I was going to make this chapter really long. Then I thought "naw, I'll drag it out some". You're welcome.
BonesFABERRY: Hey, I just started reading this fic and let me take off my hat and applaud you because is so awesome! Like really super Harry Potter's level of awesome...And I love everything about it and the way you write, and if it wasn't creepy I'd get down on one knee and ask you to marry me...Anyways, I really can't wait for the next chapter! :)
"Like really super Harry Potter level of awesome" *dies*. If you asked me to marry you I'd probably say yes.
Also Kyle, just so you know dude, I didn't read all of that because well... you know there's better ways to get your story seen, right? Like create an account and go crazy. (Though I'm honoured you wanted to show me?)
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The wedding was… well, it was a wedding. There were tears (not on Beca's part obviously) there was laughter (though again, Beca remained excluded from the inside jokes) and of course, there was a whole lot of love in the air (every second of which was captured on camera by a pompous photographer that was probably charging ten times too much).
Beca had to admit though, in spite of all that was said about Rachel (or Raquel, depending on who she was talking to), the girl looked good, although her dress was too fluffy, and her tan a little too dark for Beca's liking.
It wasn't the bride that caught her eye though, which was quite something seeing as it was obvious Rachel/Raquel had done everything in her power to ensure her bridesmaids didn't outshine her (Like brown dresses… really?!). She'd failed though. She'd failed miserably.
At least in Beca's opinion she had anyway.
Chloe looked like… perfection. Yea, that's the word Beca thought fit her best. Perfection. It wasn't the dress (for sure) and it wasn't that her hair or makeup was done exceptionally either (her hair was just curled and gripped to the side for all those with an interest in fashion and the likes).
Perhaps it was merely the fact that in the entire time Beca had known Chloe this was the first time she'd had an opportunity to stare for so long without being caught. It was the first time she'd had a chance to soak it all in.
How long her eyelashes were and just how mesmerizingly blue her eyes were beneath them. The way her hair bounced when she walked down the aisle and the façade of angelic innocence that a smile lent her. When the congregation laughed politely at a bad joke it was Chloe's tolerate giggle that floated into Beca's ear, and when a genuine burst of laughter erupted through the pews it was again Chloe's broader, stifled chuckle that caught her attention.
She was just without a notable flaw, and by the time the happy couple danced out of the chapel doors to a thunder of applause Beca was surer than ever that the red head was exactly what she wanted.
(It was just saying it that'd be the problem).
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It's easy to be happy at a wedding. The joy's kind of just absorbed by each pore of your body. Even on the worst day, it was pretty damn difficult to feel mad, or sad, or any negative emotion for that matter.
That's why for the hour and a half they spent in the chapel (because yea, it was one of those super long traditional weddings) Chloe didn't think twice about her problems (except maybe the fact that oh sweet divine she was wearing a brown dress in public). She just let herself be happy, because to hell with it. Unfortunately she knew only too well how long it'd last.
She was wrong.
It actually lasted fifteen seconds longer than she though it would (score!). It wasn't until she was trailing after Rachel out the doors of the chapel that the little switch inside her head was flicked back on again.
All it took was a glance. Just one quick glance into Beca's steely blue eyes and a casual return of the smile Beca gave her and that was Chloe right back to square one again with her emotions. It was like an Olympic gymnast had begun practice in the pit of her stomach all over again.
(Fuck it.)
She knew something had to be done. She knew she couldn't go on like this. The urge to pin Beca to a wall and kiss her until they both went brain dead became more and more overpowering by the second, and in her heart of hearts Chloe knew it wasn't healthy. She knew she couldn't let herself fall any deeper for someone that wasn't willing to catch her.
She needed to end it (whatever "it" was) and the more she thought about it, the more she realized she needed to do it sooner rather than later.
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Beca had by default presumed that sitting with Chloe's family would be awkward (especially with Chloe at the brides table). It wasn't though. Shockingly enough she actually caught herself having fun a few times.
She was cushioned between Daniel and Jim (that was Chloe's dads name! Jim. God it wasn't even a difficult name to remember), and after the first five minutes of initial light hearted bitching about family members they hadn't seen in god only knows how long, Beca actually found herself sliding comfortably into conversation.
It was just made so easy. It was easy to talk to Dana about her life, and what she liked and disliked. It was easy to tease Daniel and Adam and get teased right back. It was easy to act as Grace's cool "aunt" and promise to sneak her into clubs when she was older (much to Adams dismay). She even found it easy to talk to Alice about just how unique the family was that they'd stumbled into.
