A/N This chapter is way shorter than most but I think you'll like it. Feedback is appreciated. Enjoy!
I woke up to a loud thump in the living room and an eruption of laughter. I glanced over at Chloe, admiring how perfect she looked all twisted up in the sheets. Slowly I slipped my arm from her grasp in an attempt not to wake her. My head pounding as I stumbled around the room looking for clothes to put on. "Shhh! Don't wake them up!" Aubrey stage whispered as I clicked the door closed behind me.
"Too late!" Stacie practically shouted, falling over as she pulled her heels off. Causing another extremely loud round of laughing.
"Is it necessary to be so damn loud Conrad?" I growled pinching the bridge of my nose in an attempt to ease my pounding head.
"Someone is hung over and grumpy. You're such a hobbit!" Aubrey giggled, tripping over an overturned chair. I glared at her before glancing at the clock.
"Jesus! It's six in the morning. Where have you been?" My eyes went wide as Jesse fell face first onto the dinner table, squirming a little until his whole body was, well what I assumed to be as comfortable. The group was staggering around trying to pull their clothing off and get comfortable in random places.
"We went to an after party." CR stated calmly helping Stacie pull off her shirt.
"And then another." Stacie giggled, I hadn't seen her this wasted in a long time.
"And another." Jesses mumbled into the table. I just shook my head at the group of misfits. Stacie laid on top of Aubrey on the couch.
"Advil?" Stacie whined.
"And water?" Aubrey groaned. I walked to the fridge grabbing a bottle for everyone. Then passed out a two advil to everyone. Jesse protested until I punched him in the ribs. I pulled a beer out of the fridge before leaning back on the counter. "How are you still drinking?" Aubrey groaned again.
"Shhh Bree. It's sleepy night night time." Stacie whined once again, petting the side of the blondes face before giggling. I shook my head before helping Jesse off the table. He fought back for a moment.
"Stop wiggling movie boy, you'll thank me for this later." I snapped as I practically drug him to his room, tossing him down on the bed before pulling his shoes of. Her grumbled something into the pillow but I just rolled my eyes and went back to the girls. I looked around for Cynthia. "CR?" I called before tripping over her foot, she was laying on her stomach in the hallway. "Come on bro." I chuckled before pulling her to her feet, steering her into her room with far less effort than it took with Jesse. She reached up and patted my shoulder after I pulled the blankets up.
"Where's Chlo bear at?" Stacie asked peeking at me through one eye.
"She's sleeping in bed just like you should be." I answered clearly amused.
"I'll keep her company!" Stacie offered attempting a wink. Failing miserably.
"No but you can cuddle with your wife." I retorted before pulling her off Aubrey.
"But I want to sleep with Aubrey." She whined as I flipped her legs over my other arm, carrying her slowly down the hall and setting her down next to Cynthia who was snoring loudly at this point. I tucked my best friend in, hesitating next to her for a moment as a wave of emotions washed over me. "Are you okay Becs?" Her voice was heavy with sleep. I smiled and kissed her forehead. "Love you."
"Love you too Stacie." I sighed before returning to Aubrey. Who was still half awake, breathing heavily. When I bent down I realized she was crying. "Hey come on, how about you get in bed?" I rubbed her back trying to comfort her, ready to get back in bed for at least a few more hours. She began to cry harder.
"Will you just sit with me?" Her voice was so small that my stomach dropped. I'd never heard the woman so vulnerable. I hesitated for a moment wanting to return to Chloe. When she let out a small whimper I walked to the fridge, grabbing another two beers and another water. I grabbed a pillow and blanket off the other couch and she lifted her head so I could sit. I placed the pillow in my lap and she laid back down. I tossed the blanket over her body and she snuggled into it. "Thank you Becs." She sighed sleepily. I played with her hair as she cried softly, knowing she didn't want to talk I just drank my beers. Not meaning to, I dozed off.
