Beca offers to pay for dinner. She's the only one of them with a job, after all, and Aubrey and Chloe are living off of their summer savings and their parents' generosity, so it seems to make the most sense.
Aubrey disagrees, but Beca doesn't actually care, and merely announces that one of them can pay for the next date as she snaps the check from Aubrey's fingers after the blonde takes it from the table. Chloe beams, and bounces in her seat a little, but Aubrey rolls her eyes and (barely) allows Beca to have it.
They don't try for anyplace fancy. It was mutually agreed that none of them wanted to add unnecessary pressure to an already pretty tricky situation. So they decided on a little pizzeria where they could be casual and relax while they get used to the new dynamic between them. Conversation had been easy, if not a bit hesitant at first, but it helped a lot that they'd had the majority of the past week to get a little more comfortable with each other.
The past several nights had been spent snuggling on the sofa, with relatively innocent kisses exchanged (mostly… except for when Beca shoved Aubrey against the refrigerator yesterday morning, after Chloe had woken her with teasing, flickered kisses down the line of her neck and her chest, exposed by the tank top she'd worn to bed), and things have been surprisingly- easy for them.
Beca finds herself ridiculously happy, and she takes the chance to nonverbally express it every chance she gets, placing her lips against the heel of Aubrey's palm when she brought dinner home on Thursday, or stroking her fingers along Chloe's neck while the redhead prepared for their date.
She and Chloe have been refraining from sex, somehow in mute agreement that the next time they're together intimately should include Aubrey. And, okay, Beca definitely doesn't want to rush her or anything, but she would be lying through her goddamn teeth if she said she wasn't looking forward to it.
It's been a long time since Beca's been deprived of daily sex, and she wants it badly, but she doesn't say so. And Chloe (X-rated though her thoughts always are) doesn't, either. They want Aubrey to want it, too. And they're more than willing to wait.
But Beca had been prepared to wait a little longer than this. She hadn't expected Aubrey to embrace the furthered limits of their relationship quite so quickly.
It doesn't really matter what Beca expected, though, because the moment she's through the door, Aubrey's turned her around and smashed her back against it, her lips tripping over Beca's with a desperation that drives Beca wild with desire.
Desire that instantly floods straight between her legs.
"Oh," Chloe realizes, blinking rapidly as she returns from placing their takeaway cartons in the kitchen. "Geez," she breathes out teasingly. "Go ahead. Start the fun without me."
Aubrey pulls her mouth away from Beca's (but it takes a moment longer than Beca thinks it should), and sheepishly glances over her shoulder.
Sheepish though her glance may be, her words are anything but.
"She did pay, Chloe," Aubrey reasons haughtily.
"If I knew that was the incentive, I would've paid, too," Chloe grins playfully. "Come here. Quickly, quickly. Both of you, come here. I want to feel you, too," she beckons impatiently with a flapping hand.
Beca obeys immediately, taking Aubrey's hand and darting a look in the blonde's direction that explicitly reads 'hurry up.'
Chloe gets like this, sometimes – urgent and needy – and when it happens, it usually results in the kind of sex that leaves them panting on the floor with half of their clothes still on, the only ones removed those which had been necessary for each of them to reach their respective destinations.
She's sure that Chloe will slow things down for Aubrey – for their first time with Aubrey – but she's so tuned to that desperate edge in Chloe's voice that she instantly reacts to sate it.
Beca isn't sure that Aubrey's ready for the sex, yet, but Aubrey did take the initiative for that burning kiss at the door, so she figures that if Aubrey grows uncomfortable with more, she'll definitely say so.
Aubrey Posen is no pushover. Beca's well aware of that.
Beca reaches Chloe first, and the redhead quickly curls her fingers around the belt loops of Beca's nicest jeans (they're not even skinny at the bottom – a fact which Aubrey had wasted no time in pointing out, smug grin firmly in place), and pulls her in hard, fusing their lips together with an insistency that Beca's truly missed the past few days.
But Beca doesn't want Aubrey to be excluded – and she's sure that if they wait much longer to acknowledge her, insecurities will run rampant through the blonde's mind – so she trails her mouth down to Chloe's jaw, and breathes, "Kiss her. I know you want to," Beca chuckles huskily against her flesh.
