Chapter 30
A/N: Fast update! It's Prom Night people :-). This one starts off from Chloe's POV and switches over to Beca's halfway through.
Music:
T-Shirt – Thomas Rhett
(Chloe's POV)
"That's it for today, ya'll. Have a good weekend, but don't forget that your last lab report is due Monday!" Chloe reminded her last section of AP Biology students, to little response. She understood why, since most of them were seniors and only had graduation on their mind.
She sat down at her desk as they filed out of the room, more aware than ever that Beca had not attended her class again. That made three times that week, the brunette only showing up to complete the final lab with Stacie. Beca had barely looked at Chloe, but the miserable look on her face gave away the brunette's feelings.
Chloe wasn't feeling any better about the situation. She missed Beca terribly, but it hurt a lot to think that she'd just been a game, or that Beca's feelings weren't genuine. After a long conversation with Jess, she'd decided to take some more time to think about whether she was really serious about their relationship. Jess had sympathized with her, but had also pointed out that Beca seemed to have changed a lot during their relationship, and doubted that the brunette could fake those types of feelings.
A voice jerked her out of her thoughts.
"Hey, Ms. Beale."
Chloe looked up to see Stacie in front of her, looking both excited and nervous.
"Hi, Stacie. What's up?" Chloe asked, giving the girl a smile.
Stacie's grin grew wider as she said, "I just wanted to thank you for all your help this year, and tell you that I got accepted at Stanford!"
Chloe's heart warmed instantly, and she circled around the desk to give the girl a hug. "Congrats! That's amazing! I told you you'd get in."
Stacie returned the hug, stepping back with a relieved look on her face. "I know, but you never know. I wanted it so bad."
"You'll fit right in there. It's a wonderful place and you completely deserved to get in," Chloe replied honestly.
"Thanks," Stacie said, hesitating for a second.
Chloe noticed the pause, as if Stacie wanted to say something else. "Was there something else?" she prompted.
Stacie took a deep breath and said, "Yeah, it's about Beca. She got the offer she wanted from Big Machine, but she's not sure if she'll sign it."
Chloe felt the conflicting emotions within her spike. She was overjoyed that Beca had received an offer to record her music, but could not ignore the sadness that filled her at the thought of the brunette being so far away.
"Why wouldn't she sign it?" Chloe asked curiously, knowing that Beca had dreamed of this for most of her life.
Stacie paused again, before answering, "Because of you."
Chloe gave her a confused look, asking, "Why? What do I have to do with it?"
Stacie rolled her eyes, moving quickly to shut the classroom door. "Because she's in love with you," she said, as if it were the most obvious thing on the planet. "I know you guys are fighting right now, or whatever, but no matter what you think, her feelings are real. Why do you think she keeps skipping your class?"
Chloe remained silent, letting Stacie's words soak in.
"Anyways, that's not even what I want to ask you," Stacie sighed, making her way to one of the tables and leaning against it.
Chloe asked, "Then what do you want to ask me?"
"She loves you, whether you believe it or not. She'll listen to you. You have to tell her to go," Stacie said, meeting Chloe's eyes. "This is everything that she's ever wanted, and she's considering throwing it all away and going to college to stay here with you."
"That's ridiculous," Chloe scoffed, hiding just how much those words hit her. "She'd never do that."
Stacie's eyebrows rose as she replied, "That's not what she told me. If you think she's just playing with you, then end it. Set her free to go to Tennessee. If you really love her, then you'll want what's best for her. You'll want her to live her dream of making music. I think we both know that either way, the best thing for her is to sign that deal."
Chloe shrugged helplessly, saying, "Beca's stubborn. She won't do something she doesn't want to do, and not even I can convince her otherwise. You recall what happened with SAT prep, right?"
Stacie nodded, a smile coming to her face. "Yeah, she's a stubborn little shit, but you get through to her...somehow. I don't really care how you do it, but I just have a feeling that you're the one that can convince her to go. So will you please talk to her?"
Chloe sighed, knowing that Stacie was right. Beca belonged in a studio making music. As hard as it would be for her if Beca moved across the country, it would be much worse to have the brunette resent her later on. Chloe gave a wry smile as she remembered a similar sounding conversation they'd had over their relationship and Chloe's dreams. This was different though. Chloe didn't have to choose between Beca and her dream, she got to have both. Forcing Beca to choose wasn't right, and Chloe knew when it came down to it, she wouldn't make her.
Nodding, she agreed, "Okay, I'll talk to her."
Exhaling in relief, Stacie smiled. "Thanks, Chloe. I don't want her to regret it. Chances like this are once in a lifetime."
Chloe nodded again, saying, "I know. I'll do my best to make sure she realizes that."
"Good. Beca deserves it. She's had enough bad shit in her life. She deserves to win for a change," Stacie said, pulling open the door and exiting the room.