I was fumbling around with a lighter with my back pressed against Chloe's car. Desperate to light my cigarette as Chloe paced in front of me. After a few failed attempts I threw the lighter at the ground. Chloe's eyes shot up and she picked it up, walking over to me slowly. Holding up a flame in front of my face. I inhaled and sighed as I exhaled smoke. "Beca, you shouldn't smoke. It's going to mess up your voice." Sadness settled in my mind at the sound of her voice. I sighed heavily, running a shaky hand through my hair.
"Chloe." I started.
"No, listen Beca." She was pacing again. She opened her mouth but all that came out was silence. She sighed in defeat.
"You graduate in like a month." I began to speak again. She stopped with her back to me. "How are we… What… What are we?" I finished not being able to find the words I needed to formulate what we were thinking. Chloe's shoulders slumped in defeat. "We spent this whole year doing… whatever this is. Flirting. Almost kissing. The looks. The touches. Like I just don't know Chloe. I love you but you're going to New York after you graduate and I'm… Well going to LA."
"I'm not graduating." She finally said after a long moment of silence.
"Wh-what?" My voice cracked. Head spinning as I tried to grasp what she just said. She turned around slowly, tears streaming down her face.
"I said I'm not-" She started but I cut her off.
"I heard what you said. What do you mean you're not graduating?" My voice was broken as I struggled to keep up.
"I failed Russian lit. I'm not graduating Beca." Her voice was rising. "I'm staying at Barden for another year. But… You're going to LA." She stared at her hands.
"I don't… I don't know what to say Chloe." I felt like the wind was being knocked out of me. I dropped my cigarette but just stared at it as it burned out on the ground. Another length of silence between us.
"I want you." Chloe's voice cut my ears. "I want you. And I want you to want me." Before I could respond Chloe's hands were on my face. Her eyes burning into my own. I stared at her, trying to swallow the lump in my throat. She hesitated for a moment before crushing her lips into mine. The kiss wasn't sweet it was painful. I could feel Chloe's heartbreaking in the way our lips moved together. My hands shot up to her waist, pulling her closer. She pulled her mouth away from mine and inhaled sharply. Before she could speak again I twisted my hand into her hair, pulling her mouth back to mine. Hands clumsily fumbling over the length of the other one's body. "Beca." Chloe moaned into my mouth, causing the air in my lungs to dissipate. "I just want you to let me in." She said pulling away from my grasp. I was speechless as the red head stood in front of me with a broken expression.
"Chloe. I-I can't." I mumbled as guilt flooded through me.
"So you're telling me that this means nothing to you? I've been chasing you since the day we met. I've been throwing myself at you. Hood night, practices, all those drunk nights at the apartment with the hand holding and cuddling. Bring you coffee. I can't stand it when you're mad at me Beca. I hate when we don't talk for more than an hour and it literally breaks my heart when I can't see you every day. How am I supposed to survive without you? I'm in love with you. " She motioned between us before she continued talking, her voice rising as emotions overwhelmed her.
"What is this?" I asked still unsure of what she wanted from me. She laughed angrily. Throwing her hands in the air she turned to walk away. "Wait." I grabbed her wrist. "Just, I'm not good at this shit." I dropped her hand as she turned around, glaring at me. "Just, let me talk. Let me finish before you say anything." I watched cautiously as she folded her arms across her chest, raising an eyebrow impatiently. "Look Chlo, you kind of came out of nowhere and blindsided me. I had this whole thing planned out. I was supposed to meet my dad's conditions and leave for LA. Plain and simple. And then you-you just showed up. Literally just came out of nowhere, bursting into my shower like it was no big deal. You did the same thing with the walls I had built. You forced me to join the Bellas and I kind of got attached to them too. I'm not good at this. I'm not good at… feelings and having people care for me." I dared to glance at her reaction, she stood still. Softer maybe but still waiting. "You have no sense of personal space. Not that I mind anymore. You pry and you pout and you whine. And dammit I can't stop thinking about you. I've spent more night in my bed awake thinking about you and kicking myself for not taking that leap of faith. But Chloe, I was so afraid to lose your friendship. I am still afraid. You're the first best friend I've ever had. You're the most important person in my life. You gave me a family, the Bellas. And I don't want to lose that feeling. You make me happy and I'd forgotten I was even capable of that. I just... I can't live without you." The last sentence was practically a whisper. Chloe stood motionless with her arms limp at her side, her eyes full of tears. I awkwardly stood there staring at her until she finally spoke.
