Title: Unhurried wait
Rating: T/M
Pairing: Aubrey/Chloe, Beca/Benji, Triple Treble friendship
Genre: AU-ish, Friendship, Romance
Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me; I just like playing with them.
Notes: Written for me, myself & mine
Word Count: ~ 2,630
A/N: For AN go to chapter 1.
solid time break - xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
scene break - (*)(*)(*)(*)
Chapter 3
Settling in (4th week of September - 1st week of October 2011)
Aubrey heard the keys jiggling in the lock proceeded by a tired Chloe entering the flat. The locks of auburn hair at the back of her head came out of the neat bun Chloe had tied up that morning.
"I ordered the dinner in." The blonde announced invitingly. "Should be delivered in 30 to 45 minutes. Rough day?" While greeting her friend Aubrey finished making the tea. "Want some tea?" She motioned to a teapot.
"Oh, with the Rooibos? I love you." Chloe breathed out, shaking out of her brown leather jacket, and smiled at Aubrey. "Not so much rough as just busy. Professors started loading us up with the assignments." After hanging the jacket, Chloe toed off her sneakers. On her way to the kitchen, the redhead squeezed her friend's arm, got her favorite mug with the words "California – Where all dreams come true!" – the one she got as a gift from her aunt – and poured herself a cup of delicious tea. "Nothing unusual." She smacked her lips, relishing in the taste. "But with the addition of being a co-captain," here she grinned almost triumphantly at Aubrey, getting a similar grin in return, "it'll just get some time to adjust."
Pouring herself a cup, Aubrey led them in the living room, where both dropped down on the couch. Chloe tried to untangle her hair with one hand. Aubrey sighed at the girl's efforts, placing her tea on a table.
"Did you have fun in your Philosophy class?" The blonde exhibited a genuine interest while taking over the untangling. "What was it today?" Aubrey's arms were bracketing Chloe's face and Chloe basked discreetly in the feeling of the heat emanating from her crush.
"We started on the Chaos theory." Chloe put the cup down after taking a mouthful. Slowly swallowing the hot liquid she then hastily corrected herself. "Well, some aspects of it." The ginger girl went on. "It's such a broad subject. And so much more interesting than anatomy, if I say for myself." Chloe's voice on the final words was hushed.
"The Butterfly effect can be quite fascinating." Bree pulled Chloe to sink further onto the couch which Chloe happily assented to.
"Oh, don't start! I want to keep my arguments fresh for the seminar, Bree!" Chloe exclaimed, slapping Aubrey's knee. It was all she could reach from their current position.
"Alright! Your nerdiness is showing!" Aubrey laughed, waving her hand pacifyingly. Chloe caught it and started fumbling with the blonde's fingers. After a while Aubrey broke the silence.
"Dad called asking how we were settling in."
"Mhm, how's Gloria?" Chloe leaned deeper into Aubrey's side and rested her head on the blonde's shoulder.
"Mom is good. Worried we would overwork ourselves with the Bellas." Aubrey lowered her chin on Chloe's head. "And dad was asking about classes. I told him about changing my curriculum."
"And?" Chloe pressed a little closer to her friend, now fiddling with the hem of her shirt.
"He reserved voicing his opinion till we meet in person." Aubrey heaved a sigh, gliding her finger over Chloe's palm. "I will email him the details and as I won't have time to go home till Christmas..."
"Everything's going to cool over by then." Chloe supplied. "So, how was Art today?" The ginger's face lit up in a curiosity similar to that of a child as she bounced up.
"We delved into the XIX century today. The early age of..." Aubrey turned on the couch to comfortably face her best friend, eagerly explaining her class's topic.
The afternoon was spent in a mutually gratifying exchange.
(*)(*)(*)(*)
station job's a bust & another intern keeps bugging me – Bc
up for a slurpee? can come & get u – Bj
ur the best. 5:30 p.m.? – Bc
meet u there – Bj
(*)(*)(*)(*)
"This day was never gonna end!" Beca fumed to Benji upon the exit, fixing her vest that got inmeshed with her bag's strap, gratefully accepting her big cup of the frozen drink from the man. "Umm, the yummiest!" She exclaimed. Benji tugged at her bag, swinging it on his shoulder.
"One of the best flavors, Beca." Benji has started drinking his own half way to the meet up. "So, why's it a flop?" he nodded at the building.
"The station manager isn't too keen on letting anyone in the booth; much less accept any advice on music!"
"Did you tell him what you have already done in the field?"