Chloe watched her go, before sitting back down at her desk with her head in her hands. Stacie was right, Beca deserved to win. It was up to Chloe to find the strength to prove she loved Beca enough to convince her to go. She knew she loved Beca, and if she was honest with herself, she knew that Beca loved her too. The brunette was too guarded, too closed-off to fake what they had.
"Only know you love her when you let her go," Chloe murmured, the lyrics coming to mind out of nowhere, her heart heavy at the task in front of her.
She couldn't do it. Chloe had spent the past week trying to work up the courage to talk to Beca about her recording contract, but the thought of really losing her was incredibly painful. Of course, they weren't talking at all, which was also very difficult and gave her the perfect excuse. It had been a little over two weeks since Chloe had overheard Beca and Stacie talking about the dare, and she had chickened out of apologizing for overreacting more times than she could count.
Chloe missed Beca more than she could bear. It was so lonely without her to talk to, or spend time with. Chloe hadn't realized just how much she needed Beca's love and support until it was gone, and she was truly miserable. She and Aubrey were not speaking either, as Chloe was still furious with the blonde for how she handled finding out about their relationship, despite the fact that Beca's parents had reacted extremely well. She still spoke with Jesse occasionally, and knew that the man was just as upset as she was. He'd confided in her a few days after the incident that he'd been planning on asking Aubrey on a real date that night, and that she hadn't spoken to him since.
Chloe felt terrible that they were all unhappy, and blamed herself. If she had just been professional about the whole thing, none of this would have happened. She hated to think that way, though, because she honestly believed that Beca was the best thing that had ever happened to her, maybe outside of accepting the job at Barden. If it wasn't real, it wouldn't hurt so much.
Chloe looked over at the simple black dress hanging from the back of her bathroom door, dreading what was to come later on that night. No teacher actually wants to chaperone prom night, and Chloe was even more against it knowing that she would have to watch Beca dance and have fun with her friends while she stood there alone with no one to talk to. She reminded herself that Jesse would be there, hoping that maybe he would make it somewhat bearable.
She took her time getting ready, moving slowly as if that would help. Instead, it only kept her mind focused on exactly what was to come for the rest of the night. Chloe stepped into the dress and plain black heels, letting her hair frame her face in loose waves. Grabbing her keys and purse, she took a deep breath and walked out, locking the door behind her.
After a short drive, Chloe parked at the nearby hotel where the dance was being held. The school had rented out the ballroom for the evening. The teachers were told to arrive early, and Chloe thankfully spotted Jesse sitting in his car as she walked toward the entrance. She tapped on his window, stepping back as he exited the car.
"Hey, Chloe," he greeted, closing the door. "You look great!"
She smiled, replying, "Thanks. You clean up nice, too."
Jesse's boyish face broke into a wide grin as he pretended to fix his tie. "I do my best. Ready to go in?"
Chloe's face fell as she looked at the hotel. "As ready as I'll ever be."
"Allow me to escort you," Jesse said, chivalrously offering her his arm.
She laughed, hooking her hand through his arm as they walked inside. When they reached the ballroom, Chloe smiled as the memories of her own prom hit her. The room was decorated beautifully, with food set up along the back wall and drinks in the far corner. The cherry on top was the chocolate fountain already running in a second corner, boxing in the food tables. It was set up complete with different fruits and treats to dip, like marshmallows and strawberries.
Chloe smiled as she looked at the dance floor and DJ booth occupying the opposite end of the room, with tables and chairs in between. "This looks great!" she said enthusiastically.
Jesse nodded, his eyes flickering over to the chocolate fountain in the corner. "Come on, let's try it out before the kids devour it."
Chloe laughed at the hunger in his eyes and agreed, walking over to the table with him. She dipped a strawberry in, holding back a moan at how good it tasted. Jesse had no such qualms, groaning in happiness at his piece of chocolate covered pound cake.
"I gotta get one of these," he said, eyeing the table for his second victim.
Chloe lightly smacked his arm, saying, "Yeah, then you can have as much as you want. Leave the rest for the kids, it's their night."
She rolled her eyes at his disappointed look, before dragging him off to meet the rest of the teachers that were arriving and helping with last minute touches. It wasn't long before the students started arriving, looking way more grown up that Chloe was accustomed to. They were mostly stunning in their dresses and rented tuxedos, with the unfortunate one or two that did not choose so wisely. Chloe kept her opinions to herself though, loving the happy looks on everyone's faces as they got to celebrate and get dressed up for a night.
She felt her stomach churning in anticipation of Beca's arrival, wondering what would hit her when she finally saw the brunette. Chloe felt bad that she hadn't spoken to Beca this week, knowing that the longer it went, the harder it would be. She was struggling with the reality of either having to do long distance or break up. Neither option was very attractive to her, and despite not usually being one to put things off, her procrastination game was on point.