"Bree," Chloe whimpers.
Aubrey's there in a second, right beside them both, and Chloe doesn't give her time to awkwardly hesitate; she just tangles her fingers in Aubrey's hair and tugs gently against it until Aubrey complies, and follows the pull straight to Chloe's mouth.
Beca pauses her ministrations against Chloe's neck, and has to shake her head in disbelief as she watches them.
Their mouths move slick against each other's, tongues rapidly making an appearance as they slide teasingly together. Chloe frees a hand from Beca's pants to weave it through Aubrey's hair, and Aubrey lets loose this tiny, nearly inaudible sigh as she moves just a little closer, one hip melding into Chloe's and the other deliciously rocking into Beca's own.
There's no way this is her life.
Seriously.
Beca is a hermit, for Christ's sake, and miraculously landing Chloe had been shocking and incredible enough – but how the hell had she ended up with Chloe Beale and Aubrey Posen?
They aren't the kind of girls that Beca had ever thought she'd be with. Granted, most girls like Aubrey and Chloe – the ones who, undoubtedly, would've fallen onto the highest rung on the high school popularity latter, engaged in track and student council and Latin club or yearbook club or some ridiculous shit like that – are not like them.
While Aubrey might have joined those clubs to ease her college application process, the blonde genuinely enjoys academics, which is something Beca's never really seen in anyone else. Aubrey wants to make her family proud, too – definitely – but Aubrey had gone about doing so in the only manner that appealed to her. She just loves learning. She loves keeping a schedule and she loves staying busy, because women like Aubrey Posen do not trade in the business of 'down time.' So Aubrey's different than the kind of girls that Beca's imagined being with, but she's better, too.
And Chloe very well may have been the most popular girl in her school, but Chloe Beale is no shark, and Beca can't imagine she's changed that much since coming to Barden. She's sweet – to everyone – and she likely climbed the high school food chain with a blinding smile and excessive social interaction where she probably charmed the freakin' pants off of every one of her classmates. Beca knows she was prom queen, too, and though Beca teases her for it on occasion, she's actually kind of awed. Prom queens are, by definition (Beca is convinced), prissy little bitches with superiority complexes, and Chloe is nothing like that. So Chloe's different than the kind of girls that Beca's imagined being with, too, but also way out of Beca's league.
They're both out of Beca's league, and Beca knows it. So how is this her life? How is this actually happening to her right now?
"Becs?" Chloe frowns, still hugging Beca's jeans with one, furled up hand while the other is tenderly, absently stroking patterns against Aubrey's jawline. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Beca exhales tremblingly and shakes her head. "Yeah, no, I'm good."
"You're uncomfortable," Aubrey bites her lip and takes a small, but telling step backward. "I'm sorry. We shouldn't have moved this quickly. I shouldn't have kissed you like that. I'm sorry. I – "
"Woah," Beca frowns and swiftly darts a hand out to take Aubrey's palm within her own.
There are a lot of emotions that Beca can't understand or identify at first glance, but she's quick to grab Aubrey's hand, because the feeling scrawled across Aubrey's face is one of the few that Beca can recognize instantly.
It's a desire to run.
Maybe not physically, per se, but it's an overwhelming desire to distance herself from something Aubrey thinks has the potential and ability to hurt her. Beca gets that, because she's sort of the master of emotional distance. Which is how she knows, instinctively, that this insecurity needs to be addressed before it's given the chance grow any larger.
"My feelings are gonna be pretty banged up if you keep talking, Aubrey, so how about you just listen for a sec, okay?" Beca says gently, shifting slightly to face Aubrey.
They're sort of standing in a very, very close triangle, with all three of their chests brushing together with every inhalation of breath. It's distracting, sure, but Beca needs Chloe close by to make sure she doesn't mess this up somehow, and she needs Aubrey close by to reassure her with whatever soothing touches the blonde requires.
"I'm not uncomfortable, and you really, really don't need to be sorry, alright? We may've moved a little quickly, but, honestly, I'm more worried about moving too quickly for you, than for me or Chloe. Like we've said before, we've had more time to adjust to this than you have," Beca hesitates. "We're a little more prepared, and I know you don't like to go into anything unprepared, Aubrey," she laments sincerely.
