Chapter 19
A/N: This chapter was pretty difficult for me to write, and Part 2 was no exception. Thanks for your patience!
Music:
Without You; She (For Liz) - Parachute
It's Only Life - Kate Voegele
Believe - Suzie McNeil
Beca pulled into Chloe's complex and parked in front of her building. She got out of the car, feeling the warm afternoon sun on her face as she hopped up on the hood waiting for Stacie. She didn't have to wait long, smiling as her friend's white Honda Civic pulled into the spot next to hers. Stacie climbed out of the car, walking over to join her.
"We just gonna sit outside the building?" Stacie asked casually, a grin playing at the corner of her mouth as her eyes took in the complex. "Nice place."
Beca nodded, rolling her eyes. "Yeah, I like it much better out here. It's a very nice place."
Stacie ignored the sarcasm. "Just let me know when you're done freaking out, and we'll go in. Also, I can't stay for dinner. Got a hot date."
"It's Wednesday," Beca deadpanned, looking suspiciously at her friend. "How hot could it be?"
Stacie glared at her in mock anger. "I resent that, you know. You had a hot date with your girlfriend on Sunday. The day of the week doesn't matter at all. And you're avoiding the real issue. I know you freaked out the whole way over here. Are you done or not? I've got my best friend speech all planned out and I don't want to forget it."
Beca raised her eyebrows, responding, "Really? Let's hear it."
"Let's go inside and you can," Stacie retorted.
Beca sighed. "It's so stupid, they aren't even here yet. I think Chlo said their flight gets in around six," she said thoughtfully, before shaking her head in uncertainty.
Stacie rolled her eyes again. "You're ridiculous. You know Ms. Beale and I have already met, right? We've spent every weekday afternoon in her class for the past three-ish months. Also, we're coming back to that whole, 'Chlo' thing I just heard. It's adorable and slightly domestic and makes me want to vomit."
Beca hopped off the car muttering, "Whatever. Okay, I'm ready." She turned and stuck her pointer finger right in Stacie's face, adding in a low, serious tone, "Be nice, Conrad."
Stacie held her gaze stubbornly for a moment, before holding her hands up innocently. "Okay, okay, fine. I'll be nice," she grumbled.
Beca nodded, satisfied with her answer, leading the way to Chloe's apartment with Stacie falling into step beside her and slipping an arm around her shoulders.
"You know I'm just looking out for you, right? I don't want to see you get hurt, shorty," Stacie said quietly.
"Then you know better than to call me shorty," Beca retorted, unable to keep her face from breaking into a smile as she leaned into Stacie. "I know," she added softly. "I really like her, and I want you to like her too. Chloe my girlfriend, not Ms. Beale the teacher."
Stacie nodded her understanding as they stopped in front of a door, Beca stepping forward and knocking a couple times. "This is gonna be super weird," she said, as Beca took a step back.
"For sure," Beca replied. "I'm already nervous all over again."
Before either girl could say anything more, the door swung open. Chloe smiled hesitantly, before stepping aside, welcoming them in and closing the door. The three stood awkwardly in the main room of Chloe's apartment, Beca glancing nervously between the other two, who were studying each other carefully.
Beca broke the silence, unable to stand it any longer. "Okay, so this is awkward. No surprise there. Uh...I know you guys have already met and stuff but, this is different. Chlo, this is my best friend, Stacie. Stacie, this is my girlfriend, Chloe," she said, her fingers locking together anxiously as the two maintained unreadable expressions.
She breathed a sigh of relief when Chloe broke first, smiling at Stacie and extending her hand with a soft "Hello." Stacie reciprocated, shaking Chloe's hand and saying, "Hi Ms...I mean Chloe. Sorry, habit."
Beca chuckled, unable to hold it in, sobering quickly as Stacie broke away from Chloe to glare at her. "Not sure what you're snickering about over there, Mitchell. You're so far in debt to me at this point you might as well just pick a college," Stacie quipped, her gaze unwavering.
"Hey!" Beca retorted, shrinking slightly at the look. "You said it was my choice! You can't blackmail me with college!"
Stacie crossed her arms over her chest silently, both surprised when Chloe spoke up. "Um, what are you talking about? Beca, I thought you weren't going to college..." she trailed off, knowing it was a sensitive subject.
Beca shot her a guilty look, replying, "Well...uh...Stacie convinced me it wouldn't be the end of the world if I applied to a few schools. Even if I get in, I don't have to go," she added quickly, seeing the wheels already starting to turn in Chloe's mind.
Chloe smiled, meeting Stacie's eyes for a second before looking back at Beca. "I think that's awesome, Becs! Why didn't you tell me you decided to apply after all?" As Beca's eyes narrowed at Stacie, she quickly added, "Of course, even if you get accepted you don't have to go. Where are you applying?"
She shrugged, moving to the couch and gesturing that they should sit down. Chloe joined her on the couch, immediately sliding a hand to her knee as Stacie occupied one of the fluffy arm chairs that Beca hadn't gotten a chance to try out yet. "I don't know," she said. "And you don't have to tell me that I'm super behind. I already know. I'm only doing it for you," she said, her eyes shooting daggers at Stacie.
Her friend grinned, her reply directed at Chloe. "Doesn't she say the sweetest things? Such a charmer, that one," Stacie quipped, her voice heavy with sarcasm.
The effect was lost on Chloe, who turned to smile fondly at Beca, replying, "I think she's pretty charming."
Beca rolled her eyes, pushing Chloe's hand away that had been creeping up from her knee. "You just want me to cook you dinner again," she scoffed.
Stacie looked impressed as she said, "Wait, Beca cooked for you? You must be even better in bed than she described."
"STACIE!" Beca exclaimed, before looking at Chloe's amused but curious expression. "I didn't describe anything to her," she said, still feeling somewhat guilty.
Before Chloe could respond, Beca's phone rang loudly from her pocket. Pulling it out, she saw it was her dad. "Fuck, it's my dad. I gotta take this," she said, answering the phone and walking into the bedroom, closing the door behind her.
Ten minutes later, Beca walked back into the main room, looking suspiciously between her girlfriend and best friend as they fell silent, lingering on the unsettled look Chloe was currently wearing. "Whatcha talkin' about," Beca asked, unwilling to let them off the hook so easily.
"Nothing, baby," Chloe said, tugging her down onto the couch beside her.
Beca raised her eyebrows at the pet name. "Now I definitely don't believe you," she said, looking at Stacie. "Tell me, Conrad."
Stacie grinned as Chloe shook her head. "We were just getting to know each other," she said. "Right, Chloe?"
"Yeah, of course," Chloe replied.