Chloe was sure her heart stopped when Beca finally walked in. She hadn't known what to expect, having never even seen the brunette in a skirt, let alone a dress. It took bit of focus to keep her jaw from hitting the floor at Beca's navy dress, one shoulder bare and displaying the flowers tattooed over her skin. It was simple and stunning and Chloe couldn't tear her eyes away. Beca's hair was pulled back elegantly with a few tendrils framing her face, her diamond earrings sparkling in the low light of the ballroom.
She was so captivated, it took her a moment to register that Beca wasn't alone, her arm clutched around a tall, black-haired boy in a black tux with a navy vest and tie that matched her dress. It killed her to admit it, but they were a striking couple, and Chloe felt a fire light inside her at the happy smile on Beca's face as the boy leaned down and whispered something into her ear.
A voice in her ear whispered, "You okay?"
Chloe tore her gaze away from her girlfriend to look at Jesse, his face concerned. "Yeah," she answered shakily.
He asked, "Are you two still..."
Chloe frowned, looking down at her hands before saying, "I'm not sure. We had a fight."
Jesse gave her a reassuring smile and said, "Well, I wouldn't worry about that."
"Yeah..." Chloe trailed off, her gaze drawn back to Beca and her date, who were now sitting at a table along with Stacie and a few classmates that Chloe vaguely recognized. She broke into a real smile as she spotted Benji extending his hand to Emily, one of her freshmen students, leading her to the dance floor.
Jesse followed her gaze, saying, "Benji's really come out of his shell this year. He was much quieter before he met Emily."
Chloe turned to him, surprised. "Really? I guess he was quiet at first, but I've always found him smart and engaging."
"Painfully shy when I first met him. He's grown a lot more confident over the last few years," Jesse answered casually, glancing around the room.
Chloe looked back to see the boy clearly trying to convince Beca to dance. Beca never danced. It was like pulling teeth for Chloe to even get her moving when they were alone, and she was floored when she saw the brunette give in and allow her date to pull her to her feet. She turned to Jesse, who looked just as surprised as she felt. Looking back in time to see Stacie and her date join them in the crowd of kids on the dance floor, Chloe couldn't control the hurt that was flooding her body. Not only was Beca looking more stunning than Chloe had ever seen her, she was obviously having a great time...with someone else. Chloe was sure it would be okay since it was a boy, and since Beca couldn't go with her, but the jealousy was officially eating her alive. She wasn't sure she was going to make it to the end of the night having to watch Beca smile like that at someone else.
Turning away from Jesse, she mumbled, "I'll be back."
He caught her arm, halting her escape for a moment to whisper, "It's just a school dance. I've never seen Beca look at anyone the way she looked at you that night."
Chloe nodded, but the tears were filling her eyes and she knew they would fall any second. Walking quickly to the bathroom, she locked herself in a stall and dabbed at her eyes. She needed to get a grip before things got out of control. After a few minutes, she regained her composure and returned to the ballroom.
The rest of the night was just as hard as she imagined it would be. It was downright painful to watch Beca having such a good time with her date, dancing and singing along to the music. She kept trying to look away and focus on other things, but her gaze was inevitably drawn back to her girlfriend and her hypnotizing smile. It didn't help that the dress was gorgeous and fit her perfectly, reminding Chloe of exactly what she hasn't been getting lately.
Mercifully, the night ended and the students exited in groups out to the parking lot to find their cars or limos. Chloe breathed a sigh of relief as the last group left the hotel, collapsing into a chair and looked around at the empty room. It wasn't long before Jesse sat down beside her and loosened his tie.
"That sucked," Chloe said out loud, now staring at the table in front of her.
Jesse sighed, leaning over to pull her into a hug. Chloe hugged him back, not realizing how much she needed that comfort. "It'll be okay, Chlo," he said, rubbing her back gently. "You should talk to her. I know she really cares about you."
Chloe nodded, rising from the chair and moving to grab her purse. "Yeah, I will. I'm going to head home. I just want to put on my pajamas and eat a shit ton of ice cream."
Jesse walked Chloe to her car and said a quick goodnight. She gave him a wave, before getting in her car and driving the short distance back to her apartment. Unlocking the door, she walked inside tiredly, setting her purse and keys down on the table by the door and entered the kitchen. Pouring herself a glass of wine, Chloe took a few sips before heading into her bedroom to get changed. Setting the glass on her dresser, she kicked off her heels and was just about to reach for the zipper on her dress when she heard a knock at the door.
Chloe wondered who it could be as she padded barefoot out into the main room. She unlocked the door and swung it open, freezing at the sight that greeted her. Her gaze trailed over the navy dress clinging in all the right places, lingering over the tattoo at her shoulder before moving up to meet the stormy blue eyes of her girlfriend.
(Beca's POV)
It was four in the afternoon and Beca was at her wits end. Stacie had dragged her to the nail salon that morning to get their nails done, bribing her with coffee and donuts to get her out of bed. After that, they'd gone to get their hair done, resulting in Beca sitting in a chair for over two hours to get her hair washed, cut, blow-dried, and styled. When she asked why she couldn't do her own hair, Stacie scoffed in place of an actual answer.
