake. She'd noticed Chloe rubbing her throat and was worried that the redhead was in pain.
"Yeah I'm fine," Chloe lied, sending Beca her best smile and digging into the cake.
The two ate in a comfortable silence until Chloe spied Aubrey entering the house by herself. Stacie's words had been plaguing her all day and she really wanted the chance to speak to the blonde and get some answers. "I'll be back soon Bec, toilet break," Chloe explained before heading into the house after Aubrey.
Chloe found Aubrey sitting on the couch and quickly sunk down next to her, sighing at the relief of being off her feet.
"You OK Chlo?" Aubrey asked with the sympathy she reserved only for her best friend.
Chloe sent Aubrey a tired smile. "Sleepy and exhausted but it's almost bedtime."
"I hope she appreciates this."
"HE does," Chloe returned.
Aubrey rolled her eyes.
Chloe was silent for a moment as she thought over her words. "Bree can I ask you something?"
"Is it about the ball of attitude and sarcasm?"
"No."
"Ask away."
"Why did you and Stacie break up?"
Aubrey sat up straight and turned a shocked face towards her best friend. "It's been years Chloe, why are you bringing it up now?"
Chloe's eyes darted over Aubrey's face trying to read what emotion she was feeling behind the shock. "Because I liked you two together, even more now that she's become my best friend and you never told me why. And… she mentioned something this morning so I'm giving you the chance to tell me yourself."
Aubrey blinked and clenched her jaw, her face paling slightly. "How much did she tell you?"
Chloe remained silent. It was time for Aubrey to speak.
Aubrey sighed and looked at her hands, not being able to face Chloe as she shared this secret. "Stacie believed that I had feelings for you."
"Was she right?" Chloe pushed when she realized Aubrey wouldn't keep talking.
"She was." Aubrey voice was so small that Chloe felt her heart breaking.
"Was? Past tense?"
Aubrey slowly forced her eyes to Chloe's. "Was."
Chloe let out a sigh of relief. "Why didn't you ever tell me?"
"I knew I'd be a horrible match for you. You were this ball of endless sunshine and I was stress and anxiety. I was constantly snapping at you and treating you horribly but you kept coming back."
"You're my best friend."
"Yes but that's no excuse for how I treated you. It was bad enough I was doing that to my best friend, I couldn't imagine doing that to a girlfriend and… I needed you to be my best friend more than I needed you to be my girlfriend."
Chloe nodded. "Yeah. I love you as a best friend but you are much too high maintenance for me."
Aubrey scoffed. "Yes because Beca is so easy."
Chloe laughed and grabbed Aubrey hand in her own. "This isn't about Beca. Now, if you're finally over your silly little crush on me, why don't you tell Stacie and see if you can give it another try?"
"Because it wasn't a silly little crush. I was in love with you Chlo."
Chloe's eyes softened and she squeezed Aubrey's hand. "But now you love Stace. I can see it Bree. She calms you down and calls you out when you're a total bitch. You are the best you around her."
"She just thinks she's second choice," Aubrey shook her head.
"So? Prove that she isn't. Work for her, speak with your actions and your words. Do something. I want to see you happy Bree."
Aubrey smiled. "OK. I'll try."
"Good. Now. Are we OK? You're not gonna try to jump me if I sway my hips a little as I walk out?" Chloe joked as she pulled Aubrey up with her.
"Don't tease because I just may," Aubrey joked back.
Chloe smiled again and leaned towards her lifelong best friend, pressing a soft and sweet kiss to her lips. "See? Best friends."
Aubrey smiled back. She hadn't felt anything, no sparks, no crackles, no chemistry. "Best friends," she agreed.
Neither woman saw the brunette standing at the door whose heart broke as she saw the two kiss.