"You're worried about me?" Aubrey asks, brows furrowed inward as she gazes at Beca with intense, probing eyes.
Beca shuffles a little uncomfortably beneath the raw scrutiny of that stare, but she shrugs and sheepishly mumbles, "I mean, I guess. I know you'd stop us if you really didn't want to do anything, but it's not like we've talked about it," Beca says, scraping her free hand through her hair. "I'm not really sure what page you're on, and I don't just want to assume anything."
"Is that why you spaced out on us?" Chloe asks quietly, biting her lip.
"Not- really?" Beca chuckles awkwardly and glances to the floor. "I mean, like I said, I knew Aubrey would stop us if she wasn't ready, so it's not like I was panicking or anything. But you're both so… And, anyway," Beca clears her throat swiftly, "it just really struck me when I saw you guys kiss that, like, I never would've expected to be with either one of you. I guess I just feel really lucky, is all.
"I'm sorry I got lost in my own head, Bree," Beca tenders slowly, squeezing Aubrey's hand gently to convey her sincerity, "but it's nothing you did. I swear. I'm really happy that you're here with us. I just kind of can't believe that I'm the girl who gets to keep you both. It's kind of ridiculous."
"What do you mean?" Aubrey frowns.
Chloe sighs softly and smiles a little at Aubrey before removing her hand from the blonde's face. She uncurls her opposite one from Beca's belt loops before wrapping them both around Beca's waist.
"I just…" Beca trails off, shifting her weight on her hips and shrugging helplessly beneath Chloe's hold.
"She gets insecure, sometimes," Chloe tells Aubrey softly, keeping eye contact with the Bellas captain even as her breath whispers across Beca's ear.
Beca isn't sure she likes the word 'insecure,' but allowing Chloe to explain her feelings feels a lot easier than trying to compose the words herself, so she sighs at her own emotional incompetence and stupidity and wraps one arm around Chloe, still unwilling to release Aubrey's hand.
"But," Aubrey hesitates, and Beca squeezes her hand once again to encourage her, "what are you insecure about, exactly?"
"I'm just- not the kind of person who scores with girls like you and Chloe," Beca shrugs.
Aubrey snorts. "Scores? Really, Beca?"
"Okay, well," Beca chuckles lightly, "I never claimed to be a poet, Aubrey. You know what I mean."
"I don't," Chloe pouts.
Chloe will soothe Beca when she's upset, always, and Beca knows that the redhead hates to see her sad – but it doesn't matter how many times Beca tries to explain; she knows that Chloe really doesn't understand. It's fine, because Beca isn't sure that she even understands it, either, but it makes it really difficult to put words to her feelings when neither of them can fully comprehend what Beca feels.
"Can you- try to tell me?" Aubrey treads cautiously. "It's just that I don't think this- relationship," she breathes out softly, "will progress very far if we aren't willing to discuss these things. And I- I really want to make sure that it does progress, Beca."
Chloe beams at her over Beca's shoulder.
"I'm just that kid who doesn't give a shit," Beca shrugs. "I mean, I do – but as far as anyone else has ever bothered to look, that's what I am. I wear too much make-up and I have holes in my ears and ink all over my skin. I'm the girl who people avoid, you know? And I don't usually try very hard to change that, because, let's be honest, most of the time I prefer it that way… But it's still kind of crazy to me that despite all of that, I'm still here with you two," she finishes quietly, and ducks her eyes to the floor again when Aubrey's eyes light with an understanding that confuses her, but makes her feel fluttery all over.
"I'm sorry, Beca," Aubrey murmurs gently, tugging at the DJ's hand until Chloe pulls away enough for Aubrey to wrap Beca in a hug, too.
"I told you," Beca huffs, "you don't need to be sorry."
"I do, though," Aubrey shakes her head sadly and steps back, taking both of Beca's hands tightly in her own. Beca looks down at their joined hands before looking back up at Aubrey in bemusement. "You feel that way because people have judged you," Aubrey begins, swallowing thickly. "And I judged you, too."
"Jesus, Aubrey, no," Beca insists immediately. "That's so not where I was going with that," she persuades ardently.