Currently, she was sitting in a chair in her living room alongside Stacie as they got their makeup done. Beca was finding it difficult to remain still, fidgeting around uncomfortably.
"Stace, I don't understand why all this is necessary. We're not getting married for fuck's sake," Beca complained, only to be shushed by her makeup artist who was attempting to do something around her eyes.
Stacie looked extremely relaxed, lounging casually in her chair as she answered, "Because it's prom, Becs. It's an excuse to totally pamper ourselves, and Sheila was thrilled at the idea of you doing something with those disgusting toes of yours since you insisted on those strappy heels."
Beca huffed, still very much annoyed with the whole situation. "It's not like I'm trying to impress anyone," she grumbled, sitting up a little straighter.
Stacie glanced over at her, asking, "Not even your girlfriend? She's going to be there, you know."
"Nope," Beca retorted, crossing her arms over her chest. "And she's not my girlfriend anymore."
"You didn't break up, so she's technically still your girlfriend," Stacie said, her tone bored. "Unless you've spoken to her recently?"
Beca stayed silent, letting that be her answer. Deciding to change the subject, she asked, "What time are we meeting everyone again?"
Stacie rolled her eyes, earning herself a raised eyebrow from the woman attempting to do her eyeliner. "Sorry," she apologized, before staying still and addressing Beca. "We're all meeting at Fat Amy's at five, taking pictures, going to dinner, and arriving at prom by seven-ish. We've been over this already."
"I deeply regret not skipping this whole event like I did last year," Beca mumbled, beyond relieved when the woman stepped back and told her she was done.
It was a little before five when she and Stacie pulled up to Fat Amy's house, carefully parking her car in the long driveway. Beca saw all their friends standing around the front of the house, parents milling around taking pictures of the couples. She knew her dad and Sheila were close behind them, and walked up in search of Nick. Thankfully, he spotted her first and came to greet her, Stacie moving off to find her own date.
"Wow, Becs, you look incredible," he said, giving her a quick hug.
She blushed, looking him over as well. "You look really good too, Nick. We match," she said, unable to hide the surprise in her voice as she eyed his navy vest and tie.
Nick chuckled, replying, "Well, yeah. That's how everyone will know you're with me. And because Stacie told me what tux to rent."
Beca nodded, knowing that idea had Stacie written all over it. "Is your mom here?"
"Yeah, come say hi. She'll want to get a hundred or so pictures of us, too. You've been warned," he said playfully, offering her his arm.
"So chivalrous," Beca commented with a grin, her hand gripping his bicep. "And Sheila is a professional photographer, so she'll give your mom a run for her money for sure."
Nick laughed as they approached his mother, who gave Beca a smile and a hug. "Beca, you look so beautiful! Nick, get over here and let me take some pictures of you two."
Beca blushed again, saying, "Thanks."
She looked at Nick, who'd hung back a step or two, before coming forward and slipping his arm easily around her waist. They posed for a few pictures before Beca's parents got there, and she introduced them to Nick's mom.
It was a blur from that point on, as Beca felt like they easily took a few hundred pictures. There were pictures of her alone, pictures of her and Stacie, her and Nick, her and Stacie and their dates, all the girls, all the boys, and lastly everyone together.
Just when Beca thought her face would break from smiling, the limo pulled up, and all the parents insisted the group line up again in front of the shiny black car. Beca groaned, but did as she was told, standing in front of Nick while his hands rested comfortably on her hips in the typical prom pose.
Shockingly, Beca didn't mind posing for pictures with Nick. Sure she hated being photographed, but he kept whispering funny jokes into her ear during the breaks, and his hands never wandered. It made her realize that she'd never really had a good guy friend, and that she was thankfully to have him. It would have definitely sucked to do this alone.
Dinner was short, but fun, and before Beca knew it, they were riding to the hotel where the dance was being held. Seated between Nick and Stacie, they were all laughing at Fat Amy's jokes and singing loudly to the music playing through the car. As they pulled up to the entrance of the hotel, Beca was stunned at how much fun she was having. She wasn't expecting to be enjoying herself quite so much, and found herself thankful again that Nick had still wanted to go with her despite the fact that there wasn't a romantic aspect to the evening.
They exited the car, Nick offering his arm again as she carefully stepped out in her heels. She wasn't very comfortable on them, but had been gaining confidence throughout the evening. It also helped that Nick was a total gentlemen and always offered her his arm for some extra support, noticing her precarious walk after about two seconds. They walked inside the hotel and followed the signs to the ballroom. As they entered, Beca was amazed at how good it looked, with colorful decorations, food tables, a DJ booth, and even a chocolate fountain.