"Yeah, said he needed to call up and verify it." Beca huffed. "A load of bull! He just doesn't want to give up his place behind the station!" Benji grinned as Beca drank her slurpee through a straw. Her miffed expression change to one of joy as she turned to him and exhaled. "Hi."
"Hi." They moved a bit closer.
"Sorry, it's just a little bit stiffing in there." The brunette put her palm on Benji's stomach. "How was your day?"
"Eh, classes. Went to work." He was delighted that she wanted to know. "Got the final lay out today."
"Good. Great." 'Geez, dude, that's all you've got to say?' Beca thought to herself. "Listen, I've got to meet this girl from my Harmony 1 class." She looked at Benji with a lifted eyebrow. "Wanna come with? Not very interesting for you, but..." the DJ trailed off, "after we might do something fun."
"I'd like to meet a friend of yours." He really would.
"She's something." She smirked thinking of the beautiful tall girl who seemed witty, clever and funny enough – a tad bit crazy - just the kind of person Beca could befriend. "Impossible not to like."
"So, who's the guy?" Benji could admit to himself the curiosity he felt was fueled a little by jealousy. Now, recalling Beca's today's texts, seemed the right time to mention him.
"A fella from the arrival day." Beca was definitely giving the drink's name justice by literally slurping away on it. "Remember, the one that sang at me from the taxi? I told you about it."
They stood not ten feet away from the entrance to the station, still having time to get to the cafe. Before Benji could think of what to say, the door Beca has just exited suddenly burst open and a very flustered Jesse tumbled out. Beca took in his appearance and cringed. Benji's breath caught at the sight of his unfortunate roommate.
"Oh. Right, he was babbling something about music and radio..." Benji mumbled.
"Dude, watch your step." Beca snapped at Jesse hearing Benji's quiet words. She glanced at Benji's face.
"Heyyy, Beca, you haven't left yet!" Jesse raised his head and hopped up, elated to see her. He was oblivious to the sudden tension in the air. "Let's go get something to eat?" His voice was hopeful.
"Already told you, nopes. Not gonna happen." Beca shot down him for the 'nth time today. "And I have somewhere to be."
Jesse looks like a kicked puppy, thought Benji. The dark blond could see that Beca was beyond irritated. "Beca, don't we need to go now? You said your friend would be waiting. Hi, Jesse." The perfect opportunity to intervene.
"Benji, hi." But before Jesse could utter another word Benji interrupted. "Bye. Later!" Benji threw away their empty cups, and turned to go.
"But wait, you know Beca?" Jesse was surprised to say the least to see his strange neighbour here. And it seems he knew Beca quite well, too, with how close they have been standing. With him Beca almost dashed out of place should Jesse be in 30 cm range.
"Right, we gotta motor." Beca felt relief at the save they had. "Jesse." She bid him a farewell.
Opening his mouth the intern began to talk, but the pair paid him no thought as they turned around, and presumably went to meet this friend of Beca's. He would need to talk to Benji.
(*)(*)(*)(*)
Stacie Conrad was ecstatic to be at Barden at long last. Her home life was not awful or held any sort of damaging drama but she always felt quite detached from everyone in her family. She didn't have all that many friends, much more real ones, only those who wanted to be popular.
From the first time they talked Beca Mitchell intrigued her. She didn't seem to care about people's opinions of her or what she did or how she dressed. At first Stacie thought that Beca would be a rare guest in class and soon would leave Barden all together. But then something has changed. And Stacie was glad that Beca gained some ground under her feet and decided to stay. Everybody needs to connect no matter how vehemently they might deny it. Both girls chose Music as their major and happened to sit together in a couple of courses. The conversations were easy and quickly expanded to other subjects than classes. Even if it was early to say, Stacie, for the first time in her life could feel and say that she had a friend.
To find a place to eat in Barden was not an easy task, but fortunately one day after classes the girls stumbled on a diner "At Mary's" and they didn't look for another. After coming here for two weeks straight after their last class, Stacie and Beca had finally claimed a table.
Taking their spot Stacie noted that she was a little earlier than usual and would have to wait for the girl. A quiet music was playing at the diner, lighting up the mood. While waiting, Stacie pulled out her class notes and got to making a list of what she had to look for on the Net or in the library.
Approaching the diner's entrance, Benji pulled the door open motioning for Beca to enter first. She cast him a thankful glance, searching the place with her eyes. Locating Stacie, Beca raised her arm in greeting and pulled Benji to the table by the sleeve of his green turtleneck.