"The normal stuff," Stacie added. "I wanted to know a little about where she's from, her family, telling her where I'll hide her body if she hurts you," she trailed off casually. "That about covers it."
Beca leveled a glare at Stacie. "I can't believe you gave her the best friend speech without me!" she whined. "You said I could be there for that."
It was Chloe's turn to frown at her girlfriend, poking her sharply in the side. "Hey, she just throws out there that she'll murder me, and all you can do is bitch about missing the speech?"
Beca shot Chloe a guilty look, replying, "Well she's never given the speech before. It's kind of a big deal...oww, okay...I'm sorry, stop hitting me! Stacie, don't kill my girlfriend or I'll be sad. Happy?" she asked Chloe, rubbing her arm where the redhead had gotten a good shot in.
Chloe smacked the back of her head, before saying, "No, that was terrible."
Stacie grinned, watching the interaction. "I like her, Beca. You should keep her."
"Stace, she has a say in the matter you know. She's not a puppy I picked up from the pound, despite a few similar behaviors," Beca joked, earning herself another smack to the thigh. "Geez, woman, it was a compliment! You have to admit, you're energetic, and cheerful, and love cuddling. Just like a puppy."
Chloe continued to glare at her until Stacie jumped in. "Becs, it's probably not the best idea to call your new girlfriend a dog. Just sayin'. Not if you want to keep her, anyways."
At Chloe's nod, Beca sighed and apologized, leaning over and giving Chloe a kiss. As with so many of their kisses, it was hard to stop after just one, the two losing themselves for a moment until Stacie cleared her throat loudly.
Beca shot her friend a sheepish grin, turning to lean against her girlfriend. "Sorry," she said, not apologetic in the least.
"Uh huh," Stacie smirked. "I know that look, Mitchell. I'm outta here. I've gotta get ready for my date anyways," she said, standing up and stretching her arms over her head.
Chloe got to her feet as well, unceremoniously letting Beca fall back onto the couch with a small shout. "Thanks for coming over here, Stacie. I'm glad we're able to start over. I think things will go very differently this time around," Chloe said, leaning in to give Stacie a hug.
Stacie returned the hug, before stepping back and looking at Beca, who'd managed to climb off the couch and stand up. Turning her attention back to Chloe, she said, "Thanks for letting me come over. Sorry I won't get to meet your friends. And thanks for offering to help me with those college essays. I really appreciate it."
Chloe smiled warmly at her. "Anytime! Just stop by my room after school. I'm usually there until at least four-thirty or five."
Beca approached them now, grumbling as Stacie wrapped her in a hug. "This was fun, shorty. Let's do it again sometime," she said, laughing as Beca squirmed out of her hold.
"I'll let you off the hook this once, Conrad," she said, shaking her head at her best friend. "Thanks for doing this for me. It meant a lot."
"No problem, Becs. We're always there for each other. That's how it works," Stacie said with a smile. "I'll see you at school tomorrow. Bye, Chloe," she said with a wave, before walking out the door.
Beca sighed as Chloe returned the wave and they both watched the door close. "I think that went well," she said, looking at her girlfriend.
Chloe's bright smile was in place as she looked Beca up and down. "I like her too," she admitted. "I can tell you guys are close. It reminds me of how I am with Jess. I can't wait for you to meet her, and Ashley, too."
Beca smirked back at her, asking, "If that's what you're thinking about, why are you giving me the look?"
"What look?" Chloe's reply was innocent, but her eyes were screaming something else.
"The look that you get when you can't get me naked fast enough," Beca replied, fighting and failing to keep the grin off her own face.
Chloe advanced on her quickly, pinning her against the back of the couch, stating, "You shouldn't know that look yet."
Beca rolled her eyes, muttering, "You're worse than a teenage boy, Chlo. You always have that look."
"Are you complaining?" Chloe asked, slowly undoing the buttons on the brunette's shirt. Just as she slipped her hands under Beca's thin tank top, her phone rang with an incoming call.
Beca sucked in a deep breath, watching Chloe, who was clearly talking to Jess. The redhead hung up with a frustrated look on her face. "They'll be here in twenty minutes."
"Don't look so sad, Chlo," Beca chuckled. "Your best friend is almost here. You can see me naked later," she added with a wink, buttoning her shirt back up.
Chloe pouted, her eyes pleading with Beca to reconsider, but the brunette held firm. "No way. Stop looking at me like that. There's no way your best friend is going to walk in on us having sex. I'm nervous enough as it is without having to worry if my clothes are on backwards or inside out," she said, looking down to make sure she hadn't missed a button.
Chloe laughed at that, grabbing her hands and leaning down into a kiss. "You have nothing to be nervous about. They're both gonna love you," she replied confidently, pulling out her cell phone and walking over to grab a takeout menu from a drawer in the kitchen. "Let's order the food before they get here. That should distract you."
Beca huffed as she joined her girlfriend in the kitchen. "What are you trying to say, Beale?" she asked sarcastically, hopping up on the counter.
"That for such a small person, you have a ridiculously large appetite. And you love food," Chloe smirked, holding up the menu to the brunette's favorite Thai place.
Beca's eyes lit up, flipping open the menu so that she could see the options and Chloe could see the phone number on the front cover. It didn't take them long to order enough food for the four of them, Chloe having years of experience ordering for Jess and Ashley. Beca spent the next five minutes watching her girlfriend frantically comb over every inch of her already spotless apartment making sure everything was neat and clean.
"Chlo, a little mess makes a place feel like home," Beca teased, ignoring the glare Chloe shot in her direction. "They're not going to believe anyone lives here." she continued, looking around the room.
Chloe grabbed the blanket off the back of the couch and neatly folded it, retorting, "I don't remember asking for your two cents, Mitchell."
Beca held back a laugh, watching Chloe look around the room ensuring nothing was out of place. A light bulb went off in her head, and she hopped off the counter, moving to stand in front of her girlfriend. "Hey," she murmured, intertwining her fingers with Chloe's. "It's fairly obvious why I'm nervous. What are you worried about?" she asked, looking up into bright blue eyes.
Chloe's eyes narrowed for a split second, before she broke into a wry smile. "I've always lived close to home, or with friends. I've never done anything like move across the country, away from everything, the way I did for this job. I've never had anyone come visit me before," she admitted.
"So clearly this isn't about being a neat freak," Beca reasoned, glancing around again. "I mean, you've never worried much about it before."
"No," Chloe shook her head. "My parents really didn't want me to come out here," she said softly. "Jess and Ash were supportive of me, but I guess it'll just be nice to show them that I've got it together out here. That even though I'm in a new place where I don't know many people, I'm making it."
