A/N: Thank you all SO much for sticking with this fic and being so understanding. I seriously got emotional when reading all of your replies. Now I'm back and everything is on track again. It feels great to be writing again and I'm excited to dive back in! I'm going to reply to some guest reviews below from chapter 29. There is also two music selections that I will post a link to on my writing tumblr (pentopage33). I recently (literally a few days ago) got into remixes and similar genres of music. So you get to experience some of it thanks to that. The music choices are as follows:
Say My Name (feat. Zyra) by ODESZA
Teqkilla by M.I.A.
I can't thank you enough for continuing to read and sending reviews in reply to my author's note with well wishes and support! It really meant more than you could ever know. I was truly touched. I hope you enjoy the new chapter!
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BeyPh : Hello. Sorry, but I got everything figured out now. Thank you for the well wishes! Yeah, I had been thinking about writing one and then it was also suggested by a friend. So then I finally did write one. I probably should have done it sooner, but I had a specific date that I was hoping everything would have worked out by, but didn't. But now it's fixed!
Awesome: I'm so glad you liked it so much! You will just have to read and find out. The end is almost here. So not much longer.
Guest(Sad About Epilogue): Yes! I would be extremely open to that! That was actually what I had meant by a collection of 'deleted scenes'. I meant suggestions for prompts within this universe because some readers had wanted more of one thing or another. Sorry if that was confusing. Thank you! :)
Guest(Totes): I looked into what you were talking about. I think in the previous chapter I only used it three or four times, but it was one sentence after the other. So it maybe seemed like a lot? But then I went back a chapter or two and there is definitely an over abundance of the word 'totes'. I tend to use it as a crutch to make sure Chloe's dialogue seems in character. I also always use it in place of 'totally'. I'll try and keep an eye out for it and reel it in a bit. Thank you for mentioning it!
Mia: Yes, and there is more fluff to come. Hope you like it!
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Chapter 30
"I love you."
Chloe tensed immediately at the statement. Then she was hugging Beca tightly to her before pulling back and giving her a long fervent kiss. When they separated Chloe was looking at her like she couldn't believe she had actually said what she had said. Then there was that familiar internal struggle against something unknown that Beca had seen far too many times thrown her way. Then came the struggle as she tried to articulate whatever she was fighting with, "I-I-"
But her opponent won or so it seemed. Amy interrupted the moment with a long wolf whistle, completely derailing Chloe's sentence. The rest of the Bellas soon followed. Beca was mortified, her cheeks turning bright red to express the feeling, but there was a stronger feeling. A vast feeling of disappointment because if Chloe was allowed to finish, Beca was almost positive she wouldn't have. Chloe didn't seem to notice or if she had she chose to ignore it, smiling easily at everyone around her, but it wasn't genuine. No matter how many times she tried to catch the redhead's eyes, Chloe refused to meet hers. Chloe was pulled further into the room and way from her. All Beca wanted to do was to pull Chloe off to the side and have an honest conversation about what was bothering her. If it was the words she had spoken just moments ago, but she knew that wasn't true. Yet her self-doubts were slowly creeping in as each second ticked by. Beca had to leave, needing just a few minutes to herself. The bathroom down the hall was the perfect option. Her body was already moving towards the dorm door on its own accord.
Beca opened the door to find a pizza boy on the other side poised to knock. At the new presence, the other girls' attention was drawn and Beca was able to easily slip out unnoticed. She glanced back once more to find everyone's attention drawn to the pizza boy except one, Chloe. She was hugging herself, looking at Beca like a puppy who had had an accident on the carpet and knew they had done the wrong thing. Those big blue eyes full of worry, surely wondering what her silence would cost her this time. Beca turned, leaving the question unanswered. She hadn't figured out the answer herself yet. She went straight to the bathroom without another thought.
Beca had taken several moments to recollect herself before washing her face, careful of her eyeliner. She was just patting her face dry when she heard someone enter behind her. Deep down, she was hoping it would be Chloe come to talk things out. When she pulled the paper towel away from her face and looked up a set of hazel eyes met hers in the mirror instead of the expected baby blues.
Aubrey started off easily, "I know about your plan." The blonde paused, giving Beca a chance to speak, but Beca remained quiet, looking away. "Stacie is really open about everything. She does not believe in keeping secrets when she is seeing someone. Even if she did, she mummers in her sleep. It is kind of cute, but it ruins a lot of surprises." She took a tentative step forward. "I owe you an apology…"
The younger Bella balled up the paper towel and tossed it in the trash before turning to the other girl. She found comfort in the edge of the sink digging into her lower back as she addressed her captain. "Dude, we're good. You already have, like twice." She shrugged.
"Yes, but those were insincere. I… underestimated you. I thought you were just using her."
"Who?" Beca cut in, her brow scrunched up.
"Chloe of course. I figured you were this screw-up punk that would never be good enough for her."
"Well that's really comforting." Beca crossed her arms as she rolled her eyes.
"Let me finish Mitchell. I was wrong, okay. You are the best person for her. You have talent. You will go places. I am sorry I did not see it sooner. I have been watching over Chloe for the last four years and done what I thought was best for her. I have seen person after person use her or vice versa. Eventually, you expect the next one to be just as bad. Then I am left to watch her just reset each time like everything is okay. She is really good at hiding her feelings. So good I still cannot read her after four years, but you can. She is so much better off with you. So much better. I am grateful for that."
Beca wasn't really sure what to say because Aubrey Posen was being nice to her. Hell, she was praising her for being a good person and telling Beca she was talented. "Thank you?" was all she could manage.
They walked back together, side by side. "You know this doesn't mean I will ease up on you in practice."
"I wouldn't expect anything less."
