A/N: This chapter is in Chloe's POV, an FYI, mainly because it wrote better this way.
Chloe Beale is a very compassionate person. Everyone including herself knows this fact, she cares a lot. It's something she always tries to always work on and better herself at. Especially when Beca Mitchell waltzes into the caring ginger's life by singing these songs that just affect her in a way nobody understands, she finds herself mad at herself for not being there enough for the struggling girl. She cares so much for the beautiful brunette with the stormy eyes, and seeing her in pain nearly kills her.
The ginger feels something with the mysterious brunette, she always feels herself giddy at any and all interactions with the girl. It hurts her to see Beca so confused, and she wants to be there to help, but when she does help, she always makes it worse. Chloe herself, being bisexual, found herself in almost the same boat as Beca her freshman year in high school when she faced the ultimate internal struggle of her sexuality and religion clashing. She managed to come to terms that both can coexist, and the religion she lives by is an all loving god. Although it wasn't so fast to her realizing this, most of her freshman year was spent drunk, until the girl she was with then snapped her out of it the next summer. She is just so scared to go through this with Beca, because Beca is struggling more than she was and she doesn't want this girl that she likes so much to be in pain.
When Chloe serenaded Beca earlier, rather inappropriately, she was doing it in good flirting fun, because the pair had grown. Like, Beca was holding her hand a lot, she was getting more comfortable. So the ginger saw it having no problem, and it worked, she could tell Beca liked it a lot. Like a lot. She took it as initiative to walk the girl she was so attracted to to her dorm. But now she stands here outside the door that was just slammed in her face. She can hear Beca stifle a sob, and she hovers with her ear to the door. She likes her and she knows Beca reciprocates that and is struggling with the concept, she wants to help, but she is the one causing Beca this pain. She still needs to help.
She knocks lightly, in a lighthearted Chloe Beale fashion, "Becs?"
Silence.
"Beca, please open up." Chloe pleads and she can hear her voice edging on tears, because deep down Beca is physically hurting herself right now. "Please, Becs. Don't push me out." She is met with silence, especially since Beca's crying stopped. She can picture the beautiful girl with smeared eye liner pressing her ear on the other side of the door. "I know you aren't in a good place right now and you don't want me to see it. But I'm here, because I care. And you are so amazing, and talented, and honestly the most beautiful and perfect person I have ever met, and I can't live knowing the fact that someone as amazing as you is hurting. Please, don't push me away. Let me in."
Within the silent hallway of Baker Hall, the door creaks open and the short brunette with disheveled hair, streaked eyeliner, slouched posture, and tear stained cheeks is standing there. She is absolutely beautiful, Chloe thinks to herself. The younger girl refuses to make eye contact, and she holds her arm across her stomach to block Chloe off.
Chloe reaches forward and lightly sticks her index finger under Beca's chin to lift her head up to make Beca look her in the eye. When the stormy and beautiful eyes meet Chloe's, Beca starts bawling. Chloe is a bit misty herself. In the instant their eyes meet, Chloe feels something crack in her heart that makes her fall for this beautiful brunette even more. She closes the distance and wraps Beca in such a tight hug that Chloe just hopes could heal all of Beca's problems if she just holds her. Beca holds onto Chloe for dear life, she squeezes pieces of Chloe's sweater between her fists to pull the girl closer and to keep her safe. The ginger leads them into the room and closes the door behind them. She leads them to Beca's bed and holds her while she cries.
"I will always be here, Beca. You never need to go through this alone," Chloe whispers into her hair as she kisses the brunette's temple.
She holds onto the brunette until Beca cries herself to sleep. Chloe quickly follows and sleeps as well. When Chloe wakes the next day, she is alone in the cold bed and a note is left on Beca's desk. In her messy scrawl:
Sorry, I had an early shift and then I have a class (that I will actually attend) after, I will see you at the Riff-Off.
Queen B (Bec)
Chloe sighs and sticks the note in her pocket, she got farther past Beca's walls to help her last night, but now she left her alone in the morning. She ignores her own petty feelings of feeling ignored and exits Beca's dorm, ready for this Riff-Off tonight.
The Riff-Off is…an adventure, to say the least. Being cut off from a simple apostrophe is extremely disappointing to the say the least. But the real crazy thing that makes Chloe's night take a turn is when Beca runs out to interrupt the serenading Jesse, ew, and starts rapping No Diggity. Not only is it the hottest thing ever, but it was one of Chloe's first lady jams. And hearing Beca rap the song is enough to make her jaw drop. After the scolding by Aubrey for losing, she dismisses the group to go join the after party that remains going in the pool.