Chloe gulped some more water to appease her throat as she stepped back up to the microphone after her break. "Hey guys!" she spoke brightly. "So I have one more song for you tonight. This is actually one of my new songs from my upcoming album produced by the one and only Beca Mitchell." Chloe began to clap and cheer as the crowd joined her politely. "You guys are the first people outside of the studio to hear this so consider yourself both lucky and sworn to secrecy." There was a round of laughs before Chloe continued. "Bec do you mind setting up the music?" Chloe asked frowning into the backyard and struggling to see the brunette. Chloe frowned as she saw Jesse, not Beca, approaching the stage waving Beca's phone.
"Or Jesse Swanson, thanks Jesse," Chloe joked into the microphone, stamping down the strange feeling caused by Beca's absence. Jesse quickly set up the music and gave the thumbs up to Chloe who nodded for him to press play.
Walking round with my head down
But I can't hide with these high heels on
Downtown in a thick crowd
But it's just you that my mind is on
Dressed up, got my heart messed up
You got yours and I got mine
It's unfair that I still care
And I wonder where you are tonight
Thinking it could be different
But maybe we missed it yea
Thinking it could be different
It could, it could
This song had been written soon after the breakup when Chloe had found out that Tom had a new girlfriend. She'd gone out and had her first and only one night stand. It had felt wrong and dirty and she had truly missed him for the first time.
It should've been us
Shoulda been a fire, shoulda been the perfect storm
It should've been us
Coulda been the real thing, now we'll never know for sure, ooh
We were crazy, but amazing, baby we both know
It should've been us, us
It, it, it should've been us
Back and forth like a tug of war
What's it all for, do I want it back
I still got a little flame for ya
Even though you drove me mad
Now and then, I pretend
That it's you when I close my eyes
You got yours, I got mine
But I wonder where you are tonight
Chloe found Aubrey's eye in the crowd and the song suddenly changed meaning for her. What is Aubrey had told her about her feelings? Would they be together now? Chloe watched as Aubrey turned her head to smile at Stacie and felt something stir inside of her. She didn't notice the way Stacie frowned and moved away.
It should've been us
Shoulda been a fire, shoulda been the perfect storm
It should've been us
Coulda been the real thing, now we'll never know for sure, ooh
We were crazy, but amazing, baby we both know
It should've been us, us
It, it, it should've been us
Oh oh, oh oh
It should've been us, yeah
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh
It should've been us
It, it, it should've been us
Chloe's eyes roamed again and she found a father standing towards the back of the yard. His hair was messy and he had the look of a jock. Tom. Chloe's heart twisted. No. She was over him. They were done.
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh
Thinking it could be different
But maybe we missed it
Thinking it could be different
It could, it could
It should've been us
Shoulda been a fire, shoulda been the perfect storm
It should've been us
Coulda been the real thing, now we'll never know for sure, ooh
We were crazy, but amazing, baby we both know
It should've been us, us
It, it, it should've been us
Chloe ripped her eyes away from the man and they landed on Beca. She was standing by herself to the side of the crowd with her arms wrapped around her body. She looked small and vulnerable. Chloe's heart twisted again. Beca. If only Chloe had met Beca first and there had been no Tom then they would be together, she was sure of it. The feelings between the two were very real but they just couldn't at the moment but one look at the girl made her wish that if was her job to walk up to her and comfort her with whatever was wrong.
Oh oh, oh oh
It should've been us, yeah
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh
It should've been us
It, it, it should've been us
Oh oh, oh oh
It should've been us
Oh oh, oh oh
You know it should've been us
Oh oh, oh oh
It should've been us
It, it, it should've been us
Chloe's voice cracked on the last word. She tried to tell herself that it was just the emotion of the song but a voice in the back of her head told her she was wrong.
Chloe was too preoccupied with her throat that she left the party early, not even realizing that Stacie's and Beca's stormy eyes and desire for answers before she took off in her car.
A/N: Hey guys... we still cool? Too bad for you that Beca and Stacie are both brunettes. I hope to resolve this cliffhanger soon so I won't leave you guys hanging for too long. Peace.