Beca smiled at the determined look on Chloe's face. "I think you're doing more than just making it. Everyone loves you at school, you know," she replied. "And you've managed to snag yourself a pretty incredible girlfriend...or so I've heard," she finished with a wink.
"Really? Just where'd you hear that from?" Chloe teased, raising her eyebrows.
"From you, last night," Beca retorted, her lips curling into a smirk as Chloe's jaw dropped. "You know, when I did that thing with my tongue and you-"
"Yes, I remember, I was there," Chloe interrupted.
Beca grinned, replying, "Yeah you were." Chloe watched her with hooded eyes as she slid her hands up over her girlfriend's stomach and sides, continuing, "And I was here, and here, and here..." Beca trailed off as her hands rose to cover Chloe's breasts, the redhead letting out a small moan before connecting their lips hurriedly.
Without breaking the kiss, Beca guided them a few steps forward until they reached the table, Chloe sliding onto it easily and wrapping her legs around the brunette's waist. Beca pressed her hips forward as Chloe arched into her touch, thumbs rubbing teasing circles through her girlfriend's clothes.
A loud knocking caused them to pull back, Beca's eyes widening in realization as she stepped farther away from the table and quickly straightened her clothes. She looked up at Chloe, who was still sitting on the table catching her breath, taking in her flushed cheeks and swollen lips. There was more knocking, causing Beca to alternate looking from her girlfriend to the door, and back again.
"Chlo," she whispered urgently. "Chloe," she tried again, exhaling in relief as Chloe snapped into action, jumping off the table and straightening her own clothing.
"You'll pay for that, Mitchell," Chloe warned, shooting her girlfriend a glare.
Beca smirked, responding, "No idea what you're talking about, Beale."
Chloe didn't answer, instead walking quickly over to open the door, letting out a high pitched squeal of happiness as the blonde on the other side crashed into her, taking them both down to the floor with the hug. 'That must be Jess,' Beca thought, her eyes widening momentarily, leaning against the back of the couch as she watched the reunion. Glancing at the door, she saw a brunette roll her eyes at the pair of them, an affectionate smile on her face.
Beca walked forward, sidestepping the pair on the floor, and introduced herself to the brunette. "Hi, I'm Beca. Uh..I can take one of those..." she trailed off, gesturing at the suitcases.
"Ashley," the brunette responded with a smile, shoving one of the cases forward with her foot. "Thanks," she added, her tone grateful.
"No problem," Beca replied, grabbing the handle and rolling the bag inside as Chloe and Jess got to their feet, already chatting excitedly. She stopped a few feet into the apartment, turning back to Ashley and asking, "Are they always like this?"
Ashley nodded, and extended her hand. "Yeah, you get used to it," she replied. "Nice to finally meet you. Chloe talks about you a lot."
Beca's eyebrows rose as she returned the older woman's handshake. "Oh...uh...really? She said you guys wanted to meet me so I knew she must have said something but...well, she talks about you guys a lot too, good stuff though..." she quickly shut up as Chloe's arms slid around her waist from behind.
"Relax, baby," Chloe whispered into her ear, before moving around her to give Ashley a hug.
Beca took a deep breath and ran her fingers through her hair. 'Pull it together, Mitchell,' she thought, turning a little to find herself face to face with Jess, the blonde grinning widely at her. "Hi...uh...you must be..."
"I'm Jess," the blonde exclaimed, ignoring Beca's outstretched hand and pulling her into a hug.
It took every fiber of Beca's restraint not to pull away, flailing wildly. Instead she froze, standing perfectly still until one hand made a move to the middle of Jess' back, lamely returning the hug. She stepped back as soon as Jess pulled away, feeling more than a little uncomfortable as the blonde eyed her curiously before speaking.
"I get it, Chlo. She's hot," Jess said, winking at the redhead before moving to slide an arm around her girlfriend. "Don't you agree, Ash?"
Ashley nodded, looking Beca up and down. "Yep, I can see it. Not my type though. I've got a thing for blondes," she replied, meeting her girlfriend's eyes for a second.
Chloe moved back to Beca's side, reaching down to join their hands. "Beca's super hot. She's also right here, guys," Chloe said, a touch of admonishment to her tone.
Jess looked over at her. "We know. We're not blind, Chlo, we just complimented you on your super hot girlfriend. Couldn't have done that if we were blind. Now, where are we sleeping?"
Chloe broke away from Beca and lead her friends over to her bedroom, showing them inside. The shorter brunette remained in the main room as the conversation filtered back through the door.
"Chlo, you changed the sheets right?"
"Oh my God! Yes, I changed the sheets!" Chloe exclaimed, and Beca could picture the eye roll that accompanied that statement.
Jess' voice spoke again, clearly teasing her girlfriend. "Hey, it's a fair question. She looks like she could give you a run for your money."
Beca couldn't hear Chloe's reply, raising her eyebrows at her girlfriend when she reappeared, leaving her two friends in the bedroom. The redhead only sighed and rolled her eyes playfully, slipping her arms around Beca and pulling her into a hug. "Don't be nervous, okay," Chloe whispered into her ear. "They like you already, I can tell."
Beca hummed into Chloe's neck, before pulling back at the sound of Jess' voice.
"You two are adorable."
Chloe giggled, turning to look at Jess. "Thanks. Okay, Beca and I will go pick up dinner while ya'll get settled. Sound good?"
Jess and Ashley exchanged glances before the blonde spoke up. "Actually, we feel at home already. How about Ashley goes with you Chlo, while Beca and I stay here and get to know each other?"
Beca felt her mouth go dry as Chloe hesitated a moment, before shrugging and agreeing with the new plan. "Sure, why not," she said cheerfully. "I'll give you a little tour, Ash!"
Beca noticed a small crack in Ashley's calm, confident exterior for the first time, but didn't give it much thought, as she realized that would leave her and Jess alone in the apartment for at least a half hour. She felt her palms start to sweat at the smile on Jess' face as she ushered the other pair out the door, her expression turning serious as soon as the door closed.
"Okay, kid. What's your endgame with my best friend?" she asked, her eyes letting Beca know she was dead serious.
"Ah...okay, the honeymoon's over, I see," Beca replied nervously, immediately disliking Jess' use of Sheila's nickname for her. "That was a pretty good act for Chloe. You fooled me, anyways."
Jess crossed her arms, looking unimpressed. "Answer the question. What does a high school senior want with one of her teachers? You know how many ways you could ruin Chloe's life? Did you even think about that before jumping into bed with her?"