"Hey, girl." The taller brunette lifted her head at the familiar voice and grinned. As the DJ slid on the seat closer to Stacie's, Ben sat near Beca, putting his backpack under the table. "Hi, Mitch. Who's the handsome?" Stacie leaned in half-hugging Beca and winking at Benji.
Noticing her companion's flushed appearance, Beca smirked and putting her left arm through his right, unabashedly said, "This is Benji," pointedly looking at her friend. Stacie hemmed, nodding and then diving in the subject she and Beca had initially set up the meeting for to discuss.
Benji watched enthralled as Beca became engrossed into the subject. He held no offense for their ignorance as he was known to become preoccupied with his sci-fi stuff just as much. After spending so much time with Beca Benji felt sure that he won't mess up her order. He checked Stacie's choice and then made his way to the counter. Placing their order, Benji looked around the place. People of different ages and nationalities were relaxing after their day. So many lives – happy and sad - were confined to the space of this diner. Bringing the coffee and a plate of bagels to their table, Benji sat beside Beca and pulled a couple of sheets of paper from the girls' pile. Jutting down his thoughts long ago became Benji's second nature. Sometimes he would wake up in the middle of the night filled up to the brim with the ideas, and so, so frustrated that only a few of them wanted to be laid out in the ink.
"Are you going to try out for the Bellas?" Stacie's voice drew his attention back to the girls. Beca mentioned to him a couple of days ago an interesting encounter with a certain redhead, Chloe, as she has finally introduced herself. Benji knew by now that the no-boundaries people tented to push Beca away. But again something made Beca stay and talk to the girl. Even to consider joining an a-Capella world, Benji thought to himself giddily.
"We will go to the auditions. Benji wants to enter the Trebles." Beca stated with a note of support in her voice. "I'll watch. Maybe go up and sing something." While talking about his desire to join the nerdhood-ville held no repercussions, Beca herself needed a little push to enter that world. Benji knew that with her musical prowess Beca could bring into a-Capella the coolness it sometimes lacked.
"Beca, you will love them! It's going to be a whole new group with only two senior girls, that..." Stacie was gushing and waving her hands. She wanted to know at least one person in a novel environment. And also she was sure that little DJ had a beautiful voice.
"I know, I've met them." Both Stacie and Benji noticed the smile tugging at Beca's lips. "Liked them, too." Well, Aubrey needs to relax a little more. But I have a feeling she's my kinda colourful. She shook her head and looked at Stacie. "How did you know about the auditions?"
"I saw a flyer at my RA's board. Looks like it has a potential to be awesome." Salt Lake wasn't that big on action for a teenage girl so Stacie was ready to shake up some Hell.
"I'll check it out." Beca knew very well when the auditions would be held courtesy of a one fiery redhead and her exuberant shower visit. She cast a glance on Benji and saw his mouth quirking. She described to him her unbelievable encounter, excluding the detailed play-by-play such as complete nudeness, focusing only on the singing.
"Good! So, Benji, what's your major?" Stacie turned her attention to the boy that came with Beca. Even without her loud gesture and silent, except for the name, introduction Stacie understood that he was off limits. Starting college this year spurred the tall brunette to decide not to hold back or fabricate stories about her life, to have a clean start and be honest about herself. While her future plans did include the love of her life, a couple of kids and a mansion at the beach, for now Stacie wanted to really let loose – and that merited a large amount of boy attention. Stacie was glad that she didn't get any crass words or glances from the DJ. Almost everyone made it their business to steer her on the 'right path of relationship' and they did so in a very condescending manner. But with Beca it had no impact on their educing friendship and they continued to talk and hang out as usual. Stacie wasn't about to ruin an easy and open friendship, which had all the prospects of being a long one, for any boy. Even one as cute as Benji.
"Still on the way of figuring out. It's a little difficult to choose when several majors can lead me to my goal." Benji stretched the truth. He has made his choice when he applied to the BU, and he didn't rush to inform everyone on his selection. Of course his parents and Dia knew, but Benji was just only going to share this with Beca. "For the first semester I chose a general curriculum."
"Music was my childhood passion, and I really enjoy dancing... " Stacie revealed to them. As the conversation flowed all three its participants felt a great joy that they could talk and not to think through every word they were about to say. They laughed and chatted for a good while, parting with an intention to have another get-together like this where all three of them would be able to pitch in academically with each others assignments. Never deny a helping hand in college – the rule vastly ignored.