Chloe approaches Aubrey who is rubbing her temples, and she grabs her elbow, "It's okay, we only lost on bias judging. Don't take it out on the girls, we did amazing, focus on that."
"Shut it, Chloe." Aubrey snaps and Chloe flinches.
"I'm sorry, but what we did was different and actually really good," Chloe tries to enthuse.
"Oh, you are just saying that because Beca was different and she wants things to be different," the blonde yells.
"You know that's not it," the defeated redhead says.
"You need to remember we know more than this alternative girl-"
"Is there a problem here?" Beca appears at Chloe's side and Chloe feels a subtle hand on her lower back.
"This is captain business, so you aren't needed here, and Chloe and I already chose. So leave now," Aubrey snaps.
"Oh really, because from hearing your very loud conversation you only agree with you and you aren't listening to Chloe," Beca says rather defiantly as per usual.
"Eavesdropping is rude, you felon."
"Someone is grasping at straws for an insult. And maybe if you bothered listening to Chloe you wouldn't be puking on the Bellas chances of actually getting somewhere in these competitions," Beca growls. "You should get a drink Aubrey, you're real bitchy when you're sober. Let's go, Chloe."
Chloe, in complete shock, feels Beca's hand on her wrist and she follows weakly. Beca leads the pair to a secluded corner of the pool with a cooler for drinks. She pulls two beers and hands one to the ginger. The upset ginger feels the freshman's burning touch on her bicep.
"Are you okay?" The brunette asks in such a concerned voice.
"Yeah, I'm just sick of her belittling me." Chloe sniffles.
Beca reaches out and wraps her arms above the ginger's shoulders. Chloe is quick to reciprocate the touch and feels her crumbling emotions piece back together with the freshman's comforting touch.
"Wow, the roles are so reversed right now," Beca sarcastically mumbles.
Chloe pulls back and shoves the younger girl's shoulder jokingly, "Shut up," she wipes at her sniffling nose. "Thank you."
"Of course," Beca bumps her shoulder. "Now let's have some fun."
"Don't have too much fun, I'm going to make sure Aubrey is okay enough for the Bellas to still have our sleepover after this."
Beca gives her a pointed look, "Stand your ground."
Chloe salutes, "Will do, captain."
With a giant smile, the ginger departs with the beer in hand and approaches Aubrey who is drinking vehemently. She tries to wipe off her content smile that Beca put on her face as she approaches her angry co-captain.
"Bree," she says cautiously, "are we still okay for a sleepover tonight?"
"Sure, as long as there is alcohol. You know, so I'm not a bitch." Aubrey sarcastically bites.
"Fine, I'll round the Bellas up in an hour," Chloe says and walks away.
She walks towards the center of the pool of the drunk and grinding students. She tries to seek Beca out, maybe she can convince her to dance with her. The hopeful ginger walks alone and nearly spills her beer when Fat Amy bumps into her while spraying champagne, God knows where she got that, all over the dancers. Chloe laughs as she is spritzed lightly and looks around for the girl she is falling for. Her smile drops when she spots the short brunette leaning against the wall, laughing, and Jesse stands by her, an arm against the wall so he is leaning closely to her. She's happy, with him. Chloe's insides crash, maybe Beca has been giving her the wrong signals, she did say awhile back that she didn't even like girls. Now Chloe feels like a crushed idiot.
Chloe knocks her beer back and quickly bumps past the crowd to get another. She needs to drink and drink a lot soon. She can't handle this. Why is she so damn attached to people easily? Too damn emotional, Chloe thinks to herself as she starts jumping on the dance floor with her third beer in her hand. Her eyes burn into the back of Jesse's head. She grunts and swallows the rest of her beer. She approaches the pair, mainly to get to the keg. She passes them, while trying her best to not look at them.
"Hey Chloe," Beca's voice is too happy in Chloe's jealous and drunk mind.
"Oh, hey," she tries to be happy but it is forced.
"What's up?" Jesse nods.
"Getting beer, so if you two will excuse me." She sounds too harsh. She scolds herself, don't look stupid for getting jealous over a straight girl. The ginger forces a smile, "Cause this ginger needs her jiggle juice," she shakes her ass and walks away.
The senior feels the duo staring at her, but she ignores it and fills her cup, downs it, and fills it again. She feels a hand on her shoulder, "Hey don't take all the beer."