Beca took a step backwards with every question, feeling her back hit the couch as Jess leveled another glare at her. The last question sparked a fire in her though, refusing to let Jess believe she hadn't put any thought into what they were doing. "Hold on a second there, detective," Beca shot back. "Of course I thought about how fucked up this is. I was the one who called the whole thing off at first. You think I actually want to ruin her career? Or her life?"
Jess replied immediately, "I don't think you realize the consequences your actions could have for her. You get off with a slap on the wrist and a scolding. Chloe goes to jail. She hasn't mentioned how old you are, but I'm assuming you're underage, or she would have said otherwise. Tell me I'm wrong."
Beca paused, knowing that Chloe hadn't asked her that question yet. "I'm seventeen," she responded evenly. "I turn eighteen in December. That's less than two months away."
Jess pointed a finger at Beca, her voice rising with anger. "So what, Beca?! That's still plenty of time for you two to mess up and get caught. Does she know?"
"She hasn't asked," Beca said defensively.
"Oh, and you couldn't possibly volunteer that information? She deserves to know exactly what she's getting herself into!" Jess exclaimed. "Chloe deserves better than that, and you know it. Have you at least told her how you feel about her?"
"I know she does!" Beca yelled back, finally losing her temper. She processed the rest of what Jess said, her face turning confused. "What are you talking about, 'have I told her how I feel about her?'"
Jess waved her hand brushing Beca's question off. "That you're in love with her. Have you told her?"
Beca's eyes widened and her eyebrows shot up her forehead. "What are you...I don't..." she stuttered, not able to form a coherent thought. "We've only been together for a week!" she finally got out.
"Oh fuck," Jess muttered, rubbing her eyes tiredly. "You need to break up with her. It'll suck for a while, but you'll both get over it...eventually," she said seriously. "I think deep down you know it too, that this isn't good for either of you. Chloe needs someone her own age, who can relate to what she's going through."
"No," Beca said firmly, crossing her arms over her chest.
That got Jess' attention, and for a minute both girls stood still. Beca glared at her girlfriend's best friend, still a little disbelieving that her worst fears about this evening had come true before it'd even begun. Jess wasn't saying anything she hadn't already thought of herself, but the fact that the words were coming from someone so important to Chloe was like a punch straight to her gut. The girl had unknowingly preyed on every insecure feeling she had about her relationship with Chloe, and for a short moment she felt defeated. At the same time, her rebellious nature kicked in hard, and she refused to let Jess swoop in and tear down everything they'd worked so hard to build.
"Just back the fuck up for a second," she scoffed. "I get that you're Chloe's best friend, but there's clearly a lot she hasn't told you about our relationship. Like the fact that after I told her it was done, she came after me. And when she asked me to be her girlfriend the first time, I said no," Beca continued, her voice faltering a bit with emotion. "Because how could she actually want to be with me? I know I'm not right for her. I know that everything you said is true, how we shouldn't be together. How she's going to get in trouble because of me. How she'll regret it and hate me forever if this jeopardizes her career?" she said, her voice growing softer with each question.
Beca shook her head, looking down at the way her fingers were locked tightly together, separating hands into fists. "But you don't know anything about me. You don't know what I've been through, what I've endured to get to this point, right here, with Chloe. And yeah, maybe I'm wrong for her, and maybe I don't deserve her. But that's not for you to decide," she stated. "I respect how much you love Chloe and care about her, and if you took the time to get to know me before accusing me of being some selfish, vindictive tramp, you'd see how much I care about her too."
Beca sighed, moving to grab her phone off the counter. Her voice was soft when she spoke again. "I don't want to ruin this time you have with her. She's been so excited that you were coming to visit, and I know how much she misses you. I think she was planning on sleeping at my place tonight since my parents are out, but could you just tell her I'll see her when I get back from vacation?" she asked quietly, finally chancing a look at Jess, whose face remained expressionless.
She took a deep breath and opened the door, taking a step out before freezing, hearing Jess call her name. 'What the fuck could she possibly want,' Beca thought miserably, wanting only to escape to the safety of her car before she completely lost it. Steeling herself, she slowly turned around, peeking back through the door to see Jess wearing a sheepish smile.
"I'm sorry," the blonde apologized. "It's good to see the fight in you, you're gonna need it."
Beca shook her head confused. "I have no idea what you're talking about," she said honestly. "I'm going to head out before Chloe and Ashley get back."
"No, wait!" Jess called, lunging forward to grab her arm.
Beca reacted instantly, pulling away from the older woman harder than she intended, her momentum causing her to trip over the doorstep and end up in a heap on the ground.
"Beca?"
'Perfect,' Beca thought, as she heard Chloe's voice call her name. This was so much worse than any scenario she had envisioned, and Beca closed her eyes, wondering if she could actually become invisible if she wished hard enough for it.
Chloe's voice pierced her concentration. "Jess? What's going on?"
Beca opened her eyes to see Chloe and Ashley both holding bags of takeout with confused looks on their faces, turning slightly to see Jess' guilty expression.
Chloe leveled Jess with an icy stare and asked again, "What happened?"
Beca stood up quickly, looking between the two friends before butting in. "Chlo, hey, it's fine. Nothing happened. I thought I'd give you guys some time to catch up and tripped over the doorstep as I was leaving. I'll uh...I'll see you when I get back okay?" she said tentatively.
"No," Chloe replied, the irritation creeping into her voice. "What happened to having dinner with us? Are you seriously bailing?"
Beca swallowed hard, glancing around before replying, "Yeah, no, I know...I'm just not that hungry anymore and I think you guys probably have a lot of catching up to do, so..."
Chloe followed her eyes, before addressing Beca sharply, her teacher voice in full effect, "You stay put." She turned back to her best friend, who was looking admittedly looking more guilty by the second, her eyes demanding an explanation. "We were only gone for twenty minutes! What the hell happened?"
"I just wanted to make sure she wasn't fucking with you, Chlo," Jess said with a shrug. "You've got a lot to lose here and I wanted to know if she was serious," she added defensively at Chloe's outraged expression.
"You did what?" Chloe asked, her voice low and eyes flashing dangerously.
Beside her, Ashley groaned and shook her head. "Jess, we talked about this!"
Beca finally decided enough was enough. "Look, we had a frank conversation about our relationship. I completely understand where Jess is coming from, and I told her I respect that. I don't want my presence to ruin the short amount of time you guys have to spend together, so I'm leaving," she said simply, rattling off the explanation.
"No, stay!"
Everyone froze, shocked that the voice calling out for her to stay belonged to Jess. The blonde shot her girlfriend a guilty look before continuing, "Beca, I'm sorry. I didn't intend to take it that far. I was only trying to rile you up a little to see if you were willing to defend your relationship, or if you would run away at the first sign of disapproval. You're going to come up against a lot of people who won't support the two of you, and Chloe deserves someone who's not afraid to fight for her."