Nick leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Uh oh, Fat Amy's got a decision to make. Think she'll spike the punch bowl or the chocolate fountain?"
Beca couldn't help the grin that spread across her face at the thought of alcoholic chocolate. "Punch, dude, definitely the punch," she responded, looking up at him for his reaction.
"I'll take those odds," he said confidently. "I think she'll rise to the challenge and spike the chocolate. Want to sit down for a minute?"
Beca nodded, allowing him to lead them over to a table, their friends following suit until all the seats were taken. She'd barely been seated for a minute when Benji rose and asked Emily to dance, the couple immediately heading for the dance floor.
Nick was giving her a devious look and she was a little nervous as he rose and extended his hand. "Come on, let's dance."
Beca shook her head, replying, "No way. We literally just got here."
"Oh, come on. What are you so scared of? I know you can dance," Nick pried, not giving up so easily.
"Actually, I can't dance at all," Beca said, a smiling forming on her lips as he tried to give her a puppy face.
Nick wiggled his fingers, trying to coax her out of the chair. "Don't worry, I dance well enough for both of us. I'll make you look good," he said with a wink.
Beca hummed, deciding to take him up on that offer. "Okay, I'll take that bet. Let's see what you've got," she said, taking his hand and rising out of the chair. "But if you're wrong, you can't force me to dance for the rest of the night."
"Yes!" Nick exclaimed, fist pumping in victory. "I accept your terms. Let's go."
Beca rolled her eyes as she let him lead her onto the dance floor. Thankfully the DJ was playing something with a good beat, and she was immediately impressed as Nick started to move. He wasn't lying, he could really dance. Beca saw a flash of red as Stacie danced up alongside her, Mike not far behind.
Turning her attention back to Nick, he took her hand and pulled her in close, whispering in her ear, "Just follow my lead and stay on beat."
"Stay on beat," Beca repeated, feeling the music start to flow through her. "I can do that," she mumbled to herself, watching Nick dance.
Stacie shouted over the music, "Damn, Nick's got moves, guys!"
Beca laughed as they started to dance, finding it absurdly easy to follow Nick's lead. She hated to admit it, but he was absolutely right. Dancing with him was easy, finding the rhythm of the music and moving to it alongside him, the whole time never letter go of his hand. He easily spun her around, giving her a quick wink when they were face to face again.
At the end of the song, he gave her a questioning grin and held his hands up, clearly waiting for her to admit defeat.
Beca shook her head, her smile taking over her face as she said, "Okay, fine! You're an awesome dancer and you're good enough to make both of us look good. Happy?"
He nodded smugly, replying, "Estatic!"
A new song started up, and he immediately grabbed her hand, spinning her out and then back in to his body, starting to move again. It was almost an automatic response as Beca began dancing with him again, wondering how he made it so easy when it was usually a chore for her to move at all. As they continued to dance, she saw a different flash of red out of the corner of her eye, one that she easily recognized. Chloe. Blue eyes had been locked on her, but now all Beca could see was her back as she left the room, leaving Jesse standing by himself against the wall.
Suddenly not feeling like dancing anymore, she leaned in a shouted to NIck over the music, "I'm kinda thirsty. Want to get a drink?"
He nodded, leading her off the dance floor. Beca almost made it across the room to the drinks without tripping, but stumbled a few feet from the table. Instead of hitting the ground, Nick's arms were around her in a flash, helping her stay on her feet.
Grinning at her, he asked, "So is it the heels or are you just terribly clumsy?"
Beca pretended to think about it for a moment, finally answering, "Both, but mainly the clumsy part."
He laughed, scooping them both a glass of punch and handing one to her. Clinking his glass with hers, he asked, "Spiked or not spiked? That is the question."
They both took a sip, Beca coughing immediately. "Spiked," she said, her voice rough from the burn of the alcohol. "Fuck, how did she get that much alcohol in here?"
Nick also looked surprised at the strength of the drink, answering, "I'm impressed. Maybe I should have said the punch and the chocolate fountain. Clearly her talent knows no limits."
Raising her eyebrows, Beca gladly accepted his arm as they walked curiously over to the fountain. Selecting a marshmallow, she dipped it under the chocolate and popped it into her mouth as Nick waited curiously.
Beca hummed happily at the pure melted chocolate mixed with the gooey marshmallow. "Not spiked," she confirmed, licking her lips happily.
After indulging in all the different dipping options at the fountain, they returned to their seats, joining their friends who were taking a dance break.
Beca couldn't help but glance around the room, eyes locking on Chloe once more. The redhead was staring back at her, and Beca noticed that her face was unreadable as she quickly looked away. That was a bad sign, considering Chloe almost always wore her emotions on her sleeve, and Beca rarely had a problem telling how she felt. If she was happy, she didn't hide it, and Beca had the sudden urge to do anything to put a smile back on the redhead's gorgeous face. She wished in that moment that she could have attended the dance with Chloe, picturing in her mind what it would be like to have the redhead moving against her to the music.