"Don't go." Her voice was stern, not a command but a statement. "Stay here. With the Bellas. With me." I just blinked as her words bounced around in my head. "We can figure out the rest together. Please Beca."
"Only if you promise not to leave me." I compromised.
"I want to be with you Beca. Hand in hand. Together." Chloe whispered as she walked closer. My lips pressed to hers as I stepped forward to meet her halfway.
"Beca?" Chloe's voice pulled me from my dream. "Wake up." I rubbed my eyes and focused them on my girlfriend. Smiling sleepily at her. I looked down to see Aubrey with her arms wrapped around my waist. "I was worried when I woke up and you weren't in bed. But now I see why." She pushed some hair from Aubrey's face. "Thank you for taking care of her." Chloe's eyes were soft as she whispered. I slowly shifted, lifting her head to get up.
"I didn't mean to fall asleep, she was just upset and it was early." I stretched before wrapping my arms around Chloe, taking in the damage around us. "Well, last night was great for all of us." Chloe just giggled and pulled me towards the kitchen, I sat at the island dropping my head in my hands to let out a low groan.
"Coffee?" Chloe asked leaning down to kiss the back of my neck.
"The sound of that makes my stomach hurt. Will you get me a beer?" I heard Chloe stop in her tracks but didn't look up. She mumbled something before fetching a beer from the fridge. "Thank you." I twisted the cap off and drank the alcohol greedily. "So, what's on the itinerary for the day? I figured we could rent a car so they would still have the limo."
"That's a good idea, I have a few places I want to show you." She sounded upset but my head hurt too much to process what to say. I lifted my head and watched as she poured creamer in her coffee. She turned around to face me, leaning on the counter for support. Her eyes sad.
"What's up Chlo?" I asked trying to straighten up, sipping my beer. She furrowed her brow before pushing off the counter.
"Nothing. Let's shower so we can go get some food. I'm starved." She grabbed my wrist yanking me to our room. We showered and got ready, quietly sneaking out as the rest of the group slept off their long night. We ate breakfast, laughing and chatting about whatever came to mind. My nerves began to sink in the longer we were out. "You look kind of pale. You okay?"
"Yeah, just a little hung over still. I never understood how you rarely get hungover." I laughed at the thought as she drove in silence, parking by the beach. The wind was blowing softly as the sun warmed our skin. Chloe's eyes shaded by her glasses as we plopped down on a blanket. Pointing and enjoying the other beach goers together. I swallowed to get the lump in my throat to go down. I tried clearing my throat. "Hey Chlo?" I whispered in her ear. She hummed happily as she soaked up the rays, leaning further into me. I reached in my pocket fumbling to pull something out. "Will you marry me?" The words fell from my mouth as I opened a small black box in front of her. Her head fell forward as she pushed her glasses up. She didn't move or speak as she stared at the ring in front of her. I began to panic at the thought of her rejecting me. "I-I"
"Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes." She cut me off, twisting in my arms and knocking me over, kissing me over and over. "Yes!" Tears were streaming down her face as I laid under her, a giant smile spreading across my face. "Oh my god!" Her eyes were so bright that I couldn't believe it took me this long to ask her again.
"Oh thank god, I already set up our announcement at dinner tonight. That would have been embarrassing." I blushed as she just stared at me. "Put it on crazy." I handed the box to her as she wiggled around on top of me. "Chloe Mitchell." She grinned widely at the name.
"We may have to talk about the last name thing later." She teased, winking before kissing me passionately.