They both laughed. Aubrey seemed to be contemplating something, slowing her pace as the distance to Stacie's room decreased. When they found themselves in front of the correct door, Aubrey stopped Beca from going in with a hand placed on the younger woman's forearm.
"Just one more thing." Aubrey squared up with Beca. "If Chloe says no to your plan, hear her out? She has a good reason."
Beca's brow scrunched up again in confusion. "But… why?"
"She loves you." When Beca's confusion was further displayed by the puckering of her lips, Aubrey elaborated. "Chloe that is… She has a hard time saying it, but she tries to show it. Take in the way she acts around you. You both are attached at the hip. You are all she talks about." Aubrey rolled her eyes at the comment. "Which you would maybe think I would be use to, but Chloe never talks about Tom." Beca grimaces at the mention of his name. "She never talks about anyone. Well, not the way she talks about you."
Aubrey was telling Beca exactly what she wanted to hear. Only she didn't want to hear it from Aubrey. She wanted to hear it from Chloe, but that wasn't an option. The insecurities she felt creeping in earlier were still there. Beca found herself opening up, exposing those insecurities, to the one person she figured would be her mortal enemy, if mortal enemies existed. "How can you be sure?"
"Because she tells me every day. A few times a day verbally… well as close as she can. Then there is the way she looks at you. She is always checking in with you to make sure you are okay, even when you are not paying attention. It is Chloe, she is like the glue of the group. If someone has a problem, she will take note and then solve it. But with you her sensitivity to your feelings is constant."
Beca still couldn't fully wrap her mind around the concept. "Really?"
"Really. Now let's get back in there."
Beca smiled easily. "Probably for the best. You being nice is freaking me out."
"For a badass you are really emotional."
"Did Aubrey Posen just swear?" Beca gasped with fake shock.
"I still own you until I graduate Mitchell." Aubrey fired back, not at all serious.
"Aaah, there is the general Posen I know."
They smiled at each other. There was a sudden change in expression on Aubrey's part. Back was the unfamiliar version of her that actually seemed to care about Beca's well-being. "Ready?"
Beca didn't need her to further elaborate. She knew what she meant. If she was ready to immerse herself in the Bellas again. Was she ready to face Chloe. And most importantly, was she ready to pretend like everything was okay even if it wasn't. She knew she could. After all she had had all year to practice. What was one more night. So she nodded and Aubrey pushed the door open. Beca took a moment to just take in the room still perched on the edge. No one had noticed her yet and it allowed her the opportunity to observe the group as if she was an outsider peaking in through a window. Everyone was so in sink, seeming to have their own designated place in the room, the group. Aubrey easily re-up took hers next to Stacie who smiled at her in greeting before nonchalantly linking their pinkies and then redirecting her attention to Cynthia Rose. Cynthia Rose was none the wiser to the interaction, too caught up in a story about loan sharks. Amy was sat on the floor, rapt with attention, a pizza box in her lap as she took turns taking bites from the one slice of pizza in her right hand and then the one in her left. Lily sat nearby making various toppings walk the plank of a ship she constructed out of three slices that seemed to have been overtaken by a tentacle creature made out of cheese. Each topping's final destination was Lily's mouth. Beca was starting to wonder where she fit in. Where was her place.
Then there was Chloe. Chloe who was sat on the floor across from Amy, with her back against one bed. Chloe who was the only one to notice she was standing there like the outcast who showed up to the party even though they were not invited. Only Beca was invited and Chloe definitely wanted her there if the pleading hesitant look she was giving the brunette was anything to go by. Beca was so relieved in that moment that Chloe was still opening up to her. That she had not gone back to shielding herself with a fake plastic smile. Beca shyly made her way over, taking up her place next to Chloe. Once sat, Beca could fully take in the unsure redhead next to her. The same redhead who was playing with the edge of a paper plate instead of Beca's hands or her own. Even though Beca wasn't exactly happy with the other girl, she still wished it was her hands to be worried over instead of the plate.
"l grabbed you your favorites before Amy could get to them." Chloe was the first to speak.
Sure enough there were four perfect triangular slices of her favorite pizza laid out on the plate Chloe was worrying her hands with. Beca knew how hard it would have been for the other girl to shove Amy out of the way to get first dibs. The same Aussie who had the audacity to slap Lily's hand away when the silent Bella tried to grab another slice from the box on Amy's lap as Chloe spoke. Beca found herself softening because she knew what Chloe was trying to say. She knew what those four slices really meant and the fact that, even though Chloe was probably dying to preen over her with hugs and kisses, she was giving her tiny upset friend space. As much as she wanted to ignore it and stay sulky, Beca couldn't. Instead she pressed a quick kiss to her redhead's lips and sincerely thanked her as she took up the plate of pizza. There was still worry accompanied by a small smile on the older girl's face until the brunette pressed her knee into Chloe's. Then there was a tan hand that was placed on Beca's thigh as that true blinding smile fully blossomed on Chloe's lips. Beca's own version soon followed. They would still have to talk about it all later, but it could wait. For the moment they could just be Beca and Chloe. Two friends that were so much more than just friends.
That's what they did. Everyone chatted amongst the group. Beca and Chloe interjected where it was natural for them to do so. The whole time while they were reconnecting in a way that was familiar to the redhead. There were brief squeezes at Beca's thigh where Chloe's hand resided, Beca briefly reciprocating with a hand laid on top of Chloe's hand, shoulders jutted out to nudge the others, and there were several sly side glances. All accompanied by teasing remarks. Everything felt okay. The whole time Amy was trying to low key film it all on her phone. Cynthia Rose was trying to be less subtle, a dopey smile in place whenever she glanced at Beca and Chloe or Aubrey and Stacie, but it disappeared as quickly as it came about. At some point in time Stacie and Aubrey had gotten their own plates of pizza and were seated on the ground with everyone else. What had Cynthia Rose smiling like a dope and eventually drew Amy's camera to them as well was how they were interacting.