It was the first time she'd felt like this ever. The first time she felt like she belonged. First time she'd felt accepted. The first time she'd actually felt like she was part of a family (and may her vocal cords be ripped out by wolves if anyone ever found out she thought something so cheesy).
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The worst part is Chloe can't help but watch Beca (the top table is a prime location for some creeping and all).
Actually no, that's not the worst part. The worst part is that when she's watching Beca she can't help but notice just how amazing an addition the DJ would be to her family. Just how much everyone loves her already, and just how much she genuinely seems to get along with them.
There were actually a few times Chloe had to stop and remind herself that for Beca it was just all an act, and that each time she laughed at one of her mother's jokes, or threw an insult at Adam or Daniel, or chanced a glance and a smile up in Chloe's direction between conversations, it was just all a play that'd end the second they returned to Barden (I mean Jesus, was she Oscar nominated in a past life or something?).
Yea, that's what sucked the most for Chloe. The fact that now her family would probably end up hurt as well.
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After dinner there was dancing. Like lots of dancing. It was almost like being back at Bellas rehearsals (aside from the distinct lack of shrill screeching and occasional episodes of choking down vomit that is).
Oh, and the fact that Beca got to have Chloe's arms wrapped around waist as their foreheads rested together and they swayed on the spot. Yea, that was a little different too.
Beca was sure she'd self-combust at the sensation. The material in her dress was really rather light, and every touch of Chloe's fingers set her nerve endings on fire. This wasn't helped at all by the way Chloe's soft, gentle breaths brushed against her cheek as they moved, tickling her down the side of her neck.
It also wasn't helped by the uh… "sensation" in her lady parts, but she was ignoring that. She was ignoring that because they were in public. They were in public and she was pretty sure it was deemed unacceptable to push Chloe to the ground in the middle of the floor and straddle her (though she was fairly sure she was going to now have a dream to that effect at some point).
Yup, right now they were dancing, and Beca wanted in equal parts for the song to go on forever and for it to end, so they could go back to Chloe's and Beca could finally tell her how she feels.
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The dancing would be the death of her, it really would. All Chloe could think was how close she was. How if she were only to lean in another fraction of an inch she could have their lips touching. Just a few more centimetres and they'd be kissing for real, like properly, lip to lip.
No more lingering hand holds or drawn out hugs. Now more chanced glances or almost kisses on the side of the mouth. A real one. A real kiss that would make way for a tidal wave of love and emotion.
Oh, except for one thing that is. One tiny detail that Chloe found she had an awful habit of ignoring.
Beca wasn't into her in that way.
At all (apparently).
And it didn't matter how into her Chloe was because they were "just friends" and Beca would always be there for her "as a friend but that's it".
Yea, fun stuff.
So yea, right now they were dancing, and Chloe both wanted the song to go on forever so she could remain in her ignorantly blissful bubble, and for it to end, so they could go home and Chloe could finally save the little dignity she had left and reiterate to Beca that they were still sticking to the original plan, and everything would go back to normal when they returned to Barden.
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Beca had thought they'd never leave. They did though. Three hours after the dancing had first begun and they were all finally traipsing through Chloe's front door again.
Dana had mentioned something about a night cap, but Chloe had turned it down instantly, so Beca'd taken the same stance. That and she knew more alcohol would only make her chicken out (or make her overconfident and slurry all at once).
In fact, she could already feel herself begin to chicken out as they made the slow migration through the hallway towards the stairs. It was now. She needed to do it now, or so help her god she probably never would.
"Chloe… can we talk?"
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The last thing Chloe needed was a night cap. She'd almost shouted at her mother for even suggesting it (though that would be a little unreasonable seeing as her mother had no idea why Chloe was so on edge).
She needed to get out of that kitchen, with Beca. She needed them to talk as soon as possible because she was sure if she waited any longer she'd only get wrapped up in something else Beca done that she found cute.
She was going to wait until they were in the safety of her room. A place where she felt calm, a place where she felt she could be herself. She didn't get the chance though.
"Chloe… can we talk?"
What if Beca noticed the signs? What if she'd copped on that Chloe had a crush and wanted to make her (platonic) intentions clear before something awkward happened? No. That wasn't going to happen. No way.
"Yea, but I wanna go first."