In that moment, Beca made up her mind about what she needed to do. She looked over to Stacie, who had already spotted her staring at Chloe. Before she could say anything, Nick pulled her back to her feet, saying, "Break over. Let's dance."
Knowing that there was nothing she could do about Chloe now, and now knowing that dancing with Nick was fun, Beca shot him a grin and allowed him to lead them back to the dance floor. Before they could get into the rhythm, the song changed to a slow number, and Nick gave her an exaggerated bow while offering his hand. She laughed, placing her hand in his and allowed him to pull her closer.
He brought her hands up to his shoulders before placing his softly on her hips, leaning down to whisper in her ear, "This isn't weird, right?"
"If it is, it's only because you're a giant," Beca replied, moving her hands to loosely hang around his neck. "Gotta love the classic middle school slow dance position," she joked, as most of the couples around them were swaying in similar fashion.
Nick nodded in agreement. "Totally. And I'm not a giant. You're just insanely short."
Beca flicked his ear, causing him to wince in pain. "Ow...violent!" he said, reaching up to rub the top of his ear. "On a serious note, thanks for agreeing to be my date. I'm having way more fun than I would be if I'd gone stag," he said honestly, giving her a kind smile.
"I was actually thinking that same thought earlier tonight," Beca admitted, returning his smile. "I'm glad I got the chance to get to know you this year, and I'm really glad you asked me to prom. This has been way more fun than I expected. You're a really good friend, Nick."
He grinned, replying, "Ditto, Becs. You're not so bad...at least when you get past the eyeliner and murderous glare."
Beca shrugged, answering, "I gotta work with what I have."
The song came to and end, the DJ fading immediately into a much faster track. Nick took a step back and said, "You got plenty to work with."
Beca raised her eyebrows as it was his turn to shrug. "What? It's true. You got all the right assets," he quipped lightly, starting to dance again. "Own it, dude. I do," he said with a laugh, moonwalking a few steps in front of her.
Shaking her head, she started to dance again, saying, "You're way too much like Stacie. Between the two of you, I'm in big trouble."
"Did someone say my name?!" Stacie shouted, coming up alongside Beca and wrapping an arm around her. "Becs, dance with me!"
Beca rolled her eyes playfully as Stacie grinded back into her for a few seconds, their other friends all joining them on the floor. She had to admit that for a school dance, this was turning out to be an awesome night.
Beca leaned against Nick, his arm comfortably wrapped around her shoulders. She yawned tiredly, grinning sleepily at him as he followed suit.
"Don't give me your case of the yawns," he mumbled, poking her opposite shoulder.
She laughed, jerking forward slightly as the limo came to a stop outside Fat Amy's house.
"Okay bitches, everyone out!" Fat Amy shouted, leading the way through the door and dragging her date behind her.
The rest of them followed suit, thanking the driver and waving goodbye. The group started the trek up the long driveway, but Beca held back.
Nick shot her a curious look, asking, "Aren't you coming in? We're gonna keep the party going."
Stacie heard him, spinning around and eyeing Beca suspiciously. "Becs?" she asked, gesturing for Mike to head inside and walked over to her best friend.
Beca hesitated, before saying, "I gotta go see my girlfriend."
"I thought she was out of town," Nick said, looking at Stacie for confirmation.
Beca nodded, answering, "She was supposed to be, but she's not. She's here, and I need to go see her."
"Oh, okay," Nick responded, giving her a smile. "Thanks for being the best prom date, Becs. I had a lot of fun."
Beca returned his smile, shuffling over to give him a hug. "Ditto, dude. This was a million times better than going by myself."
Nick nodded in agreement. "Absolutely. Well, drive safe. I'm gonna head in. See you at school Monday."
Beca returned his wave, watching him turn and head up the driveway. Looking at Stacie, she asked, "What?"
Stacie chuckled, answering, "Mitchell, you totally could have passed for a straight chick tonight. Dancing and hugging and leaning on a dude like that…."
Beca rolled her eyes, grumbling, "Whatever, Stace. We had fun. Nothing more than that."
It was silent for a moment before Beca spoke again. "I can't get the look on her face out of my head, Stace. It was like I cheated on her….that's how I feel right now. I need to talk to her."
Stacie didn't argue with her. "So go see her. I can bum a ride home with anyone tomorrow."
Beca nodded, giving her best friend a hug. "I'll text you," she called over her shoulder, walking to her car as Stacie waved in acknowledgement before turning back toward the house.
Beca's mind was going a mile a minute as she drove to Chloe's apartment, praying that the redhead would talk to her. She missed Chloe terribly, and was ready to settle this once and for all. At least she would know where she stood, instead of this awful limbo situation that had stretched on for a couple of weeks.
