A/N: So this week I am doing something a little different with the music selections. For starters there are two. Which I know I've done before, but this time there is a reason! One would be if I wrote a Chloe POV and the other would be for Beca's POV. I am not telling which is which. I will post links on my Tumblr (pentopage33) per usual. If you're not into the music selections well… just ignore this. Music for this chapter is as follows:

Touch by Shura

Break the Fall by Laura Welsh

(Oh! And when I listen to number 2, it always sounds like female pronouns to me. So I'm going with it!)

I am going to respond to some guest reviews below. As always, Thank you so SO much for the continued support! I can't express how much it means to me. I hope you enjoy the new chapter!

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Guest (the last one I saw): Thank you!

Chloe Beale: I'm sorry! Stop listening to the song. Unless it was the one I suggested. Then I am doubly sorry. *hands you a tissue*

Awesome: Thank you! I'm really sorry! That really sucks. Hopefully this fic will eventually appease you. Chloe certainly tried to talk to Beca last chapter, but it didn't go so well.

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Chapter 19

Apparently when you win a competition there are parties. Lots of parties. Well at least for the treblemakers. Second place didn't hold the same grander as first. For whatever reason, Aubrey thought it would be a good idea to join them. Surely celebrating the fact she didn't blow chunks this year.

That's where Beca finds herself, at a party held at the treblemakers's house. She takes in all the drunk aca-nerds gyrating on top of each other, others doing funnels of beer, and some playing beer pong. She never thought acapella nerds could party so hard. For once, the music was acceptable. Still not great, but bearable. So, with a cup of some type of punch similar to the one served at the initiation night, Beca was doing okay.

She was trying to just sit back and take it all in, but found herself generally gravitating towards a certain redhead. Which she would try to correct by heading in the opposite direction and by taking a long sip of her drink. No matter what she did, though, Chloe always seemed to be just a few feet in front of her grinding on some guy. Or doing a body shot. Or sending out a wink and that smile, Beca had unwittingly thought was reserved for her, to some random stranger. And it hurt, which Beca knew was ridiculous. She had been the one avoiding Chloe the last few weeks so she could get over the other woman. It honestly wasn't working, just like the last 6 years hadn't worked, but Beca had told herself it was working. If she was good at lying to anyone, she was an expert at lying to herself. So she was okay because she told herself she was okay. But the drop in her stomach, sharp stab in her heart, and building pressure at the edges of her eyes said differently.

She was having the hardest time convincing herself that her body's reactions were just due to something she ate or whatever other ridiculous excuse people normally said. Jesse was not even there to distract her, busy trying, yet again, to worm his way into Aubrey's heart. Beca spared a look towards where she had last seen him and there he still was. It looked like he was doing better than usual, instead of being ignored and glared at, Jesse was just being glared at as he talked animatedly. He was apparently a little to enthused about his progress, arms flailing, practically hitting her captain in the face.

Beca refilled her cup for the third time, ignoring the buzz bordering on drunk feeling running through her veins, and tried to do what she was known for. She tried to pick up a woman to take back to her dorm. It was easy to find her type, an almost perfect shade of blue eyes belonging to a leggy brunette near the pool catching her eye. She took a long sip of her newly replenished drink before closing the distance between them. Face to face, it was pretty easy. The girl already knew who she was and Beca barely had to utter a word before she was being pulled into the mob of dancing bodies. The other woman's body was quick to close any remaining space between them and slide against her front, their faces close enough their noses occasionally brushed.

At such a moment, at such a close proximity, Beca would have made the bold move and captured those red lips taunting her. The other woman's arms falling around Beca's neck, as she finds her own hands on the brunette's hips. Something felt off, though. Sure the other woman was everything she would normally go for. Her legs lean and long, perfectly suited to wrap around her waist as she shoved the other woman up against a wall. Her skin was soft and tender, Beca's lips would normally want to trace across every inch. Then there were those eyes so close to the perfect shade of blue that Beca knew that she could easily lose herself in them, pretending they belonged to a certain redhead like she had done so many many times before. After feeling the real thing, knowing what Chloe's body felt like pressed up against her and the life that the perfect shade of blue eyes held, it didn't feel right. Not at all right. Not anymore.

