A/N: Hai guys! Sorry it's taken me a couple days to do this but I think we all know I've been busy alternating between uncontrollable sobbing and crazy fangirling. CHOICE CHEMISTRY PITCHES! BEST DAY EVER! Plus two epic tweets that will be both my nighttime and morning reading for the rest of my life.

I don't mention the cameras in this but just assume they are always there, always watching (very Big Brother of me, I know).

To the anon that asked me to marry them. Yes. I would love to :)

To the other anon who asked for Staubrey: your wish is my command. This story will have plenty of time and space for all sorts of ships so just hit me up if there is something you wanna see in it. I'm super relaxable. Not in life but yes in writing.

Disclaimer: I don't own Pitch Perfect or The Office

Now time to meet Legacy! The temp :)

Beca was in a good mood. A great mood even, especially considering it was Monday morning and no magical fairy godmother had appeared over the weekend to give Beca a pumpkin carriage to take her to LA. She was feeling so happy that she even did a slight skip as she raced around her car. She pulled open the passenger door, quickly glancing around to make sure no one had seen her out of character display of joy, and smiling down as the redhead that was climbing out of her car.

"Such a gentleman," Chloe joked, leaning forward to lightly kiss Beca's cheek as she stood.

Beca grinned, forcing herself to ignore the way her cheek had started burning at the touch. The pair had snuck in early that morning, using Chloe's keys, to return Bumper's jello belongings. Of course it would have been suspicious if they had been found there that early together so Beca had taken Chloe out for breakfast. They smirked at each other as they walked past Bumper's car in the car park. This would be fun.

Beca chewed the inside of her cheek to keep her face neutral as she walked into the office. She heard a giggle and looked at Chloe to see her ducking down behind her desk quickly. The damn woman had been giggling all morning, ever since Beca had set up the various jello items on and in Bumper's desk.

"Damn it!" Bumper yelled as soon as he saw Beca. He knew that she was to blame for his yellow, green and red encased objects. "Mitchell!"

Beca held her hands up, trying to act innocent, but her smirk gave her away. Fat Amy heard the commotion and quickly appeared from her office. She burst into a deep belly laugh when she saw what had happened and gave Beca a high five.

"Crushed it," she said through her laughter.

"Fat Amy! She should be fired! This is damage to Dunder Mifflin property," Bumper argued.

Fat Amy glanced at Beca, waiting for her to defend herself.

"I just got here. Chloe can back me up. We went out to breakfast. Right Chlo?"

The only sound coming from the reception desk was Chloe's giggling as she was still hiding behind her desk.

"It was a really funny breakfast," Beca deadpanned, forcing her face to remain neutral even though all she wanted to do was join in with Chloe's laughter.

"Then she came in early this morning and left," Bumper suggested.

Beca raised a brow. "How? I don't have keys and the building would have been locked?"

That seemed to stump the man for a moment until he glanced at the reception desk, quickly piecing it together. "Chloe has keys! She was in on this!"

"Oh please," Fat Amy scoffed. "Chloe? She'd never do that."

Chloe's giggles turned into full-blown laughter at that and Beca's face cracked.

"See!" Bumper yelled.

"What's going on here?" Aubrey asked as she walked in, noticing the commotion straight away. The one day she had an early meeting would of course be the day someone did something stupid. Chloe heard her best friend's voice and immediately calmed down. She moved out from behind the desk and sat in her chair, pretending to be completely focused on work.

"Beca put all of my stuff in jello!"

Aubrey massaged her temples as she took in the objects on the desk. "Mitchell?"

"Nope. Didn't do it. Wasn't even here. I don't even have keys," Beca just rehashed all of her previous arguments.

"She used Chloe's keys!"

"What have I told you about making false accusations!" Aubrey snapped, angry that the man was trying to once again blame something on her friend.

"But-" Bumper tried.

"No! This is your second warning. You don't want to know what comes next." Aubrey turned sharply, her hair flicking over her shoulder, as she marched over to her desk, knowing that she had successfully ended the fight.

Bumper groaned and sunk into his chair. He started pulling his stapler out of the jello.

Beca smirked. Another successful prank. She sat in her own chair and turned on her computer. While it was loading she looked up, eyes finds bright blue that were still sparkling with mirth.