In what seemed like no time at all, Beca found herself standing in front of Chloe's door. Taking a deep breath, she knocked a couple times, trying to calm her nerves as she waited. The lock clicked and the door swung open, leaving Beca face to face with her girlfriend, barefoot and still wearing the dress she'd chaperoned the prom in.
"Beca…" Chloe's voice was breathless, and Beca felt her eyes trailing over her dress.
"Hey, uh, can we talk?" Beca asked tentatively, praying Chloe would let her in.
"Yeah, of course," Chloe answered, stepping aside to let her in.
Beca turned to face her once the door was closed, not sure exactly what to say.
"I miss you," she blurted out, unable to hold it in. "Chloe, I'm so sorry I didn't tell you about the dare. It was stupid and I never should have agreed to do it. But I'm not sorry for what happened because of it. I'm in love with you, and it's real, and I've been completely miserable without you these past two weeks. Will you please forgive…"
Beca recognized the look in Chloe's eyes, and realized what she was going to do a split second before it happened. Chloe surged forward and kissed her hard, cutting off whatever she was going to say next.
Beca was home. She knew from one kiss that she was meant to be with Chloe. Nothing ever felt as right as it did when she was kissing Chloe. She also knew that she was forgiven, that Chloe was still in love with her too.
The kiss was frantic and needy, Chloe's arms wrapped tightly around her holding her close. Beca moved her hands into Chloe's hair as her tongue swiped against her lower lip, begging for entrance. Lips parted and tongues met, Chloe letting out a whimper at the contact. Beca tilted her head, changing the angle and deepening the kiss, causing Chloe to grip her hips tighter.
They navigated through the small apartment to the bedroom, Beca immediately kicking off her shoes to avoid falling flat on her face. She pushed Chloe up against the door, her lips attacking the column of her throat to a chorus of moans. Beca pulled the straps of the dress down until it was free of Chloe's arms and bunched around her waist, her lips moving over the exposed skin of her breasts above her bra.
"Beca…" Chloe gasped, her head tilting back against the door.
Beca felt fire run though her at the way Chloe moaned her name. It was like a drug to her, one she wanted more of as soon as possible. She reached around to take off Chloe's bra, frowning when she didn't feel a clasp.
Pausing slightly, she raised her eyebrows at her girlfriend, asking, "Front clasp?"
Chloe nodded, whimpering, "Take it off. I need you."
Beca pinned her to the door with her hips and slowly unhooked Chloe's bra, freeing her breasts. Pressing a kiss between them, she didn't waste any time in circling a nipple with her tongue before pulling it into her mouth. She let her teeth graze over it, pulling at the stiff peak with her tongue and lips before repeating the motions on the other nipple.
Chloe's breathing was becoming harsher, until she forcefully pushed Beca off her and stepped completely out of her dress, tossing the bra away as well. Beca swallowed at the predatory look in her girlfriend's eyes as she stalking toward her, leaning up into another steamy kiss.
Chloe's hands easily found the zipper on Beca's dress, sliding it down and helping her step out of it to reveal her matching navy underwear.
"You're so sexy, baby," Chloe murmured, stepping forward and sliding her hand up the inside of Beca's thigh to press between her legs. "And so fucking wet for me."
Beca moaned at the contact, not ready when Chloe pushed her back onto the bed. Chloe was on top of her before she could get her bearings, straddling her hips and letting her hands roam over bare skin. Beca sat up so Chloe could unhook her bra, throwing it aside only to feel Chloe's lips on her breasts.
"Fuck," Beca swore, laying back as Chloe's tongue toyed with one nipple, then the other.
As she fell back against the pillow, Chloe's fingers moved under her thong to slide inside wet heat, setting a slow pace. Beca moaned at the feeling, not expecting Chloe to start whispering in her ear.
"You're mine," Chloe murmured, her voice low and sexy. "You might have been with that boy tonight, but I'm going to show you who you really belong to."
Beca shuddered as Chloe kissed down her body and pulled her thong off her legs, letting her tongue press lightly to her clit. It was pure heaven, as Chloe's fingers and tongue teased her mercilessly, bringing her to the edge time and time again only to back off before her orgasm hit.
"Your body is mine," Chloe said possessively, adding more pressure with her tongue.
Beca whimpered helplessly, begging, "Chlo…I'm yours. Please, Chlo…I'm so close."
She felt the pressure increase, her hips thrusting frantically against Chloe's mouth as the fingers inside her pressed a little deeper. Chloe seemed to know exactly what she wanted, increasing the pace until Beca's body exploded in pleasure, gasping out Chloe's name interspersed with a few choice curses.
Beca was desperately trying to catch her breath as Chloe trailed slow kisses up her stomach, finally meeting the smug look in her blue eyes. Flipping them over, she kissed Chloe hard, pressing her body down to feel skin against skin.
Kissing over her jaw, she asked quietly, "I told you that you had nothing to worry about. He's just a friend."