Beca glanced hesitantly at the furious look on Chloe's face, returning her attention to Jess as she continued apologizing. "Chlo, I'm sorry. I know you trusted me not to do that, and I did it anyways. I'm really sorry."
Ashley butted in, mumbling, "Not as sorry as you'll be after a month without sex."
Jess' jaw dropped as the words registered, instantly moving to her girlfriend's side and apologizing profusely.
Chloe chuckled darkly, reaching out to take Beca's hand. "Hey, Jess, you can continue groveling inside the apartment before all my neighbors pop out to enjoy the show," she said, leading Beca back through the door.
Ashley ignored her girlfriend and followed them, setting her bag of food on the table before dragging Jess into the bedroom and closing the door. Beca glanced nervously at the door, then at Chloe, who was looking equally nervously back.
"Becs...what did she say?" Chloe asked softly.
Beca shook her head, refusing to answer. "It doesn't matter, Chlo. What she said was true."
Chloe frowned, replying, "Why don't you let me be the judge of that."
"Tell me what Stacie said to you," Beca retorted, smirking when Chloe's mouth closed in a firm line.
Before either of them could speak again, the bedroom door opened and Ashley stepped back into the room, followed by a very apologetic looking Jess who said, "Um, Beca, can I talk to you alone? Nothing bad, I swear," she quickly added, retreating back into the room.
Beca looked at Ashley, who nodded, and made her way into the room, closing the door behind her. Jess was leaning against Chloe's dresser, seemingly thinking of what to say. Beca took pity on the blonde and spoke up first. "My best friend did the same thing to Chloe, you know," she said with a small smile. "Chloe won't tell me what she said, but I also don't think it really matters. The point is that someone in your life cares enough about you to say something at all."
Jess slowly returned her smile. "I was really worried when she told me about you. Not because I actually think you're a...how'd you so eloquently put it...a selfish, vindictive tramp?" They both chuckled before Jess continued on. "Because even over the phone I could tell that she really liked you. Enough to risk everything she's always wanted, and worked so hard to achieve. I just hoped you were worth it, ya know?"
Beca nodded, moving to sit down on the bed before asking, "And?"
Jess held her stare for a moment, replying, "Honestly, I didn't expect you to handle yourself that well. Not only did you put me in my place, you did it without involving Chloe, and valuing her friendship with me over your own relationship. Have to admit, I was impressed...I am impressed. You're kinda exactly how she described you, except for the snarky part," Jess said cheekily, a sly grin making its way across her face.
Beca smirked back, replying, "Well stick around a while. That part of me is never far from the surface." She relaxed a little as Jess laughed, and Beca could feel the mood shift in the room.
"It was harder than you think, grilling you with those questions. I didn't expect to like you right away," Jess admitted.
Beca raised her eyebrows, retorting, "I'd hate to see what you do to the people you don't like right away."
Jess' grin turned mischievous, as she answered, "I've reduced three of Chlo's ex-boyfriends to tears. She finished getting ready too fast the last time, or I would have been four for four."
Beca nodded, her voice solemn. "I totally believe that. You're going to be a killer lawyer." She glanced at the door, hearing sounds coming from the other room that sounded an awful lot like clinking plates. "Stacie mentioned something to me about the best friend approval being necessary to a successful relationship. Where are we with that, because I'm starving and I know Chloe won't hesitate to start eating without us."
Jess took a few steps forward and extended her hand. "I'd say we should start over, but I don't want to. I said before that Chloe deserves someone who will fight for her, and now I know that you aren't afraid to. Friends?"
Beca nodded, standing up and shaking Jess' hand repeating, "Friends. How do you feel about Thai?"
"Love it," was the response.
Beca grinned and lead the way to the door, opening it and saying, "Then you're gonna love this place. Best Thai food in all of San Diego. And I should know, I've tried them all."
Chloe and Ashley looked up as they exited the room, Beca closing her eyes for a moment and humming happily at the delicious smell coming from the table.
Chloe asked, "Are you guys ready to eat? We didn't hear sounds of destruction from in there, so we assumed you weren't killing each other."
Beca made her way over to the table, scoffing, "We are much more civilized than that. We were playing rock paper scissors to determine if I was an acceptable girlfriend or not. Lucky I won, right?" she said with a wink.
Jess laughed, only nodding when Chloe shot her a curious look. "She's wickedly good at that game, Chlo. I wouldn't advise challenging her," the blonde added, moving to sit on her girlfriend's lap. Ashley whispered something in her ear, and Jess responded with a smile, a nod. The brunette wrapped her arms around her girlfriend, pulling her closer.
Beca looked back at Chloe after watching this, seeing the redhead's eyes alight with mischief, her hands held out in front of her. She looked down seeing Chloe's fist sitting in her open palm and raised her eyebrows saying, "Really, Chlo?"
At her girlfriend's nod, she shook her head knowing there was no getting out of it now, and readied her own hands. Two quick matches later, Chloe reigned victorious, winning two out of three both times. Beca sighed, defeated, and sat down at the table, looking up in time to catch Jess' exasperated look from across the table.
"You couldn't even win once, Beca?" the blonde asked, shaking her head. "Good thing I didn't just admit that the worst rock paper scissors player ever kicked my ass," she said sarcastically, as Chloe grinned.
Beca smirked, replying, "I figured if I let Chloe win now...maybe she'll let me win later."
The redhead spun around, making her way over to perch in Beca's lap and whispered in her ear, "I think we'll both win later. I've got a surprise for you later since you'll be gone for five days." Placing a kiss to her neck, Chloe bounced up and began opening containers of food.
Beca swallowed hard, staying still for a moment as her heart slowed down to a normal rate, mumbling, "Tease."
Chloe winked at her before starting to pile food on plates, Jess and Ashley joining in soon after. Beca shook her head and reached for a container. After a few minutes of happy silence, accompanied by the appropriate remarks from Jess and Ashley on how amazing the food was, Beca spoke up. "So now that I've been thoroughly attacked and have properly defended mine and Chloe's honor, how's law school, Jess?"
Jess smiled at her comments, replying, "Insane, but good. I'm sure Chloe's told you that I'm in my last year, so I'm starting to get ready for the bar exam. I've got a little more time, but it's going to be hard as hell. Classes are going well though, so I'm focusing on finishing the semester strong. Ash has been amazing dealing with my craziness," she finished, shooting an adoring smile at her girlfriend.