As everyone spoke they were picking a part their pieces of pizza like it was the most natural thing in the world. They placed the items they didn't like on the other person's plate. Then the exchanged toppings were placed on the new person's slices of pizza and eaten. It was like Stacie and Aubrey were an old married couple that had been sorting through pizza toppings for years. If that wasn't enough, after Aubrey finished each slice she handed the left over crust to Stacie, who eat them happily after making sure the blonde was okay, claiming they hurt the roof of her mouth. Lily sat oblivious to it all, to preoccupied with dissecting her pizza ship as the cheese monster took it over.
Once everyone was done Amy decided to open things up with a round of shots. She quickly got up to make them, passing them out as she filled the little disposable shot glasses they had purchased for the occasion. Everyone passed them around their semicircle until everyone had one. Then Amy, shot glass in hand, proclaimed, "Let's get this party started pitches!" She knocked back the shot and started pouring seconds. Everyone else let out an exclamation of glee except for Beca and Aubrey. The younger girl grumbled before finally shooting the first shot and then the second back with a grimace. Aubrey just stared her shot down as if it had wronged her in a past life before rolling her eyes and drinking it. The process was repeated with the second shot only with more contempt. Then the drinking games began.
All of the games seemed to be centered around them getting closer physically or emotionally to one another. Like a team retreat, only with booze. The two shots helped loosen them up for the first game of the night called 'Attached at the Hip'. The girls got into groups of two to play. Cynthia Rose chose to sit out the first round, given the odd number of Bellas and the fact that when she tried to partner with Stacie her life flashed before her eyes when Aubrey caught her gaze to stare her down. So the groups wound up being Amy and Lily, Beca and Chloe, and Stacie and Aubrey. Cynthia Rose chose a body part for each group from a premade stack of cards. For the rest of the time the group would have to stay connected by that body part. If they failed to stay connected, then they would have to take a shot. Realizing the game could take the whole night if given an infinite amount of time, they decided each round would be three minutes long. Each group would have to drink every time they separated during the time limit. Then they would reset and stay connected till the time was up or they disconnected again.
Cynthia Rose drew butt for Amy and Lily. The girls immediately went back to back, touching their rear-ends to the other persons. Amy immediately made a secret agents pose as she exclaimed, "This is so cool! This should be easy. I have a lot to back up." She bumped into Lily lightly.
Next up was Stacie and Aubrey. Cynthia Rose drew nose for them. "This might get interesting." CR mused as she handed the card to the duo.
The two girls faced each other awkwardly. "If you are not comfortable we can pass?" Stacie offered.
"No, it is fine. A Posen never backs down from a challenge." Aubrey took a step forward and Stacie hesitantly followed. They continued their slow approach until their noses touched. Then they awkwardly settled, trying to figure out where to look because the only real option was the other person's eyes.
"Oh my god! For someone who is so open and another who is so collected you look like two middle schoolers at their first school dance," Amy laughed.
They both ignored her, Aubrey rolling her eyes before refocusing on the set across from her. A small smile followed when Stacie cocked her eyebrows as if they were indulging in an inside joke. It grew with the brunette's words. "Are you okay?"
"Never better."
CR awed at them before moving onto Beca and Chloe, reading off the card as she approached. "Cheek."
Beca immediately protested. "You have to be kidding me! I'll be on my tip toes the whole time. There has to be another option."
"I told you I should have bought a step stool," Amy helpfully added.
"Shut-up Amy!"
"Rude!"
"Do you want to take a shot every 30 seconds?" Cynthia Rose offered.
"No."
"Then I can't help you."
Chloe pulled at Beca's hand to get her attention. "You can hop up and wrap your legs around my waist? You're super light."
"What she means is you are tiny." Amy added.
Chloe looked over Beca's shoulder to address the Aussie. "You're not helping." She turned her attention back to Beca, playing with her fingers as she bit her lip. "Come on Becs."
The younger girl rolled her eyes. "Fine."
Chloe was bursting with excitement as she crouched down to wrap her arms around Beca's thighs and hoisted her up onto her hips. Beca let out a squeak in surprise, falling forward before straightening up again.
"Geesh woman, give a girl some warning."
"But then it's less fun." Chloe smiled cheekily at her.
Cynthia Rose cleared her throat, "Everyone ready?" There was a chorus of yeses. Beca and Chloe quickly went cheek to cheek. "Alright, I'm starting the three minutes now ladies."
The first minute was pretty boring. They all just stood there waiting for something to happen as the silence of the room rung out around them. Only interrupted with an occasional long sigh from Amy. The only group with any real form of entertainment was Stacie and Aubrey who could try to communicate with their eyes and do little dances with their eyebrows. Then Stacie's nose began to twitch.
"I think we need to separate."
"Why?" was Aubrey's quick response.
"I'm going to sneeze."
"That is okay. Do not worry about it."
"No, Aubrey, I'm going to full on sneeze. I do not want to sneeze in your mouth or knock you in the head."
"Are you sure you are going to sneeze?" There was that General Posen tone they all knew so well.
"Yes."
"100%?"
"Yes, I am going to sneeze."
"I just want to make sure. I do not have a strong constitution for liquor."
"I will take your shot."
"No, you should not be punished for a bodily function."
"That's not what you said-"
There was the sound of a hand hitting skin, probably an arm. "Stace!"
Amy oohed at them.
"I still have to sneeze," Stacie reminded her.
There was a shuffling of feet and Cynthia Rose called out, "Shots!"
It was followed by Aubrey stating, "Go ahead then."