She knew it was what she should be doing. That wrapping herself up in someone else, even for one night, would help her get over Chloe. At least she hoped it would help. With that in mind, Beca was shifting to connect her lips with the almost perfect shade of blue, but was pulled out of it with the sudden commotion happening around them. Beca let out a sigh of relief at the perfect excuse for her to separate herself from the woman she was just about to kiss. That was just what she did, turning her back completely to the other woman to take in what was happening at the edge of the pool behind them.

Beca squinted, not believing what she was seeing. No, that couldn't be… Beca moved closer, not realizing she had moved to the edge of the crowd, too preoccupied with red curls springing back into place as a shirt was pulled off to reveal tan skin and a black tank top. She slowly came back to reality as the blue eyes met hers. Then Chloe gave her that stupid not so special smile and wink before turning and plunging into the pool, everyone else in the crowd cheering. Everything settled down, the crowd going back to dancing, soon after Chloe had jumped in. Beca was too transfixed with the way the lights reflecting off of Chloe's wet skin made her sparkle and her tank top cling to every visible curve. Chloe looked exactly like dream Chloe. It was too much. Then it all came crashing down as she met those beautiful blue eyes, accompanied by a knowing smirk.

Beca knew Chloe was drunk, not one to jump into pools when wearing her favorite pair of jeans, but it wasn't fair. Anger was quickly pulsing through her, wondering if Chloe was the typical straight girl taunting her because it was fun. Knowing fully how much Beca liked her, even maybe loved her. It was cruel and Beca knew Chloe wasn't like that, but it was the series of thoughts that allowed her to shut her slackened jaw, ignore the growing blush on her cheeks, and remember she was just about to kiss a very attractive brunette. A brunette who, when she turned around to look, was nowhere to be found.

She, instead, found herself cursing as she turned back towards the pool. Almost immediately her eyes met Chloe's. Her heart simultaneously stuttering with that familiar tug. Then Chloe, with a hesitant smile, was reaching out a hand, asking Beca to help pull her out. She really knew she should say no. She should tell her to find someone else because she was still mad at her. She still couldn't control her emotions around her. That after weeks of not talking, well minus that one time, they couldn't possibly still be friends, if they ever were. There was no one else around to help though, Beca checked. Also, if she was being completely honest, she was tired of fighting Chloe, her emotions, and just everything. Even if only for a brief moment, Beca would love to hold her hand again, to feel any type of physical contact. She had missed her.

So she reached out and took the asking hand, sparks instantly fizzling at the points of contact. For a blissful second Beca felt a familiar warmth blanket her body before she caught a mischievous smile and was suddenly plunged into cold waters. When she surfaced, Beca was fuming with anger, but it didn't last long, her ears bombarded with Chloe's melodic laughter. She melts instantly, which really isn't fair. She wants to stay mad at her co-captain, but finds herself trying to hold back a smile as she splashes Chloe's stupid beaming face with water. The action only brings on a new string of laughter and more smiles as Chloe retaliates. They continue their splash war, both sharing matching smiles as giggles over take them. The world around them falls away and it was just the two of them. Like it had been before.

Beca realizes it then, how everything has changed, her smile fading and giggles falling silent. She looks up to glance one more time at Chloe before she planned on hoisting herself out of the pool. When she looks up, though, all she sees is that perfect shade of blue eyes and she forgets once again about there being any type of before. She forgets about her love confession and the heartbreak that followed because all she can see is Chloe. Chloe who was placing her hands on Beca's hips to pull their bodies close together until nothing but a few layers of clothing were between them. Chloe who was biting her lip as her eyes flicked from Beca's eyes to her lips. Chloe who looked strangely vulnerable. Before Beca could over think it, soft pink lips were being pressed against hers. It takes a moment for Beca to respond, but once she does it's with hungry wanting kisses that slow to something softer and tender. Her fingers are quick to lace themselves into copper locks, pulling Chloe further into her. Chloe lightly bites Beca's lower lip, causing the younger Bella to gasp. Chloe takes advantage of the newly open mouth, slipping her tongue into Beca's mouth, exploring.