Chloe turns to see a smiling Tom, hell this night is too much. The ginger is infuriated and she isn't usually angry and she can't handle this cheating scumbag right now. "Nope, don't talk to me."
"I just wanted to say I'm sorry, baby," he voices.
"No you aren't, you are a cheating scumbag, and cheating scumbags don't change," Chloe rambles.
"Just give me one more chance," he lightly grabs her wrist.
"Get off me," Chloe growls and in her drunk mindset feels tears of anger come to her eyes.
"Do we have a problem here, asshole?" The sexy and angered voice of the one and only Beca Mitchell interrupts.
"Oh, shower girl. No this is between Chloe and me," Tom says.
"She told you to get off, now leave!" Beca yells.
"Fine, you don't need to be a bitch about it," he mumbles.
"Excuse me?" Beca yells.
"Don't call my Beca a bitch," Chloe slurs and throws her drink at the built boy.
"Ugh!" Tom groans as he wipes at his beer soaked face and walks away.
Beca turns to Chloe and wipes a few tears off of the senior's cheeks. Chloe nearly melts. "Are you okay, Chlo?" Beca coos.
Chloe nods, "I just need to go dance and get my mind off of this."
"Mind if I join you?" Beca gives Chloe that damn smirk that makes her smile and her heart speed to an immense pace.
The drunk senior can't stop her damn smiling and leans forward to kiss Beca's cheek,
"Come on. Only if you can keep up though."
Chloe feels so conflicted of jealousy over Beca and Jesse, sadness from Tom, and complete joy from Beca holding her hand and leading her to the dance floor. The brunette drops Chloe's hand once they reach their designated spot, and Chloe starts swaying her hips and dancing to the beat. The brunette looks awkward and weirdly sways, Chloe sees her opportunity.
She leans forward, "Do you not know what to do?" Chloe breathes heavily in Beca's ear. She can see Beca stiffen at Chloe's breath on her neck and smiles in victory to herself.
"Not quite, I'm not a big dancer." Beca speaks over the loud music.
"Let me help you," Chloe whispers and when she sees Beca nod, the ginger leans forward and kisses her cheek.
Chloe backs up and levels her eye contact with the slightly drunk Beca. Chloe reaches forward and wiggles her fingers, when Beca grabs her hands, Chloe yanks her forward and turns the brunette's back to her. The older girl places her hands on the younger girl's delicious hips and pulls her close. She leads her in the grinding motions and eats it up. Beca eventually lets loose by the third song and gets into the swing of things and Chloe soaks in every moment of her dancing with Beca.
In the midst of a song, Chloe feels a hand on her shoulder. She looks over to see Stacie and she almost wants to get angry for the girl stopping her dancing with Beca. "It's time to go back," Stacie says.
Chloe groans and steps away from Beca, who turns around, red faced. She blushes when she notices Stacie, "Oh."
"Time to go back," Stacie repeats and turns to lead the girls.
Chloe wraps her arm around Beca's waist when she sees the young girl wave to Jesse. She is a possessive drunk, sue her. "You're a good dancer," she whispers to Beca when they leave the pool.
Beca blushes, "You are too."
The pair trail behind the Bellas as a sober Jessica and Stacie lead the girls back to the apartment. Chloe eventually turns the situation so she is holding Beca's hand as she somewhat stumbles. Upon reaching the apartment, Fat Amy pulls out liquor and smiles.
"Bitches, it's only midnight. Let's crush this Bellas style!" Fat Amy yells as she cranks up a sound system in Chloe's apartment.
"We will get sound complaints!" Aubrey yells and turns off the stereo.
Fat Amy boos, "What should we do then?"
"I have so many drinking games for us to play," Stacie smiles. "First, Dirty Pint. Everyone pours some of their differing drinks into one cup. The most sober person picks a number, whoever is closest has to drink the whole thing."
Everyone obliges and dumps an assortment of liquor into a red cup. Beca manages to pick Stacie's number spot on and has to down the potent glass. And upon Beca finishing the glass, it causes the domino effect of this night to truly begin. Beca the Cuddle Monster comes out as she practically sits on Chloe's lap as they begin to play Paranoia.
"Okay, it's simple. Someone whispers a question to someone, in which the answer has to be someone playing the game. You respond the name out loud, and if you want to know what the question was, you drink." Stacie begins and leans over to Beca and whispers something.
"Chloe," the drunk girl yells and giggles and burrows her face into Chloe's neck.
"What was the question?" Chloe asks after throwing a shot back.
"Who is the hottest person in the room?" Stacie says.