There was a few seconds of silence followed by a loud sneeze. Next was the clinking of glasses and Aubrey taking in a quick breath of air after, probably due to the alcohol.
"Okay, I'm ready to start again," Stacie offered.
There was another shuffling of feet. Then Aubrey was making another comment. "Well I found one thing that's not attractive about you."
"Wow, that alcohol sure works fast." Beca mumbled.
Chloe pinched the underside of her thigh. "Be nice."
Beca let out an exclamation of pain. At the sound, Aubrey decided to pipe in, "What was that Mitchell?"
Stacie chose to answer for her. "I think Beca is sympathizing with me and how rude your comment was."
"Well your eyes make up for it. They are stunning."
Beca gagged, earning herself another pinch. "Oooow! Woman, what are you trying to do, bruise me?"
Chloe's volume dropped so only Beca could hear her. "Challenge accepted… If I can use my mouth?"
Beca could feel Chloe biting her lip against her cheek. "Ca-Chloe, that's-that's not really appropriate right now."
"Then you really don't want to know what I have been thinking about this whole time. I'll give you a hint, it has to do with a brick wall and our positions were reversed." Her hands slid a little further up, closer to Beca's backside, before giving the younger girl's flesh an appreciative squeeze.
The smaller girl's eyes went wide as she bolted up a little and away from the hands, still keeping their cheeks in contact. "Oh-okay that's definitely not appropriate right now. We're in a room with our friends."
"We don't mind!" Amy piped up. "Lily, turn to the right. No, the other right. Bhloe things are happening that must be documented for my followers." There was some shuffling.
"I don't think you can put that online unless it's a tutorial," CR reasoned.
"I'll think of something." There was the clicking noise of a camera.
Then from the other side of the room there was some rustling. Which was followed by Stacie asking, "What's wrong Bree?"
"I have an itch."
"Where?"
"On my nose."
"Here, let me try this…"
Beca had no idea what was going on. In her current position, all the tiny brunette could make out was red hair and the wall that Stacie's roommate's bed was shoved up against. It was the most bizarrely decorated wall Beca had ever seen. It was mostly comprised of glitter and little nail stickers with the occasional Polaroid photo of some nail design. A nail design that looked kind of like the printed out picture tacked next to it. Well, if you squinted. The more Beca looked at it the more she started to wonder if that was where Stacie's little audition bio came from. Cynthia Rose had told her about it once and it always seemed weird that someone who was interested in astrophysics and always had short clear coated nails would be into cuticle care and the e-network.
The brunette's musings were cut short by an exclamation from Amy. "Shift to the left! No, the other left. I've been thinking about making a Posrad off shoot. It almost sounds like 'Pus-rad'. Perfect for lesbians."
"How's that?" Stacie asked, to concerned with Aubrey to take any mind of the Aussie's comments.
"Rub harder."
"What the fuck…" Beca said quietly. She shifted in discomfort. Chloe let out a small exhale of exertion at the movement. That was when she fully realized that Chloe had been holding her in a dead lift for almost two full minutes. Maybe the redhead could use a break. "Hey, Chlo? Are you okay? We can stop for a minute. I wouldn't complain about the shot?"
"No, Becs, I'm good. Besides, I get to do this." She sounded far too excited for Beca's liking. Then, instead of just squeezing the thighs of the girl wrapped around her like before, Chloe let her hands slide fully over Beca's butt before squeezing. There was a low content hum that accompanied the action.
Beca tried to shift away, but there was nowhere really to go without fully detaching her cheek from Chloe's. "That's definitely NOT appropriate!" She exclaimed a little too loud, attracting Amy's attention.
The older girl just gripped more firmly at Beca's butt. "But I love your buns."
"Oh my god!" Beca rolled her eyes as Amy called for Lily to shuffle back to the right, but Lily mentioned something about a Taser. Amy still seemed determined to keep moving to the right though. The smallest Bella wasn't really paying attention, her attention fully taken up by the redhead who was whispering things that were way past a PG-13 rating in her ear. Chloe's main goal seeming to be to make Beca squirm. And squirm she did, right out of Chloe's arms. Once her feet hit the ground, Beca could fully take in the room. Her feet's re-acquaintance with the ground was perfectly timed with the sound of something electrical being charged.
"All I did was ask you to turn in a circle. It is not that hard. I could do it while I was in the womb," Amy stated defensively.
When Beca turned to face the room, there was Lily Taser in hand pointing it towards Amy, ready to be used. Just beyond them were Stacie and Aubrey who were rubbing their noses together is such a way it looked like extreme eskimo kissing. Either that or they were trying to start a fire. Beca found herself pulling a disgusted face at the pair, frozen in place. Chloe pulled Beca back into her and out of the way just as Lily went to lunge at Amy, stopping just a few inches away from contact.
That's when Cynthia Rose decided to step in with a proclamation of, "Shots!"
She handed out the four shots she had made during the commotion to Chloe, Beca, Amy, and Lily before taking one herself. The alcohol was enough to distract Lily, but she still stared Amy down as she drank her shot.
"How about another game guys? Something that does not involve Tasers," Cynthia Rose suggested once everyone had taken their shots. They all reluctantly agreed, well Stacie, Aubrey, and Chloe were reluctant. Everyone else was happy with stopping. Lily just shot CR an outraged glare at the mention of the word 'Taser'. Then CR held out her hand for the item and a clearly upset Lily reluctantly placed her toy in the outstretched hand. She gave the Taser one last sullen look before moving onto the next game.