Ashley smiled back, and Beca got the strange feeling she was intruding on a private moment between the two of them. It only lasted a few seconds before Ashley looked away, saying, "She hasn't been any crazier than usual. I'm not sure that will remain true when she starts studying for the bar though."
Chloe nodded, asking, "And how's work going for you, Ash? I actually think I forgot to mention to Beca that you're a CPA."
Ashley nodded, looking over at Beca. "That's right, I double majored in Business and Accounting, and passed the tests to become a CPA about a year after I finished college."
Jess jumped in proudly, "At the same time she was getting her MBA. Love bragging on you, sweetie," she added, reaching over to place her hand on the brunette's knee.
Ashley blushed a little, before rolling her eyes and continuing to answer Chloe's question. "Work isn't too bad right now. I work in the accounting department for a record label in Nashville, not far from where Jess is in school at Vanderbilt."
Beca looked up from her plate with interest. "Really? That's awesome! Well, the record label part. I can't imagine being an accountant. I suck at math, and well, anything with numbers, really."
Ashley smiled, responding, "It is really cool. The music scene is so big there, and it's nice to be involved in some way. And accounting isn't for everyone, but I like the challenge of working through the numbers and making sure everything fits together. Plus, working for a label does come with perks, like the occasional free ticket or backstage pass when they remember us little people that keep the lights on," she joked.
Beca nodded, wondering if she would ever see her ultimate dream of starting her own label become a reality. "What label do you work for?" she asked, taking another bite and not noticing the looks being exchanged around the table.
"Big Machine Records," Ashley said casually, causing Beca to freeze, slowly looking up around the table. "I'm just a junior accountant right now, but I like it there."
Beca seemed unable to form words, her mind going into overdrive. "That's Taylor Swift's label," she managed, still looking around the table and wondering how they could be so chill about this. "And Rascal Flatts, and Tim McGraw," she continued incredulously. "Right, you all knew this already which is why I'm the only one totally freaking out," she mumbled, still in awe.
Chloe chuckled, leaning over to take her hand. "Take a minute to process it, baby," she said. "Don't feel bad, Jess and I freaked out for days when Ash got the job two years ago."
Beca looked over at Jess, who was nodding in agreement. Forcing herself to take a deep breath, she looked back at Chloe, who wasted no time in teasing her. "You seem to know an awful lot about that label for someone who hates country music."
"That label is iconic, Chlo," Beca defended. "And I don't hate all country music, just most of it. Besides, T. Swift has finally realized the error of her ways and moved on to pop music," she added with a grin.
"Hey, watch your mouth," Jess snapped playfully. "Or we'll go full country on you," she threatened.
It was in that moment that Beca realized she was seriously outnumbered in the category of liking country music. As if on cue, Chloe burst into the chorus of Rascal Flatts' "Bless the Broken Road," Jess and Ashley joining in instantly. Beca's eyes widened as Chloe's southern accent became even more pronounced in the song, in complete disbelief that this was actually happening. Chloe pointed at her as she finished the chorus, rising up out of her seat to return to Beca's lap, wrapping an arm around the back of her neck and giving her a quick kiss. Beca slipped her arms around her girlfriend as the redhead spoke up.
"What do you guys want to do tonight? We could pop in a movie," she offered, and Beca peeked around her girlfriend to gauge the reactions of the other two.
Thankfully, Jess shook her head, and Beca was relieved until she heard the alternative suggestion. "I've heard so much about Beca's music, I was hoping she'd play a song or two for us. If you don't mind, of course," she added, shooting a hopeful look at Beca.
Beca, for her part, raised her eyebrows at Chloe, asking, "Just how much did you tell them about me?"
Chloe huffed, "Of course I bragged about your amazing musical abilities. You wrote me a song, Becs! No one's ever done that for me before."
Beca couldn't stay angry at her girlfriend after those comments, and she sighed, pressing her forehead into Chloe's shoulder. "I don't have my guitar with me, tonight."
Chloe wasn't deterred. "Well, we were planning on staying at your place tonight anyways, right? We could clean up and move this party over there for a while. Probably be more comfortable too, with the extra space," she added as an afterthought.
Beca thought about it for a moment, before shrugging. "Sure, why not. I've got the house to myself. As long as Jess and Ashley don't mind."
At the agreement of the other two, they began cleaning up the dishes, putting tops back on the takeout containers and storing them in the fridge. Beca stationed herself at the sink, rinsing the plates and silverware before putting them in the dishwasher as Chloe disappeared into her room, emerging with an overnight bag moments later. She put the last plate into a slot and closed the washer door while Ashley finished wiping down the table.
Chloe looked around the room and nodded. "Okay, Becs will lead the way and I'll follow behind you guys to make sure you don't get lost."
Jess looked at her confused. "Why don't you just ride with Beca?"
The redhead shot her best friend a look, explaining, "Because I can't show up to school in the morning in Beca's car. And I'm not coming back here tonight."
Realization dawned on Jess, and she grinned sheepishly. "Right. Got it. Ready if you are."
Beca laughed. "You get used it. The sneaking around is fun. And kinda hot," she said, winking at Chloe before turning and leading the way out of the apartment.
Twenty minutes later Beca pulled into her driveway, opening the garage door as she parked and watched the other two cars ease to a stop along the curb in front of the house. She exited the driver's seat and locked the doors, smiling as Chloe lead her friends up the driveway.
"Damn," Jess said, letting out a low whistle as she glanced at the house.
Beca shuffled forward, looking down for a second before replying awkwardly, "My stepmom has a lot of money...makes a lot of money. My dad and I moved in with her after they got married. She insisted...she...well, let's just say it wasn't a surprise," she finished with a wry smile, turning away from Chloe's curious expression and lead the way through the garage door into the kitchen. "Come on in, I'll give you the tour."
Beca saved her bedroom for last, opening the door and feeling relieved that she'd straightened up a bit before Chloe came over last night. The three women were immediately interested in her mixing board, and Beca froze as Jess ran a tentative hand over the dials. She forced herself to take a deep breath, knowing they were harmless, and walked over to the other side of the room to pick up her guitar.
Jess turned to her, saying, "Beca, this is really cool. Chloe mentioned you were into this stuff, and I know firsthand it's not easy."
Ashley nodded beside her. "I don't have much pull at the label, but I'd be happy to drop off a demo if you have one. Couldn't hurt, right?" she asked, looking at Jess for some sign of affirmation.
The blonde shrugged and replied, "I don't see how it could hurt. Worst case scenario, they throw it in the trash."
"Comforting," Beca joked, but she smiled hopefully at Ashley. "It'd be amazing if you could give someone my demo. I've only got a few songs that are completely finished, but I'd love any feedback on them."