Chloe tore her eyes away from Beca's when someone walked into the office and stopped in from of her. The girl seemed young, not even twenty yet, and her eyes sparkled with an excitement, something her own eyes did, but she fiddled her thumbs nervously. "Hi!" Chloe chirped brightly, feeling an automatic connection with this tall brunette. "How can I help you?"

"Well-umm. I'm Junk, yeah, Emily Junk."

Chloe tilted her head and grinned at the nervous girl as she stuttered over her name. "I'm Chloe Beale. I can I help you Junk, Emily Junk?"

Her joke had the intended effect when the girl let out a bark of laughter, expelling some air and relaxing her shoulders. "Emily is fine."

"I'm Chloe." Chloe stood and quickly rounded her desk, holding her hand out to shake the younger woman's. "Are you looking to buy some paper?"

"Oh! No! The agency sent me over. I'm a temp."

Chloe eyed the tall girl. She was all long limbs and too much enthusiasm. "Awes! Follow me." Chloe walked towards Amy's office and knocked lightly.

"Enter!" Amy roared from inside.

Chloe shook her head as she pushed the door open. "Hey Amy! The temp is here."

"Ah! Tempy, temp, temp, temp," Fat Amy sang as she stood from her chair and walked over to the pair. She pulled Emily into a bear hug, tipping her off balance slightly and knocking the air from her lungs.

"Oof."

Chloe bit her lip and quickly pulled Amy back. "So where do you want her?"

"Umm… uhhh…. Hmmm…" Fat Amy murmured as she considered her options. "Why did we ask for a temp again?"

Chloe rolled her eyes, a habit she'd picked up from Beca during their friendship. "I think Bree-"

"Nope," Fat Amy shook her head, cutting Chloe off before she could even mention the other blonde in this room.

"Amy listen. I think that Bree-"

"Lalalalalala," Amy stuck her fingers in her ears, ignoring Chloe in the most mature way that she could.

Chloe paused for a moment, waiting to see if Amy would start listening or actually acting like the Regional Manager of a barely successful paper company. She didn't. The receptionist grabbed Emily by the arm and dragged her out of the office and over to the one of the empty desks, she just happened to pick the third desk in Bumper and Beca's cluster. "Well I guess you'll be working here," Chloe explained as she gestured to the desk, bare of everything except for a computer.

"Cool!" Emily beamed, a little bit too excited over having a desk as she raised her arms over her head and did a shimmy.

Chloe tilted her head and frowned at the tall girl as she took a seat on the desk next to Emily's. So what if it just so happened to be Beca's and she needed to push some stuff out of the way to do it. Beca's only reaction was a slight grunt of acknowledgment as her computer moved. Emily quickly calmed herself down and took a seat, spinning once in the chair. "So who was that?" Emily asked, inclining her head towards Amy's office door.

Chloe glanced at the office before looking back to Emily, chewing on her lip as she pondered the best way to explain Fat Amy. "Fat Amy. She's the regional manager. She's… a character."

Beca barked a laugh, causing Chloe to smile even though she kept her eyes focused on the temp.

"Fat… Amy?"

"Long story," Chloe shrugged it off.

Emily nodded and spun around on her chair once more, eyes taking in everything about her new work environment.

Chloe laughed at her, enjoying her spirit. "I love the excitement."

Beca scoffed, obviously listening to the conversation even though her eyes were on her own computer. "Yeah that'll be sucked out of you soon."

Chloe glared at the top of Beca's head for a moment before turning back to Emily with a beaming smile. "Don't listen to her. She thinks she's this alternative badass when she's really a massive softie at heart."

Beca scoffed again and poked Chloe's hip with a pen, still keeping her eyes on the screen.

Emily glanced between the pair, her brows quirking upwards as she took in the slight smirk on the shorter woman and the redhead's shinning eyes. She wasn't the type of person who could usually pick up on subtle things but with how the pair was acting it wasn't exactly veiled.

"So I'll talk to Aubrey Posen, she's head of HR here, and figure out what she wants you working on. If you have any problems come and see me first and I'll do my best to sort it out for you. If I'm not around just ask Beca."

"Beca?"

"Present," Beca muttered, glancing at Emily out of the corner of her eye.