After a bit of squabbling they decided on a game of "Most Likely to". They all plopped down on the floor in a circle. Aubrey sat next to Stacie, leaving just a few inches between them. Chloe was a lot less subtle, sitting down so that her whole side pressed into Beca's before giving them a little bit of space. She refused to let their hands part for a good five minutes after the game started though. Beca had shifted to accommodate the redhead before re-shifting once she gave them some space. Everyone else filled in around them. Amy handed out solo cups of that god awful punch they served at all of the acapella parties that could singe your nose hairs.
Once everyone was set they started making statements about someone being most likely to do something. Then they would point to whoever they thought was most likely to do whatever was stated. For each finger pointed at them they would have to take a long pull of their drink. They started off simply enough with who was most likely to fall asleep on the bus or eat all the snacks. Then they slowly went into more interesting and, potentially, embarrassing territory. By that time, thanks to Amy's mixing skills, they were all buzzed or on their way to drunk.
It seemed to be the latter for Cynthia Rose as she stared into her solo cup as if the meaning of life was held in it. She looked up slowly as if she had just made a great break through. "Who is most likely to swim in a vat of cream corn?"
The answer was easy. No one really had to think about it, pointing to Lily in tandem. Lily, who seemed positively tickled they had thought of her, dutifully took six long sips of her drink, licking her lips as she finished. Amy looked crestfallen at her own drink before taking a sip of her own when no was looking. All the while she was trying to stealthy film all of the Beca and Chloe interactions. Well she would be if her phone hadn't died earlier. Which gave her more reason to sulk.
Then Lily was stating, at a volume that was actually audible, "Most likely to steal a car?"
That was another easy one, everyone either pointing to Beca or Lily. Most of them pointed to Lily, but Amy and Cynthia Rose's enthusiasm when they pointed at Beca seemed to make up for it. Beca couldn't really argue. Given she had stolen a golf cart before, not a car, but it was the same difference in her mind. When she came out of her private musings, as she took her two long pulls from her drink, she found Chloe looking at her curiously. Her cerulean blue eyes were glazed over with alcohol, but still held their usual spark.
"What?"
"You look very pensive there Miss Mitchell." She nudged the younger girl with her shoulder.
"Really?"
Chloe went to tap her nose, slightly swaying and almost getting Beca's eye instead. "Spill."
"I don't know what you are talking about." Beca held Chloe's eye, her confidence coming forward as the alcohol in her bloodstream increased. She shifted back, opening her body more to Chloe with perfect cool nonchalance.
Chloe just bit her lip, glancing at Beca's lips before meeting her eyes again. "I'm sure I could figure it out." Chloe gave another long look to Beca's lips. "Given enough time."
She decided to take a page out of Chloe's book of flirting 101. Beca let her eyes roam over Chloe's body before facing her again with a wink. "I'm sure you could."
The ginger's breath hitched in response. In their preoccupation, they had not noticed that the room had gone completely silent. Finally Amy broke the silence a minute after Beca's last line.
"Oh my god! Bhloe, stop eye fucking. You can do that later. Like when my phone is fully charged again."
At that last comment Aubrey had no qualms in basically straddling Stacie's lap so she could grab onto the front of Amy's shirt. Her words were slightly slurred around the edges as she spoke. "There will be no filming while we are this drunk. If there is, I will come up with something so horrible for you to do you will wish you were doing cardio. Got it?" Amy just nodded, her eyes wide in fear. "Good!" She let Amy go. Then it appeared like she was perplexed by her current position on Stacie's lap, pausing once she turned to the brunette she was sitting on. She tried to extract herself, but the full weight of the alcohol she had consumed was working against her. Aubrey was seriously struggling to navigate her way to the other side of the lap she was perched on. Stacie smiled, enjoying the almost cute flailing of the normally perfectly put together blonde in her lap. Given the normal control the blonde exhibited in almost all aspects of her life, Stacie knew to wait to be asked to help than to jump in right away. Finally defeated, Aubrey let out a puff of distaste, sulking even as she let out a small whiney, "Baaaabe."
Stacie went about slowly untangling the blonde from around her and into a sitting position next to her. Aubrey, relieved, leaned into Stacie's side, resting her head on her shoulder. She mumbled a soft, "Thank you." Stacie smiled before pressing her lips against Aubrey's forehead. The blonde let out a content sigh. Once they started up again, Aubrey straightened up into her signature ramrod straight back sitting position. It only lasted about a minute and then she was slouching, occasionally leaning into Stacie.
Stacie started the game up again, "Most likely to trip head first into something."
No one had to give it a seconds thought before pointing at Beca. The tiny brunette grumbled as she dutifully took tiny sips from her drink.
Then Amy blurted out, "Most likely to have a threesome."
Aubrey pointed to Chloe who cheekily took her drink and everyone else was either pointing to Stacie or Beca. The latter wasn't exactly happy about it after her last six sips. So she had the great idea to protest it.
"Come on guys! You have to, like, pick one of us. It's not fair… I just drank." Beca whined. They all looked at each other before pointing at Beca, well except Aubrey, who had chosen Chloe, and Chloe who was doing that thing where she stared at Beca fondly for no apparent reason. She huffed out a breath of frustration as she sulked and succumbed to her fate. The whole time mumbling around her cup, "It was one time and I didn't even enjoy it."
Chloe must have heard her because she was nudging Beca's shoulder with that mischievous grin of her's as she spoke, "Seems like you've played this before and I'm missing out on some great stories."
Before Beca can speak, Amy cuts in. "Oh, you know slept with a lot of girls, made out with a lot of people, has a delinquent record. Nothing much."
"Geez, thanks Amy." Beca looked just as sullen as before.