With Chloe's body pressed against hers, hands gripping at the waistband of Beca's jeans, she can't help but notice how right her childhood friend feels. Their bodies appear to seamlessly fit together. Their mouths seem to know just exactly where to press, pull, and nip to get the wanted reaction. It's perfect. If Beca wasn't in such a blissful haze she would have pulled back, realizing just how counterproductive her actions were to getting over Chloe Beale. She doesn't care in the moment though, 'Chloe is kissing me' being the only thing running through her mind.

Eventually they have to separate, needing air. Beca rests her forehead against Chloe's, her eyes still closed as Chloe lets out a content sigh. Beca smiles at the reaction, still in a haze created by Chloe and those kisses. She thinks she is ready to open her eyes and take in the woman before her, but that's when she realizes the hoots and hollers coming from the edges of the pool. The bubble they were in bursts. Instead of taking in the very happy content redhead in front of her, all she can see is the crowd of people cheering, the images of Chloe with Tom just weeks ago, and that smile and wink that mean nothing. No matter how right Chloe's body feels against hers, the circumstances feel so wrong. 'It all means nothing. You're so stupid,' running through Beca's mind. She was almost waiting for Tom to step out of the crowd with a pleased look on his face, some strange fantasy fulfilled. Then Beca was pushing herself away from Chloe, pushing herself out of the water, and putting the pool as far behind her as she could. Her throat burning with unshed tears.

She pushes herself through the crowd of people, ignoring the attempted high fives and slaps on the back as she goes. She was almost positive she heard someone calling her name, but ignores it just wanting to leave. Then she finds Jesse and was demanding they leave, he had agreed to give her a ride home after all. He was preoccupied with Aubrey and had no desire to leave. One look at Beca, told Jesse something was wrong. So he tried to pull her off to the side to talk her through it, hoping it was something small.

"Hey, what's wrong? …and why are you wet?"

Beca just scuffed the toe of her shoe on the ground, avoiding his eyes, feeling tears prickling around the edges. "Nothing is wrong. Can we just go? It's just- It's really lame and I need to change. I fell in a pool."

Which was accurate. She had fallen in a pool and she felt lame, hollow even because the girl she had a serious crush on had just kissed her. Which would normally be great, if she wasn't in a relationship with a guy because she was a heterosexual and definitely not into Beca. To top it all off, Chloe was drunk. Which given she was too, but Chloe was most likely drunk enough not to remember the next day. A fact that hurt a whole lot more than just being a drunken mistaken kiss because now she would not only have to pretend like she was over Chloe, but now she would have to pretend she didn't know just how perfectly they fit together. Rehearsals and random spottings of Chloe making out with Tom on the quad, which she had so far not encountered, were sure to be brutal. She would have to pretend she did not know that Chloe's lips tasted like strawberries. Or how her tongue felt against hers. Or how her fingers gripped at her waist with want. She would never once be able to reference the sensations that were perfection outside of that night to anyone ever because the explanation to sober Chloe would be to humiliating and painful.

Jesse was persistent, softening his voice, "Come on Becs, what's up? It's just me."

Anger suddenly flared within her at her predicament and how weak she felt. Beca looked directly in his eyes, face a mask of indifference as she repeated herself more sternly. "Nothing. Is. Wrong."

"Okay… Just give me a second. I just have to say goodbye to Aubrey." He conceded, taking in the tears lingering just on the edge of Beca's eyes. He patted her on the arm before disappearing into the crowd.

Beca leaned against the wall of the house and examined the chipped nail polish on her fingers, as if it was a cure for cancer. Any previous feelings of being buzzed were gone. She felt completely sober by her predicament. She tried to calm her breathing, focusing on the chipped paint rather than taking in the feeling of the pieces of her shattered heart falling one by one. If she did, she knew she would cry and she definitely wasn't going to be that cliché broken hearted girl crying at a party. Especially not when they made it through regionals, which she wasn't going to focus on either because a certain redhead was a part of that too. Normally she would berate herself for her stupidity, but that involved acknowledging why she was upset in the first place. That definitely wasn't going to happen. So chipped nail polish it was.

She was wondering what was taking Jesse so long when, she heard a soft tentative voice say her name. "Beca?"

She looked up to see Chloe was standing before her, hands clasped in front and brows furrowed with concern. Beca's eyes momentarily widened before sifting back to indifference, as her body stiffened. Chloe did not seem to notice Beca's reaction to her presence, or ignored it, barreling on.