"I know," Aubrey nods semi-frantically. "I know, Beca, but it's true. I judged your standoffish behavior. I judged your piercings and your tattoos and the make-up on your face, and it took months for me to admit that it was wrong of me to do that, but I never properly apologized to you for it. But you – " Aubrey breaks off with a frustrated sigh, before trying again. "You're so much more than first appearances, Beca. I am sorry that I judged you prematurely, even if you say you prefer it that way; that doesn't make it right for me to have done it. But- I was wrong, Beca.
"Emotionally stunted as you are," she smiles fondly at Beca, raising a palm to gently cup her cheek, "I've seen how you treat Chloe. It's only been a few days since all of this started, but I've felt how you treat me, too, Beca – and your capacity for- for love…" she swallows tightly and shakes her head. "Beca, it's incredible. You are incredible. You are talented, even if I hate to admit it sometimes. You are sweet, when you want to be and when it suits you. You are tough, and determined, and even if they aren't necessarily traditional, you have goals and are driven to achieve them.
"I understand what you're feeling, because I feel it, too, Beca. I feel like I don't deserve this, from either one of you. I feel like I'm not good enough, or my feelings can't be strong enough to participate in this with you and Chloe. But then I think about it, and I can't remember ever feeling so strongly about anything else," Aubrey says tremulously, glancing, now, between both Beca and Chloe, too. "And I want this. I want this with both of you. Maybe we should move a little slower, since I'm pretty sure we've killed the mood for tonight," she says, swiping her thumb slowly, caringly beneath Beca's right eye with a tender smile, "but I do want this. And while I may have mistakenly taken you for the girl that you described once, I don't see you that way anymore, Beca.
"You're so much more than that. You are, Beca," Aubrey insists, when Beca's face scrunches up in doubt. "And I want you to believe that with the same conviction that I do."
"Oh my God," Chloe breathes, eyes watering. "Okay, so I was maybe a little afraid that the emotional bonding might make me feel a little more jealous than the physical bonding – because, hi, you're both hot, and I love you both, and seeing you together that way is just… wow – but this is just the sweetest thing I've ever seen."
"What?" Beca frowns.
Chloe shakes her head and shrugs, her teary, happy smile never quite escaping from the edges of her mouth. "It's just that I was afraid that all the good parts of our feelings for each other might get a little tangled, you know? Like, if you and Aubrey had a moment without me, like what just happened, and – "
"We didn't have a moment without you," Beca shakes her head. "You were right here."
Aubrey rolls her eyes and Chloe smiles indulgently, explaining gently, "I know. I was right here, Beca, but that speech Aubrey just put together was all for you, sweetie."
"But – "
"I'm saying it was good, Beca," Chloe laughs, though the sound is water-logged by the lump building in her throat. "I was worried, and I probably should have said something before, but I didn't need to be. I thought it might be weird when the time came for you and Aubrey to have something special without me, but it- it just felt really good to watch it, Beca. It made me happy to see the two of you sharing a moment."
"Then why are you crying?" Beca frowns again, reaching for Chloe to complete the three-way circle of arms, closing Chloe in her and Aubrey's hug, too.
Chloe laughs sweetly and shakes her head. "Because you're both so freakin' cute, Becs! I just never expected this when I brought up being with Aubrey, and I'm really happy that it's all been working out so well. It's just been so easy," Chloe sighs contently.
"It won't always be that way, Chloe," Aubrey cautions warily, chewing nervously at the inside of her cheek.
"I know," Chloe nods. "This isn't exactly a normal romance, Bree," she teases softly, cradling the blonde's hip tightly. "I know we're going to have ups and downs like in any other relationship, and I know it's going to be a while before we figure everything out and adjust to the changes between us. I know it's going to be hard, and it's going to take some effort from all of us. But this was the first time I actually sat back and thought about all of that and realized that it will work. It'll work, Bree. I know it will. Because we care about each other, too, and it isn't just something physical. It's more than that, and I want it all, with both of you," Chloe determines with sparkling eyes.
Beca releases a sigh. "We want you, too, Chloe," Beca nods, resting her temple against Chloe's forehead as she watches Aubrey murmur her agreement, squeezing her arms tighter around both of them.
Author's Note: I have a couple days off from work, and access to the internet, so I'm trying to crank out a few updates for the stories who haven't seen much of me, recently. I make no promises, but I'm trying. Please review and let me know what you think.