Ashley returned her smile. "I was chatting with one of the senior producers at an event a month or so ago. I did her taxes last spring, so I think she'd listen to it as a favor."
Beca grinned excitedly, walking over to grab a flash drive out of one of her desk drawers. She handed it to Ashley, who slipped it into the pocket of her jeans. "Thanks. This is...well, I don't think I can explain how much this means to me. I really appreciate it," Beca said softly, and Chloe moved to slide an arm around her.
Jess cut in, "Well she's not doing it for free! I'd say three songs is sufficient payment, including one of the tracks on that drive. Deal?"
Beca rolled her eyes playfully, responding, "Deal, Blondie."
She moved towards the hallway and gestured that they should exit ahead of her, closing the bedroom door behind her and following them downstairs. Chloe lead the way into the main room, collapsing onto the couch closest to the piano and looked hopefully up at her girlfriend, asking, "Maybe a song on the piano, too?"
Beca frowned for a moment, glancing over at the piano before returning her gaze to the redhead and sighing. "We'll see, Chlo. How about we start on the guitar and see where we end up?"
Chloe nodded happily, grinning at the curious expressions on her friends' faces. Jess looked like she wanted to say something, instead settling comfortably on the couch with Ashley, leaning into her girlfriend as the brunette slipped her arms around her.
Beca dragged the piano bench out, perching comfortably on it and slipped the guitar strap over her head. "Any requests?" she asked, strumming a little to make sure it was tuned.
Chloe spoke up immediately. "Play something new, baby," she said eagerly.
Beca paused, momentarily distracted by Chloe's eyes drinking in the sight of her. She frowned, replying, "Fine, but stop looking at me like that. I can't concentrate."
Jess piped up, "Yeah, Chloe, stop being so hot so your girlfriend can play us some music!"
That drew a laugh; even Beca chuckled as she closed her eyes and ran through songs in her mind. Settling on one, she opened her eyes and looked at the three women. "Okay, so this one is a little different. I started writing it not long after I first met Chloe, but hit a block and sorta dropped it for a while. I just started working on it again, and it's still not finished."
Chloe rolled her eyes playfully. "Okay, okay, less yapping, more singing," she teased.
Beca gave her a hard stare, before the look in her eyes softened as she shook her head and began playing. As usual, her foot began tapping gently along with the beat, and she started singing the first verse.
I try to fight it
But every time it's like a brand new car
Or a drug and you know you're gonna try it
When they tell you that you can't do that
But you will and you know you're gonna like it
When you light a flame it grows
If you set a bomb it's gonna blow
When I see your pretty little face that I want to know that
I don't want to fall asleep without you
I don't want to take one breath without you
I don't even know one thing about you
But give me everything about you
It's only been a moment, it's true
But I could never live this life without you
Beca looked up from her guitar to see the stunned expressions on all three of the women's faces, and immediately stopped playing. "Uh...you could have just told me to stop. I did say it was a work in progress..." she trailed off nervously as Jess was the first to find her voice.
"That was really good," she said slowly, turning slightly to look up at Ashley. "Holy shit. You wrote that?" she asked, looking back at Beca.
Beca nodded, shifting uncomfortably on the bench, looking over at Chloe. The redhead had finally lost the shocked expression, and was giving her that special smile; the one that Beca had a feeling was reserved only for her. It stretched ear to ear, and was as bright as the sun.
Chloe walked over to Beca, straddling her legs despite the guitar between them, and leaned down to capture her lips, reminding Beca exactly how her music affected her girlfriend. It was when the redhead's tongue began exploring her mouth that she remembered they weren't alone, pulling away to look anxiously over at Jess and Ashley. She shouldn't have bothered really, as the two were wrapped up in each other on the other couch, lost in their own world.
Beca looked back up at Chloe, as her girlfriend said, "You started writing that after we met?"
She nodded, replying, "You were in my head, Beale. The only way I could express myself was through music. I wrote a lot of songs about you...does that freak you out?"
Chloe's eyes darkened, and she slowly shook her head before wrapping her arms loosely around Beca's neck and kissed her again. They were interrupted moments later as Jess' voice rang out through the room.
"Hey, lovebirds. Break it up. Beca owes us two and a half more songs!"
Chloe rolled her eyes, giving Beca one more kiss before retorting, "You two were a hundred times worse than Beca and I, and I lived with you for five years. You can suck it up for five minutes," she finished, returning to her seat on the couch.
Beca began playing the same melody, explaining, "I don't have a second verse yet, but I think I've worked out the bridge." The melody shifted slightly and she picked up right in the middle of the song.
Doesn't matter where I go
Doesn't matter if I run
We were always gonna get too close
We were always gonna fall in love
Beca repeated the four lines of the bridge again, losing herself slightly in the light blue of Chloe's eyes, and moved straight into the chorus. She broke into a smile as she saw Jess and Ashley dancing a little on the other couch, playing the chorus once more without singing before slowly ending the song.
The three women clapped, and Beca shook her head and looked down, unable to stop the grin from spreading across her face.
"That was really good, Beca," Ashley said, her voice sincere. "I'll make sure your demo reaches the right hands."
Beca looked up at her words, asking, "And what would you have done if I was terrible?"
"Lied to your face tonight and thrown it in the first dumpster I found at Chloe's apartment complex," Ashley replied, with a straight face.
Beca chuckled as Chloe threw a pillow at her friend in mock anger, causing them both to throw their hands up in protection.
Jess slapped the small pillow away, chiming in, "But we weren't too worried about that. Chlo said you were good, and she would never lie about music."
Chloe nodded at Jess' words, turning to face Beca. "What songs are on your demo?" she asked.
Beca hesitated, her fingertips tracing slow patterns over her guitar. "The song from the concert," she started, returning Chloe's smile with a small one of her own. "One called 'It's Only Life,'" she continued, absentmindedly strumming gentle chords. "And the one about my mom," she finished nervously.
Jess asked curiously, "Where is your mom? You mentioned your stepmom earlier..." she trailed off as Beca looked down, avoiding her gaze and Chloe glared at her, her eyes clearly telling her to shut up.
"She died," Beca replied, finally looking up at Jess and Ashley. "I wrote a song about it, and while singing it is extremely difficult for me, it's the best out of all of them. I kinda wish it wasn't, but it is, and I wouldn't be giving this my all if I left my best song off of my demo tracks."
Jess' face was filled with regret as she said, "Beca, I'm so sorry. I wasn't thinking at all."
