"Knock knock." Beca sat up from her reclined position on the bed to find Chloe leaning in the doorway of her room. "Hey," the redheaded greeted.
"Hey," Beca replied, "I wasn't aware I got visitation rights. Does Aubrey know you're here?"
"I guess I deserve that," Chloe stated, making her way into the room, kicking the door shut behind her, "May I?" She gestured to the foot of the bed.
"Knock yourself out," Beca replied.
"Look," Chloe began, once she was situated by Beca's feet, "I'm sorry about last night."
"What about it? You made yourself perfectly clear," Beca retorted.
"Why are you being like this?" Chloe questioned.
"Why are you sending mixed signals?" Be fired back, "One minute you're flirting. The next you're blaming me for Jessica. Now you want to apologize for it? What's the deal Red?"
"What you did downstairs surprised me," Chloe answered, "You come off as so…"
"Collected? Confident? Self assured?" Beca interrupted.
"Self centered," Chloe corrected.
"That's a common misconception," Beca replied.
"Set me straight Beca," Chloe requested, "You're the one sending mixed signals here. One second you're an insufferable jerk and then you're_."
"Unbearably charming?" Beca interrupted again.
"Here we go again," Chloe complained, "The chivalry I saw downstairs is already dead."
"You're not being fair, Chloe," Beca argued, "You tell me to stop flirting but you're mad when I do."
"I'm not mad I'm just_," Chloe began. She paused to take in a deep breath. She looked so unsure. Beca knew whatever came out of Chloe's mouth next was going to be the honest truth. Only the truth could make someone so nervous. "I know I'm not being fair. The truth is I'm not very good at this. I haven't been interested in anyone since I got this… this gift. I didn't ask to be this way. I was just trying to get through high school. I don't even fully understand the responsibility so I never expected anyone else to understand either. Relationships just… aren't something I do."
"This isn't a relationship," Beca hastily pointed out.
"No," Chloe agreed, "But it is a crush. On my part. I don't know what to do with it. You're on another level Beca. You're sharp and cold… and I can't keep up with your indifference. I guess what I'm trying to say is… I admit I'm sending mixed signals. I have to get that under control. But I would still like to be friends." Beca sat up, moving to join Chloe at the end of the bed. She left a healthy distance between herself and the redhead.
"What if I don't… just want to be friends?" Beca asked.
"Don't do this Beca," Chloe replied, "I told you. I can't play your games."
"It's not a game," Beca claimed. She took a deep breath. It was her turn to be nervous. "I've got a crush too… I guess."
"You guess?" Chloe questioned.
"Well I think it's a crush," Beca attempted to clarify.
"Think?" Chloe continued. This time she was smiling. She had caught on to Beca's nervous honesty and she was clearly enjoying it.
"Ok it is," she admitted.
"Is what?" Chloe teased.
"A crush," Beca finished, "I have a crush on you Spider-Girl." Chloe smiled. She was aware she could potentially be falling into the trap that was Beca's charm again. But this felt different. Beca seemed uncomfortable. She seemed out of her element. And what could be further from the comfort zone of a player than something as adorable as admitting a crush? "I know I'm a jerk sometimes. Or… most of the time," Beca continued, "But not all of the time. I know you don't want to be distracted during this mission. So I'm willing to quit flirting and just be friends for a while on two conditions."
"What conditions are those?" Chloe replied, doing her best at containing her excitement over the brunette's confession.
"Number one," Beca began, holding up her index finger to tick off her first condition, "When this is all over and we are back home, you and I are having dinner."
"You mean like a date?" Chloe inquired.
"Date, yikes," Beca teased, "That's a new word for my vocabulary. Is this the right context for that?" Chloe laughed at Beca's antics as she bumped their shoulders together. "Yes. I mean a date," Beca clarified.
"I think that can be arranged," Chloe agreed, "Number two."
Beca bit her lip and shifted her weight closer to the redhead, closing the gap between them. "One kiss to hold me over until then." Chloe felt her breath catch in her throat. It was everything she could do not to close the gap between their lips right then. She had wanted to wipe that smirk off the brunette's face by connecting their lips since she had met the girl.
"That's not a good idea Beca," Chloe forced herself to say.
"Do you really believe that Red?"
"Not at all."
Chloe surged forward. Beca drew in a breath in anticipation for that first moment their lips would connect. There wasn't the fireworks she had been half expecting. In fact there was nothing, literally. Beca's lips met air just as she heard the bedroom door click open. She recovered just in time to see Aubrey push her way into the room. She looked around, surprised to see Chloe leaning against the headboard of the bed as if she'd been there all along.
"What's going on in here?" Aubrey inquired. The blonde's accusing tone brought Beca's wits back to her.
"Ever heard of knocking?" she retorted.
"After our conversation last night I didn't think I had to be worried about walking in on anything," she fired back.
"Aubrey we were just talking," Chloe assured her, "We were brainstorming ideas for our next plan of action."
"That's better done with the team, isn't it?" Aubrey questioned.
"Calm down," Beca cut in, "Gather everyone downstairs. We are more than willing to share our brilliance for the greater good of the group."
"Alright then," Aubrey agreed, "Chloe, are you coming?"
"I'll be down in a minute," Chloe told her. Aubrey continued to linger in the doorway. She was obviously wary of leaving the two alone.
"Come on Big Green," Beca said, "I already agreed. No flings. Have a little faith. You can trust me." Aubrey glanced from Beca to Chloe, with a look that indicated that she clearly did not trust the brunette, but she trusted Chloe.
"Ok," she replied, "I'll see you guys downstairs." As soon as Aubrey left the room Chloe stood up.
"Sorry," she tried to explain, "My hearing is… well, it's enhanced and I heard her coming. So I moved. I didn't want to." As cute as it was to watch her stutter around her explanation Beca knew they didn't have a lot of time before Aubrey came looking for them again. She stood and grabbed Chloe's hands in her own, affectively silencing her.
"It's ok I get it," Beca said, "I don't want to complicate things between you and Aubrey."
"Thanks," Chloe replied.
"Think we still have time for condition number two before she comes back?" Beca asked. Chloe squeezed her hands in response and chuckled at her attempt.
"I don't think that's a good idea," Chloe replied flashing her mischievous grin as she turned to exit the room, "Aubrey trusts you now."
"Man," Beca groaned as she watched Chloe walk out the door, "So close!"