"You're in good company." Amy pointed to herself, "Slept with a lot of men, had a lot of boyfriends, and a history of fighting." She points to Chloe. "Slept with a lot of people, made out with more. Probably has broken an entry to pursue the first two." Chloe just nodded, looking proud. Beca's face scrunched up in question at the nod, only to smooth out again with a kiss from the ginger next to her. The same ginger who then pulled the smaller girl into her lap, nuzzling into her neck, mumbling for her not to be like that, before peppering her with kisses. Beca melted at the attention, trying her hardest to hold back a smile and remain sulky. Amy moved onto Cynthia Rose. "Had a lot of relationships and illegal gambling." She got to Stacie. "Slept with a lot of guys and some indecent exposure." Amy stalled out on Aubrey and Lily. "You two… I'm actually not sure about you two." Lily rambled something off about organized crime, witness protection, and hitmen. When everyone just looked at her confused, she sighed and took a long pull of her drink.
Then they were off again with the next one. Beca blurting out, "Most likely to go skinny dipping."
Aubrey and Chloe pointed to each other, which was a little confusing because the redhead decided to stay wrapped around Beca. The younger Bella would half-heartedly try and shrug Chloe off, but it only lasted a minute or two before Chloe was pulling her in again. As the alcohol sunk further in, Beca found herself fighting it less and, instead, sinking in to the body behind her. Everyone else pointed to Stacie, who pointed to Cynthia Rose, reasoning she would do it for the ladies. Then there was who was most likely to pee their pants which went to Amy, under the assumption it would be from laughing, and Beca who was just too damn jumpy for it not to happen. Which, of course, the tiniest Bella protested, but still wound up drinking to. Then there was public or exhibitionist sex, which was a split between Stacie, Chloe, and Beca for obvious reasons. Amy and Cynthia Rose got most likely to say something inappropriate. Finally they stalled out to the last few.
Cynthia Rose had the honors. "Most likely to sexually assault someone?"
Everyone except Aubrey points to Cynthia Rose given she groped Stacie a few weeks ago at their Bella's reunion. Aubrey, though, was pointing at Chloe. The co-captain looked at her friend mildly offended as she drank, "I'm not that bad."
Aubrey, fairly inebriated, had to place a hand on Stacie's thigh to stop herself from falling forward as she shifted onto her knees and pointed at the girl lounging in her best friend's arms. "Have you seen the way you look at her sometimes?"
The brunette in question shrugged, not completely understanding the question. Chloe, on the other hand, tightened her grip on the brunette, protesting, "No, I don't."
Aubrey looked at her incredulously and then looked pointedly at Chloe to get her message across as she gave the next situation. "Most likely to walk into a stranger's shower?"
When six fingers are pointed at Chloe, she happily drinks, finishing with, "It was worth it." Beca hums in agreement in her lap. Cynthia Rose takes a long drag of her drink herself, her eyes going wide at the omission.
Chloe seems to mull over an idea before finally offering to the circle, "Most likely to kill someone?"
Everyone points to Lily, who seems to take the declaration as a compliment. At the last second Cynthia Rose laughs into her cup speaking her thoughts out loud. "Beca would kill Amy if she ever was tech savvy enough to find that YouTube page."
They laughed, Beca following suit. Amy's was more strained though, eyeing the shorter brunette worriedly. Then the words seemed to fully sink in and Beca froze mid laugh, straightening her lax position as she looked at Amy, her face scrunched in confusion. "Wait… What YouTube channel?"
The room fell quiet. Amy took advantage of Beca's general drunk state, yelling, "New game!"
It did the trick, Beca completely distracted as they moved onto the next game, 'Straight Face'. According to the rules, they were supposed to keep a straight face as they went around the circle saying silly things. Anyone who laughed would have to drink. Most of them were so gone they all just sat or laid on the ground laughing at every other thing said only taking a drink when they felt like it. Beca spent most of the time drumming out a tune on Chloe's thighs, which she was sat between, leaning back into Chloe's front. As time went on she took one of Chloe's hands and looked it over in amazement as if she had just discovered a new species. Chloe found herself watching the brunette with an amused expression, intermittently pressing kisses to her cheek or neck before perching her chin on Beca's shoulder. Aubrey fully submitted to just letting herself lean into Stacie's side, the leggy brunette's hand ran through blonde locks as her other one held her drink. Lily was sprawled out in the middle of the circle like a star fish occasionally mumbling out things she thought was hilarious, if the mildly creepy smile was anything go by. Amy kept going from laying down to sitting up again, doing something akin to mermaid dancing if a mermaid had legs. Cynthia Rose sat happily taking it all in, adding her own comments to all the hilarity. They passed around snacks. Since Lily was laying down and refused to get up, CR would occasionally throw random treats to Lily, who easily caught each one in her mouth. The food and time allowed them to sober up just enough to play another game that involved serious drinking.
The final game of the night that was chosen was called 'Medusa'. Stacie's desk was cleared of all the drinks and snacks that had been previously placed there. Shots were lined up to replace the removed items. Everyone circled around the desk and put their heads down. On the count of three they were supposed to look at someone. If they found the same person looking at them, then they had to yell 'Medusa' and take a shot. They were supposed to keep going until all the shots were gone, but they only drank about half. The given rest period wasn't long enough for Aubrey to recover enough to do more than two shots. Half of every shot that followed the first two wound up down the front of her shirt. Eventually Stacie made them stop so that she could help Aubrey clean herself up and change into a set of pajamas. Once the two left the game dissolved and everyone else followed suit. Beca was fairly pleased with the development, Chloe and her had taken most of the shots because they couldn't seem to not look at each other. After the third occurrence, Beca was whining and telling Chloe to stop looking at her. It just led to flirtier looks and lip bites from the ginger. Then there was the onslaught of comments about how adorable, cute, and pretty she was from Chloe, leading to Beca's cheeks flaming bright red. The other Bellas cooed at them or rolled their eyes at the two as they bickered, well Beca bickered and Chloe flirted.