"Beca. I think we should talk. I really need to-"

Beca quickly cut her off. "No, its-its fine. Don't worry about it. Completely fine."

Instead of Chloe being quiet though, it looked like she was going to say more. Beca really did not want to hear Chloe reject her, this time verbally. She did not need her to actually say the words. After all if she left first then she could still say Chloe never left her. There was still that sliver of hope. Even if Chloe hadn't texted her in days. Even if it already felt like she had left. Beca quickly scanned the crowd, hoping Jesse would do that thing where he saved her at the most opportune moments, but he was nowhere in sight. So she did the only thing she could do. She headed straight for the exit and out to the front lawn, Chloe trailing behind her.

"Beca…."

"Beca come on… You can't keep walking away from me. You will eventually have to stop." Chloe's voice was playful towards the end, which only caused Beca to pick up her pace. Chloe seemed to easily match it though. She let out a sigh before trying to get Beca to hear her out again.

"Fine. I can talk as we walk. Look, I really think we need to talk because I made a big mistake and I-I think… no I know I-I'm fa-"

That's when Beca abruptly stopped and turned to Chloe, affectively silencing her.

"No, it's fine. Okay… like I-I get it. Okay. It meant- meant nothing to you. Which is fine. It's completely fine." Beca really didn't sound all that convincing because that was the problem. It meant all too much to Beca. Her hands were flailing as she spoke. "Your drunk and I'm… um drunk. I get it people-girls, they… you know, when drunk. I get it. I really do." She ran her hand through her hair, looking anywhere but at Chloe. "You have Tom and that's- it's totally cool. You can do you and I'll do me. So we can- we can just forget about this… all of it, Okay?" Beca's voice broke on the word forget.

Before Chloe could reply, Beca continued as if Chloe had answered her question. "Cool. So you should- you know, go back to Tom or whatever and I'll just go."

Beca finally glanced at Chloe briefly. Her old friend was as quiet and still as the night of her love confession. And it hurt, it really hurt and she could feel her eyes filling with tears. She had to go. So she shoved her hands in her pockets and started off towards her dorm. She pretended that she didn't hear Chloe calling her name because then maybe she could pretend that this night never happened and that the tears streaming down her face were not actually there. She can forget the kicked puppy dog look Chloe gave her as she walked away. She can forget Chloe ever saw the glisten in her eyes, indicating tears, and she can pretend she didn't see the same thing in Chloe's because her role had been cast. Beca knew she was 'the friend' and she knew what comes with that. She knew, yet she thought maybe, just maybe, Chloe could be her leading lady. That Chloe cared. That she had been miss-cast, but Beca was so incredibly wrong. It hurt so damn much she wished she could just tear out the damn tether and burry it.

Jesse somehow catches up to her roughly halfway from the dorms. She was so numb to all feelings, she let him wrap his arm around her and guide her back to his dorm room. He gives her a pair of sweats and a hoody to change into and they lay her clothes out in the bathroom to dry. They spend the rest of the night watching some god awful gory horror movie. They pass a bottle of vodka back and forth, drinking every time blood is sprayed on screen. Beca drinking in between as well. Neither of them really pay attention to the actual plot, not that it really had one. Jesse to concerned about Beca and Beca to concerned with not acknowledging anything was wrong to pay attention.

Everything was going well, at least that's what she tells herself. Her eyes are dry at least. That was until, a redhead appears on screen. She knew it was stupid, but then she was crying full on body rocking sobs. Beca tries to stop them, but she can't. Jesse was there and he wraps her in his arms and she lets him. She sinks into his embrace just needing the contact. It doesn't feel right, nothing like how it was when she was in the pool with Chloe. The thought only makes her cry harder and Jesse pulls her closer. Beca mumbles out a string of words, drunk enough to actually spill what's going on. The only words Jesse catches are 'Chloe', 'kiss', and something about being 'the friend'. He doesn't ask for further explanation, just letting his friend blubber into his chest until she falls asleep. He was sure he would hear about it in time. Little did he know 'the incident' would be the only thing his fellow Trebles would be talking about for most of rehearsal the next day.

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A/N: I just want to say that if something in this chapter seems like a lucky coincidence in this chapter, it is not.