"Hi! I'm Emily."

Beca rolled her eyes at the cheerful tone and saved her work-well, game-before leaning back in her chair with a sigh. "Yeah, hi."

"Be nice," Chloe chastised.

"You're gonna love it here," Beca deadpanned, but a smirk cracked her straight expression when Chloe lightly slapped the back of her hand and gasped.

"It's not that bad!"

"Oh no it's great. As long as you love debilitating boredom that makes you seriously consider putting a pencil through your eye for entertainment."

"Well that was dark," Chloe commented with a pout.

Beca shrugged. "I'm not gonna lie to her."

"Did you need to be so dramatic though?"

"What part of me seems dramatic to you?"

"Well let's start with your-"

"Shut up! People are trying to work!" Bumper groaned from his desk.

Beca and Chloe shared a look, a look that seemed to last more than a simple moment between friends.

"You guys make a great couple. Did you meet here?" Emily gushed, breaking the silence that had grown after Bumper's interruption.

"Oh we're not-" Chloe began to correct her politely.

"Yeah no, that's not… I'm straight so… gross," Beca muttered.

Emily saw a look pass over Chloe's face at the sarcastic woman's words. It seemed like a painful combination of hurt and sadness but the redhead brushed it off quickly and was beaming once again, as if the look had never happened. Maybe it hadn't.

"Well I'll go talk to Aubrey and see what she has for you. I'll grab you some stationary too," Chloe said, adding a wink as she slid off of Beca's desk.

Beca wasn't a people person. She didn't care about them and she didn't put any time towards worrying about most of them. Except for her redhead. So when Chloe's voice lacked its usual spark she knew something was wrong. She reached a hand out to stop the redhead, her fingers circling Chloe's wrist lightly. "Hey? You OK?" She whispered, fully aware that Emily was still watching them, not even trying to hide how nosy she was being.

"Yeah," Chloe replied easily, her eyes softening at the utter care she could see in Beca's eyes. "I'm fine."

Beca frowned, not completely convinced but knowing that now wasn't the time to push it. "OK."

Chloe smiled when Beca still didn't let go off her wrist. "I promise. I'm fine." She bent down and pressed a light kiss to Beca's forehead, grinning as she pulled away and saw the shorter woman blushing.

Beca dropped her hand, her touch still lingering on Chloe's skin as she made her way over to Aubrey's desk.

"Hey Bree," Chloe greeted, leaning against her best friend's desk. "Emily is here."

"Who?" Aubrey asked, looking up from the planner she'd been writing in.

"Emily Junk. The new temp."

"Right!" Aubrey opened a drawer and pulled out some folders. "This is what I want her to work on today. She needs to input this client information into the system so that everything can be accessed online."

"Sure."

"Listen. I am pretty swamped today. Do you think you can take care of her if she has questions?" Aubrey asked kindly, her tone only reserved for her best friend.

"Of course! I'm already on it. She's great."

"Good. See you at lunch?"

"Yep." Chloe tended to alternate lunches between Beca and Aubrey, depending on what was planned for the day. One time she'd tried to have a lunch with all three of them. That had been a bad idea.

Aubrey watched Chloe leave before looking back at her day planner. First: Meeting with Conrad. Aubrey sighed and leaned back in her chair to try and see if Stacie was at her desk. She was.

"Stacie," she called out, getting the other woman's attention.

"Yeah?" the brunette called back, quickly finishing up something on her computer before glancing over to Aubrey's desk.

"Do you have time for that meeting now?"

"On my way!" Stacie stood quickly, grabbing a file and her chair and dragging them both over to Aubrey. She set herself up easily. They had started having weekly Monday meetings ever since Aubrey had started at Dunder Mifflin. Stacie was in charge of customer services and relations and Aubrey was in charge of human resources; there was a lot of crossover between the two. The bossy blonde refused to admit it out loud but the Monday morning meetings had quickly become the highlight of her week and were the reason she preferred Sundays to Fridays.

"How was your weekend?" Stacie asked, not wanting to delve straight into business.

Aubrey smiled warmly at the brunette. "It was alright. I needed to spend quite a lot of time away from my apartment so I got so do some of the sightseeing I've been meaning to do for some time."