All the Bellas went to the dorm bathroom with their night clothes and toothbrushes in hand, leaving the ensuite in Stacie's room to Aubrey and Stacie to use. Cynthia Rose and Amy ran ahead to get to the bathroom first. Lily ran after them, dispersing her strides with front flips. Chloe and Beca were left trailing behind, the brunette being tugged along behind the older Bella, in a state where she could easily be distracted by something shiny. Chloe's solid hold on her hand kept her on track to the bathroom. Once they actually got to the bathroom entrance, Amy stopped short gasping. "Showers!" She turned to Beca and Chloe, who had practically ran into her. "Don't get any ideas."
"Or you could just give it another go," Cynthia Rose looked at them knowingly as she slipped passed them, following Amy and Lily to the sinks to brush their teeth. Well Lily was mainly scrubbing her lips with her toothbrush as she beatboxed, but it was close enough.
Chloe turned to Beca, interlacing both of their hands. "So what do you say Becs?" She pulled her a little closer. Beca's eyes immediately went to Chloe's lips, only snapping back up to her eyes when she spoke again. "Want to give it a whorl?" Chloe cocked an eyebrow.
The smaller girl seemed to be distracted by something, then she snapped out of it with a quick jerk. "Your eyes are really pretty."
The older girl beamed at her, holding back a laugh, as she separated one hand from Beca's to push hair out of the darker blue eyes staring back at her. "Come on. Let's get you all set for bed." She pressed a kiss to Beca's lips and then tugged her after her to the sinks. Chloe's smile remained as she watched a drunk Beca try and put toothpaste on her toothbrush, her brow furrowed in deep concentration as she continued to miss. "Do you need some help there?"
"Nope! I got it."
Eventually she did, but it was well after the other Bella's were done and had moved onto changing. Then there was the trouble that came with actually trying to brush the teeth in her mouth. When she was done, Chloe helped her get some water to rinse with. Then she was tugging the brunette after her to a stall where Beca would be allowed some privacy to change into her flannel pajama pants. Then all she would need to do was remove her flannel shirt, leaving her in a tank top, and she would be set. Chloe would have preferred to just change in the main room, given the lack of space to maneuver in the stall, but Beca probably wouldn't be as keen. The younger bella was not as free about those things as the ginger was. So it was better to be safe than have an upset drunk Beca on her hands. As is, she was rather enjoying the cute drunk in front of her who was having the hardest time figuring out which hole of the pajama pants given to her to put on was the one to start with. It probably didn't help that although she had technically taken off her jeans, they were still wrapped around her ankles. Beca's strategy to get them off involving unzipping her pants, giving them a push to get past her hips, and then stomping in place until they dropped around her ankles wasn't the most effective plan. Chloe quickly put on her sleeping shorts and a loose fitting tank top before she helped the other girl.
Then Chloe was guiding Beca's hands to her shoulders, to give the smaller woman something to hold onto to keep her balance with. Chloe slowly bent down to let Beca adjust to the movement. She placed her hands at Beca's one ankle as if she was a horse. "Lift'" was all she said and Beca complied. All her touches were soft as she freed the foot from the jeans trapping it. Then she moved onto the next foot. "Pants?" She reached up, gently tugging the pajama pants from Beca's hand. The brunette went to protest, but then Chloe's hands were on her bare legs again, gently trailing down until she was back at Beca's feet. Then she was telling her to lift her feet up again and slipping each foot through the correct pant leg. Her hands trailed again, lighting Beca's body on fire, ending at Beca's waist, putting the waistband in place. When she looked up they both realized how close they were, they're breath intermingling. Beca was reaching out, transfixed with the beautiful woman before her. Her hands were slightly clunky as they settled at the base of Chloe's jaw, stroking her jaw with the pads of her thump.
"I'm really glad you're mine." Then Beca's brow was scrunching in confusion. "You are mine, right?" Normally she wouldn't ask. Hell, she wouldn't even had said the first part, but the alcohol in her system was interfering with her filter. Then there was the unrequited love confession from earlier that was still weighing heavily on her mind, even with Aubrey's reassurances. She needed to hear some sort of confirmation from the ginger. She needed to hear some commitment to her. Especially if Beca was still going to go through with her move to Miami.
Chloe softened, completely sincere, her hands playing with the waist band of Beca's pants, "Of course I'm yours." She tugged Beca closer into her. "Only your's."
That was enough for Beca. She leaned forward, nudging her nose with her own before connecting their lips. It was a long languid kiss. They separated, immediately putting their foreheads together. Tears were appearing in Chloe's eyes. Beca immediately panicked, trying to wipe them away before they fell.
"Oh, no don't cry."
It just made Chloe's voice hitch as she tried to hold back a sob. "I'm just so sorry about earlier. I-I want to tell you everything that I'm feeling, but it's-it's so hard."
It seemed like Chloe was going to continue on, but Beca cut her off, stroking her cheeks and jarring the ginger's head lightly in her eagerness. "Heeey, it's okay. I'm not upset. You told me enough."
"But you deserve so much more."
Beca smiled at her, wiping away a rogue tear that had fallen. "No." She kissed Chloe. "You're more than enough for me. You're perfect Chloe Beale."
Chloe immediately launched herself on Beca, pushing Beca's back against the stall wall. There was no space between them as their lips connected. It was a more desperate wanting kiss. Beca kept up with the pace as well as she could in her state. She was just figuring it out when there was a knock on the stall door. They immediately jumped a part. Well Beca, floundering, trying not to fall. Chloe reached out and placed her hands on her hips to stabilize her.
"We're still here you know…. And we can hear everything!" Amy announced.
"It was really cute!" Cynthia Rose piped in.
"If you are not out in five, we're sending Lily in and she can pick locks."