"Didn't look like just a friend to me," Chloe retorted, hissing as Beca's teeth hit a sensitive spot on her neck, her hips pressing down to make contact with her clit.
Beca huffed, letting her tongue soothe the spot and said, "Didn't like me dancing with someone else?"
Chloe growled, "I didn't like you grinding with someone else."
Beca ground her hips down at that, drawing a moan from her girlfriend. "Should I only grind on you then?" she teased, letting her hips work Chloe up.
"Yes," Chloe gasped as Beca moved purposefully against her clit.
Beca leaned back and smirked down at her girlfriend, hooking her fingers under the lace and sliding Chloe's thong off her legs. Resuming her position between Chloe's legs, she was not prepared to be suddenly rolled onto her back. Humming thoughtfully, she knew how to make this work to her advantage, and Chloe's too.
Sliding her hands up the redhead's thighs, she quickly slid down the bed into position, saying suggestively, "Or you could grind on me."
Chloe's mouth fell open slightly as she looked down at Beca with wide eyes. Beca didn't wait for a response, her hands firmly pulling Chloe's hips down to her mouth, her tongue easily sliding inside her girlfriend.
It didn't take much for Chloe to start moving her hips against Beca's tongue, grinding down in search of more friction. Beca moaned, knowing Chloe would feel the vibrations, and began rubbing her clit.
"Fuck, Becs…" Chloe cursed, her movements becoming less coordinated.
Beca didn't stop, adding a little more pressure to Chloe's clit as she worked her tongue, curling and twisting it with every movement. It didn't take long at all to push Chloe over the edge, with Beca knowing how much her girlfriend loved that position.
Chloe was barely holding herself up after that orgasm, allowing Beca just enough time to slide back up the bed before she collapsed on top of her. Beca wrapped her arms around Chloe as they both regained their breath, whispering, "I love you," into her hair.
When Chloe finally sat up, she smiled down at Beca. "I love you."
Beca grinned, leaning up to kiss her, replying, "I love you. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the dare."
Chloe shook her head, countering, "I'm sorry I overreacted. And I'm sorry I took so long to get my shit together."
Beca nodded, saying, "We both screwed up. Are we okay?
"Yeah," Chloe said softly, leaning down and kissing her soundly. "We're okay."
Beca woke the next morning to the smell of bacon sizzling and the sound of Chloe singing along to some country song. Rolling out of bed, she dug a t-shirt out of Chloe's dresser and walked into the main room in search of coffee.
"Morning baby," Chloe greeted her cheerfully, letting her eyes roam over Beca's bare legs. "Are you naked under that shirt?" she asked, licking her lips shamelessly.
"Maybe," Beca answered, giving her a wink. "But nothing is going to happen until I've had some coffee and breakfast," she clarified, pulling a mug out of the cupboard and pouring herself a cup.
Chloe hummed, a sparkle in her eye, but she seemed content to let Beca have a moment as she turned back to her pan of bacon. Once she'd removed the last piece from the pan and covered it with a paper towel to let the grease drain, she moved over behind Beca, who was leaning against the counter top sipping coffee.
Chloe pressed a kiss to the back of her neck, letting her hands slide up Beca's thighs underneath the shirt.
Beca grumbled, "Woman, let me at least have a cup of coffee. You're insatiable!"
Chloe chuckled, which turned into a shriek of happiness when the next song came on through the speaker.
"This song is so perfect," she laughed, starting to sing the lyrics.
Beca watched as her girlfriend started to dance, curling her finger to summon her over. She didn't recognize the song, but set her cup down and shuffled over to Chloe, who spun her around and stepped up behind her, singing in her ear.
"Next thing I know you were wearing my T-shit, right there," Chloe sang, her voice dropping to that low, sexy tone that Bea couldn't resist.
The sound of Chloe's voice, combined with her body pressing into Beca's from behind had her grinding right back against her girlfriend, a hand slipping behind Chloe's neck into her red hair.
"I ain't ever seen anything like, your dress, my floor, the way…you wore, my, my T-shirt," Chloe sang, finishing the chorus and pushing Beca over the limit.
She spun quickly around in Chloe's arms, kissing her fiercely and backed her into the couch. Chloe didn't seem to mind though, her hands sliding back under the t-shirt to palm Beca's ass, pulling her closer.
Chloe pulled back a fraction, asking, "Skip breakfast, then?"
"Fuck breakfast," was Beca's reply, her mouth hastily covering Chloe's as they toppled onto the couch. Beca sat up, moving to pull off the t-shirt when Chloe's hand came up to stop her, that spark back in her eye.
"Leave it on, baby. You look so hot in my t-shirt," she said, her voice dropping as her hand slid up Beca's thigh.
A/N: All mistakes are my own.
Prom night ends on a happy note! You guys seemed a little put off at the lack of Bechloe last chapter, so hopefully this made up for it. They can't be together all the time!
Thanks for all the love and support, especially to all those guests who review anonymously!