"I'm the hottest?" Chloe whispers to Beca as she blushes and feels her stomach lurch.
Beca nods and whispers, "Who would you kiss in this room?"
Chloe's palms sweat and she honestly answers, "Beca." Thankfully, nobody asks because they all assume that Beca just repeated the same question. And that is the catalyst to Beca becoming something new.
The whole group simply becomes hammered from the curiosity from this game and within the next two hours, Chloe leads the stumbling Beca to her double bed. Mainly because Beca keeps insisting that they are cuddle buddies so they need to share the bed and cuddle. And it's not like Chloe objects one bit.
She slips out of her jeans and jacket, and into an old t-shirt and running shorts. Chloe turns around and throws similar apparel at Beca who is staring heavily at Chloe and blushing.
"Come on, change." Chloe says to the motionless girl as she flops on the bed. "What?" Chloe sits up to smooth out the crease in Beca's furrowed brow.
"I'm just realizing how great you are," she slurs. She gets up to leave for the bathroom.
Chloe slumps back in her bed and runs her hands through her hair, confused. She throws her hair into a bun and stressfully replays tonight's events. Beca has nearly given her whiplash and Chloe can't help how much she feels right now. When Beca emerges from the bathroom and holding her arms to her body, an insecurity still showing through her drunk stupor, Chloe's breath is taken away from her beauty. She has never felt someone tug at her heart like this before and she smiles when her eyes meet the brunette's stormy orbs.
Beca lies next to the senior who can barely control her breathing as the moonlight floods into the dark room. The tiny brunette cuddles into Chloe's side and the senior smiles. She plays with Beca's fingers and eventually turns her hand to look at her forearms. She needs to make sure she is okay.
"When did this happen?" Chloe can hear the tears in her voice as she spots a recent cut.
"Yesterday," Beca mumbles.
Chloe squeezes Beca close and kisses her wrist. Her tears drip onto Beca's arm and she kisses them away and pulls back to look at Beca's closed eyes as she smiles, sadly.
"Do that again," Beca whispers, softly.
Chloe leans forward and kisses her cut again and smiles as she pulls away to look at the beautiful freshman.
Beca shakes her head slowly, "No, not there."
Chloe's fingers tingle as Beca grabs onto her hands. Chloe looks into Beca's eyes, "Where?"
Beca stares deeply into the senior's eyes. She lowers her gaze to Chloe's lips and bites her own. Chloe feels butterflies in her stomach and her feet tingle. She feels such a strong warmth radiate in her body as Beca looks up from her lips and back to her eyes. Beca slowly grabs Chloe's hand and leads it and presses the senior's index finger on the soft lips.
"Do it right here," she whispers.
Chloe can't say no to Beca. And she wants to ask if she's sure, but when Beca moves her hand to grip Chloe's jaw and she nods, Chloe knows she wants this as much as her. Even though they are drunk. The ginger nervously moves toward Beca as her eyes fall closed. Her lips connect to soft yet firm ones.
It's barely a ghosting touch, and Chloe feels everything. It is electric. She readjusts and layers her lips over the younger girl's lower lip and her spine tingles. The ginger holds the freshman's cheeks in both her hands as she kisses her harder. It is simply the best thing she has ever felt. Chloe feels the younger girl's hands grip at her back tightly as Chloe lightly traces her tongue over the girl's lip. She sees cliché fireworks behind her eyes as it feels as if a fire has set in her body when her and Beca's tongue fight for dominance.
Chloe has never felt more alive as she is yanked on top of the young girl. She pulls away from the girl with a tug on her lip and she smiles at the girl whose eyes are closed. She puts her scorching lips on the brunette's neck and trails kisses there and can't help but leave a mark, especially when Beca drags her nails lightly down Chloe's back. Chloe groans and reattaches their lips in loving touches as she feels so much warmth and almost love as Beca kisses her like it is the last time she ever will. Chloe pulls away and makes eye contact with the drunkenly smiling Beca and she can't help but smile too and feel her insides tingle.
"Hold me?" Beca asks.
Chloe obliges and climbs off the girl and turns Beca's back to her so she spoons her. The room is silent as Chloe calms down, she is warm and content. The smile won't leave her face as she squeezes Beca to her closely.
"I'm drunk, but I mean it. I mean everything," Beca whispers.
"You mean everything to me," Chloe whispers and leans forward and kisses Beca's exposed shoulder tattoo. She lays her head back on her pillow and drifts off to sleep with a smile on her face.
A/N: Lots of progress, huh? :) Tell me what you think!