"Sightseeing? I thought you went to college in the area?"

"Yes but I was always very busy in college, between the classes and my extracurricular activities, it was hard to fit anything else in," Aubrey explained.

"I see. It's good that you're taking the time to do it now though. You know, if you ever need a sightseeing buddy I'm always available. I'm a local so I'd make an excellent tour guide," Stacie offered.

Aubrey blushed lightly, hiding it by ducking into a drawer and grabbing a file she didn't need.

"Why did you need to avoid your apartment anyway? Was Chloe getting her freak on?"

"Beca was over."

Stacie's brows shot sky-high. "Wow. I mean I always assumed, I have a good eye for these things," she added a wink to that which made Aubrey think she was trying to say something more than it seemed. "But I thought they would keep dancing around it until someone locked them in a room together or something. Sexual tension like that would never be able to survive in a small place. I also have a good eye for sexual tension," another wink.

Aubrey opened and closed her mouth a few times, trying to bring her brain back from the gutter to focus on the fact that she'd just given the impression that her best friend was sleeping with the midget. And with that image planting itself in her mind, her brain cleared. "No! Not sleeping together! Where would you even get that idea Stacie? They are just friends. Chloe would never… not with her," Aubrey sounded truly disgusted by the idea.

"No?"

"No. Never. Chloe may be friends with that, and I use this term lightly, woman but she would never consider a relationship with her. That path just leads to nothing good. They just like to listen to music at a volume that the entire street can hear."

"Oh," Stacie said, frowning slightly at the fact that she had read the pair wrong. She glanced over her shoulder to see Chloe talking to the new girl. Beca's eyes were focused on the redhead and her mouth kept quirking into a smile when Chloe said something that must have been funny. No, she hadn't read that wrong.

"Besides, sexual relations with a co-worker is complicated and messy," Aubrey said, her tone formal and voice clipped.

Stacie gave the blonde a half-smile. "Well, he's a hunter," she used both hands to gesture to her lady business.

Aubrey's eyes widened to saucers and she gapped at the brunette, her mouth hanging open as she seemed to freeze.

"I like sex and I'm good at it." Stacie reached forward a hand and lightly closed Aubrey's mouth, unnecessarily stroking a finger along her jaw as she did it. "I'd love to show you how fun it could be to break the rules."

Aubrey still seemed to be struggling to catch up, lost somewhere in her thoughts about a naked Stacie hunting. She swallowed.

"But until then, let's do some work, OK?"

Aubrey blinked a few times, nodding numbly.

"Excellent." Stacie pulled out the top file, which was also the thickest. "And your favourite midget appears to have once again more than quadrupled anyone else's complaints."

Aubrey rolled her eyes and took the file from Stacie, shivering when their hands touched. She forced her eyes to focus on the file, on work, and away from the brunette vixen who was rubbing herself in an unprofessional way right next to her.

Beca groaned and glanced at the clock once more. Only ten more minutes and she could leave this hellhole. So far today she had beaten her top score on Minesweeper, Chess and Solitaire. She hadn't made any sales but she also hadn't gotten any complaints. Well, she had, but she hadn't told them her real name so it didn't count. A tapping drew her attention to the receptionist desk. Her eyes had been constantly flickering towards Chloe all day, as they usually did, but today the red hair and blue eyes had been missing more often than not. The receptionist had been drifting all around the office, mostly helping Aubrey and Emily, and Beca missed her. Even though that had spent the entire weekend and that morning together. Now, though, Chloe was sitting at her desk, eyes on her computer with laser-focus, and ear buds in. She was tapping out whatever beat she was listening to and chewing on her lip to stop herself from singing. This was one of Beca's favourite things about Chloe, her absolute passion for music that was only rivalled by her own. The redhead would listen to music at any opportunity and everything just seemed to flow through her.

Beca made her way over to the desk, wanting to spend her last ten minutes with her best friend.

"Hey Chlo," Beca greeted.

Chloe didn't look up, her music drowning out Beca's voice.

With a grin Beca leaned forward, moving slowly to not scare her, and tugged an ear bud out.

Chloe swivelled her in chair quickly, beaming as she turned to face Beca. "Hey stranger. I feel like I haven't seen you all day."