Beca shook her head, giving them a small smile. "No, no it's okay, really. I've got to...I've got to find a better way of dealing with it." She met Chloe's nervous gaze and instantly relaxed a little. Changing the subject, she said, "I believe I still owe you two more songs."
All three women broke into wide smiles as Beca began playing the opening chords to "She," and Chloe squealed, recognizing the song immediately. By the end, Chloe had joined in singing the chorus with Beca, and she wondered in the back of her mind if maybe she should think about adding some extra vocals onto her tracks, having only recorded minor background harmonies on her own. A familiar thought flashed through her head, and made a mental note to convince Chloe to take the lead on one of her next songs, knowing the redhead had a killer voice.
Chloe's voice brought her back into the moment. "I love that song," she sighed happily, and Beca looked up to meet her eyes.
"I'm glad...since it's about you..." she trailed off with a smirk. "It'd kinda suck if you didn't like it."
Chloe winked at her, retorting, "I think I showed you exactly how much I like it."
Beca opened her mouth to respond, but Jess interrupted them. "You two are disgustingly adorable." She glanced up at Ashley, asking, "We were never that bad, right?"
The brunette leaned down to kiss her cheek, replying, "Of course not, babe. We were much worse," she continued with a sly grin as Jess' jaw dropped in mock outrage and lightly smacked her girlfriend's leg.
"I'm sorry, did you say 'were?'" Chloe interrupted. "That implies you aren't anymore, which I can promise you is not true."
Beca smiled watching the exchange, noting the content looks on Jess and Ashley's faces as the brunette responded. "What can I say, I was lucky enough to find 'the one' when I was 18. We've had six years to perfect the art of being disgustingly adorable. You'll get there," she finished, smiling as Jess leaned up to kiss her.
Beca noticed that despite Chloe's teasing, the redhead was smiling at her friends, before turning to meet her gaze, nothing but happiness reflected in her eyes. She smiled back at her girlfriend, before looking down at her guitar, and starting to strum the opening notes to a song she'd been working on a lot lately. It was definitely a work in progress, but Beca knew it had incredible potential. She just hadn't heard it come together in her head yet, and was still tinkering with the music. She started off singing softly, loving the way the lyrics built, knowing that the melody would have to do the same.
One minute's fading
One minute's past
But I've got this moment
To make it all last
I'm standing before you, taking my chance on everything
I never thought that I could be
'Cause you can do almost anything
Improvising a little, she played the melody a little louder, feeling out a slightly different rhythm as she hit the chorus.
If you just believe
You can move mountains with dreams
The higher you climb, the better it gets
'Cause you will see things, you'll never forget
If you just believe
Beca fell into that easy groove that happened when one of her songs came together in her head, everything else fading away leaving her alone with her guitar in the moment. Although the guitar was the only sound in the room besides her voice, the rest of the music filled her mind, her eyes closing as she pictured exactly how to pull the song together.
She abruptly stopped playing, removed her guitar and carefully placed it on the floor before sprinting upstairs, calling out over her shoulder, "Sorry, just give me five minutes!"
When Beca returned to the room ten minutes later, she gave Chloe a sheepish smile and apologized again. "Sorry, I just...I've been struggling with the melody for that one and I heard it...you know? I heard it in my head, and I just had to jot down a few notes so I don't forget it." She relaxed a little at Chloe's smile, sitting down on the couch next to her girlfriend.
"It's okay, baby," Chloe said, immediately wrapping her arms around the brunette's shoulder and pulling her closer. Beca sighed, leaning into Chloe and reveling in the contact as the redhead looked over at her friends. "Now that Beca has played the three required songs, do you guys want to watch a movie or something?"
Jess and Ashley exchanged a quick glance before Jess looked back at the other pair, answering, "Nah, we're pretty tired from the long trip. And we know you guys want to have a little alone time before Beca leaves tomorrow," she added with a wink.
Beca flushed and looked down at her hands as Chloe chuckled, nodding her head. "I won't bother denying it," she said, leaning down to press her nose into the crook of Beca's neck, holding on a little tighter. "I want you all to myself," she whispered in Beca's ear, grinning as the brunette shivered a little before gently untangling herself and rising from the couch.
Beca followed behind the other three to the front door, waiting patiently as Chloe gave them the key to her apartment and hugged both her friends. Ashley turned to her first, giving her a short hug, saying, "I'm really glad Chloe convinced you to meet us. I enjoyed getting to know you tonight, and you're one hell of a musician. I'm excited to pass your demo on at the label."
Beca blushed as she returned the hug before quickly stepping back. "Thanks...I uh..I'm really glad I got to meet you too. You guys are really good friends...to you know...support Chloe...and uh, our relationship," she said awkwardly, feeling the nervousness return for some reason.
She relaxed a little at the encouraging smile Ashley gave her, the older woman exuding a calm demeanor and easy confidence that Beca could only dream of possessing one day. "I trust Chloe's judgment. And she trusts you. That's all I need to know," Ashley said warmly.
Beca nodded, as Ashley stepped back to let Jess give her a hug. The blonde gave her an apologetic look as she released the younger girl. "I'm sorry again, for badgering you a little at the beginning. I think you two are good together, and you obviously make Chloe happier than, well, maybe I've ever seen her. But as her best friend, I'm obligated to hunt you down if you hurt her, and now I know where you live," she finished with a good-natured smile and a quick wink, as Beca shrugged and nodded again.
"Seems about fair to me," she agreed, as Chloe returned to her side and slipped an arm around her. "I accept your terms, Blondie."
Jess chuckled before she and Ashley told Chloe they'd see her tomorrow and headed out the door. Beca closed and locked it behind them, turning to lean against it facing Chloe.
"Well," she drawled playfully. "How'd I do?" She posed the question lightly, but was curious to hear Chloe's answer.
Chloe gave her that special smile, stepping closer and putting her hands on Beca's hips. "Thank you," she murmured, leaning down and kissing the brunette. "That meant a lot to me...you mean a lot to me."
Beca whispered, "Back at you, Beale," before leaning up and kissing the redhead again. Pulling back slightly, she smirked up at her girlfriend and said, "Do I get my surprise now?"
Chloe's eyes darkened as she gave the brunette a predatory look up and down, her eyes full of promise, before silently taking Beca's hand and leading her upstairs.
A/N: Whew! An extra long thank you to my beta Ravenclawsome33 for that extra long chapter!
Thanks to everyone who continues to Read & Review! I'm a bit behind on responding to you all, but know that I read each and every one of them, and that it motivates me to keep chugging along. You're all awesome!
For those of you that have been missing Chloe's POV, the next chapter is all her while Beca's on vacation!
Hope that long chapter was worth the wait! Let me know whatcha thought :-).