Beca looked skeptically at the door. "There isn't a key hole. Dude, how is she going to pick it?"
"Same difference! Just get out here. She bites too."
Beca rolled her eyes as Chloe held back a giggle and then pulled the brunette after her along with all their discarded clothes.
"It's about time. Some of us like to get our beauty sleep in," Amy huffed out immediately heading to the door and back to Stacie's room, Lily trailing behind her.
CR stayed behind to look at them with a cheesy knowing smile. "Soooo…."
Beca had to be nudged to focus on the Bella that was talking to them. The movement startled her. "What!?"
"Did you make up?" Cynthia Rose moved her eyebrows suggestively. Chloe laughed at the question and Beca was confused until CR looked pointedly at the stall they had just exited.
"Eeeeew! Why would you ask that perv." Then she was pulling a still giggling redhead after her and back to Stacie's room. She had completely misinterpreted the question. If it was coming from Stacie or Amy she would have been right, but CR was more innocent. At least when it came to couples. The walk was filled with Beca mumbling to herself as she zig-zagged from one side of the hall to the other and Chloe teasing her, asking if it was really that disgusting of a suggestion.
Cynthia Rose followed them saying, "I'm glad you talked. Now Mama bear and Papa bear can become one again."
Beca's response was to blush bright red and whisper loudly, "That's in ah-pro-pro." Which just led to more teasing.
When they arrived back at the room, everyone had staked out a spot to sleep. Amy was sprawled out in a sleeping bag in the middle of the floor. Aubrey was already passed out, drooling and letting out little snores, half laying on top of a pleased Stacie in her bed. It gave Beca pause and the sudden longing to record the whole thing as future blackmail against the blonde, but Aubrey had did her two favors earlier. One being to reassure her about Chloe and the other to stop Amy from taking more footage for whatever project she was doing online. So this once, she let it go. Lily, Lily was missing, but judging by the random noises and movement in Stacie's closet it was safe to say that was where she was. CR rolled out a sleeping bag for herself in between the closet that was currently making random aquatic noises and Amy. Stacie quickly indicated that the other bed was for Chloe to use. That left Beca standing awkwardly by the front door, not sure where to go because she hadn't brought a sleeping bag. Stacie had said something about having one for her, but she wasn't sure where it was. As is, there wasn't a lot of floor space left for her to lay out on in the small dorm room.
"Pssst… Becs."
Beca's head snapped to the noise. "Hmmm?"
There was Chloe Beale smirking at her, half propped up on an elbow, and lifting one corner of the bedding she was laying under. "Come here."
Beca looked around and then pointed to herself. "Me?"
Chloe let out a small giggle. "Yes, you."
The smallest Bella then carefully made her way across the room to where Chloe was, careful not to step on Amy. Then she was in front of Chloe stooping down some so she could more easily talk to the redhead.
"What do you need Chlo?"
Before she knew what was happening, she was being pulled down into the bed by her flannel shirt with a squeak. Chloe's body caught her, her face going right into Chloe's neck and her legs remain half hanging off the side, kicking in the air. The ginger's lips are right at her ear. "You." A shiver runs down the body lying on top of Chloe.
"But this is your bed." Beca tried to wiggle free, but Chloe held fast. Then she was hooking her one leg with Beca's to pull brunette more fully under the covers and onto the bed.
"That hasn't stopped you before."
Beca shifted up onto her forearms so she could look down at Chloe. She was caught off guard for a second by Chloe's bright blue eyes. She didn't remember them being that blue, big, or beautiful. Chloe pulled her out of her trance with a light tug at her shirt and an amused smile. "We're not alone."
"We don't mind!" Cynthia Rose practically cooed.
"Yeah, just keep all hands in their upright position above the waist band and bellow the bust for safe sleeping spaces," Amy added.
"But this is only made for one person," Was Beca's truly concerned response, her eyes big. "I don't fit."
"Aaaaw, babe, you totally fit. Just look at Stacie and Bree."
As soon as she did she was met with a wink from Stacie. Amy tried to further convince her, "Yeah and they're both like twice your size."
Beca tried to sit up so she could glare at the Aussie, but it was no use, Chloe's hold was tight on her. So instead she conceded, slipping off her flannel shirt with a proclamation of, "I'm hot."
Stacie made a side comment just loud enough for everyone to hear and Beca to blush. "I'm sure Chloe would agree with that."
All before Beca chucked the flannel randomly to the floor, where it just so happened to land on Amy's face.
"Hey!"
Beca mumbled into Chloe's neck, "You deserve it," as she nuzzled in to go to sleep. Chloe's one hand ran through her hair as the other slipped under the edge of her tank top to rub small soothing circles at the base of her back. The smaller girl let out a content sigh and wrapped her arms around the ginger's waist, hugging her to her. Just as she was about to fully fall into dream land, Chloe began humming a song into the top of her head, pressing a kiss to her forehead. All the Bellas eventually joined in, adding new depth to the tune. By the time they joined in Beca was already sound asleep, completely at peace in the arms of the girl she loved.
+/+/+
A/N: I hope there wasn't too much of the drinking games and it did not get boring. I actually wanted to put yet another game in, but was worried it was already too long. Next chapter should be another long one. There is a lot to cover still before Chloe and Aubrey graduate. I'm not sure if it will be posted on Thursday. (I'm moving) I will do my best to have it up by the end of next week, if not beginning of the following week. I still have to start writing it! Oh! If anyone was wondering, I pictured Chloe humming a slowed down version of "I was Made for Sunny Days" by The Weepies. The lyrics seem to fit. I'll post a link. I figure the Bellas wouldn't know the lyrics. So they would just add depth to the tune. Anyway… Hope you liked it!