"You've been a busy little bee."

Chloe scrunched up her nose. "I don't like bees. They seem like they should be cute and cuddly but they are vicious."

Beca laughed and shook her head fondly. "Only you would have a problem with a little bug."

"I like ladybugs," Chloe shrugged her shoulders. She reached a hand out, grabbing Beca's wrist lightly from where it was leaning on the smooth counter surface. "I also like grasshoppers," Chloe grinned, her finger stroking the tattoo on the shorter woman's arm.

Beca shivered, feeling goose bumps rise in the wake of Chloe's finger as it circled her skin. "You should get a bug tattoo."

"What?" Chloe tilted her head and narrowed her eyes, thinking over the suggestion as her finger continued to trace Beca's grasshopper.

"Seriously. A little ladybug tattoo on your wrist."

Chloe grinned, loving the idea. "We would have matching tattoos!"

Beca forced her face to remain neutral, even if her nose did scrunch slightly. "Well I guess. But c'mon Beale you would totally rock a badass little ladybug tattoo."

"It will be cute."

"No."

"Let's do it."

Beca blinked, eyes Chloe's serious, and slightly crazy, expression. "Seriously? You want to get a tattoo?"

"Why not?" Chloe was bubbling with enthusiasm.

"It's permanent."

"So is yours."

"Yeah but Chlo-"

"Don't you think I can pull off a tattoo?" Chloe's voice sounded wounded and Beca rushed to fix it.

"Dude no! A cute bug tattoo would be great on you. Hot like everything else about you."

It worked. Chloe's pout turned back into her beaming smile. "Great. Let's do it tonight."

"Yeah. Sounds good. I'll drive." Beca was about to move back to her desk when someone walked up beside her.

"Tonight? Bec we have plans tonight." Jesse's face looked like a kicked puppy, pouting with wide eyes just like Chloe had done. For some reason his face just annoyed her.

"Well we can change those-"

"We can't change them! Bec I've had tickets to this show for ages," Jesse whined, his voice grating on Beca's nerves.

Beca rolled her eyes. This wasn't the first time they'd had this fight, but she didn't like that fact that Chloe was forced to listen to it, even though the other woman was considerate enough to look like she was focusing on her computer. "What kind of a special screening is on a Monday, anyway? You know I don't like movies. Why don't you just take Benji or someone who will actually enjoy it?"

"Because you are my girlfriend and we made these plans months ago! Besides, we haven't seen each other outside work in a month!" Jesse's voice was rising quickly, causing their co-workers to turn and look their way, curious as to the lover's spat that was occurring.

Beca swallowed nervously not comfortable with the attention. When she thought about it she realised she had been spending most of her time with Chloe over the past few weeks. "I get that Jesse," Beca began, keeping her voice low and calm, "But I hate movies, you know that and you make me go anyway. Chloe and I just made plans so-"

"That's the point Beca! Just! You already have plans with me and you're going to cancel them, again." Jesse's anger was growing and veins in his neck throbbing with the pressure to not scream in frustration.

"Yeah but can't we just see the movie another night?"

"Another night? Beca it is a one-night screening, there is no other night."

"Yeah but-"

"Beca," Chloe cut in, not liking the way that they were fighting about her and the amount of attention that was being drawn.

Beca turned to Chloe as soon as she heard the redhead call her name softly, Jesse's scoff at the action went ignored.

Chloe could read Beca like she was her second language so she could tell, judging by the furrowed brow, thin lips and narrowed eyes that she was getting frustrated and close to exploding. Chloe reached out a hand and began to stroke the same piece of skin as earlier. The effect was instant. Beca's shoulders dropped, her face relaxed and she let out a puff of air. "We can do it another night Becs, it's fine."

"Yeah but I want to do it tonight," Beca answered, chewing her lip.

Chloe shook her head slightly, trying to show that she did too but they just couldn't without creating a mess. "Another night. Besides I was thinking about taking Emily out for some get-to-know-you drinks tonight." Chloe glanced at Jesse to include him in the conversation, "You should stop by after the movie."

"We were going to get dinner-" Jesse started.

"Yeah we'll do that," Beca answered.

Jesse sighed and muttered something under his breath as he turned and stomped back over to his desk to gather his things and leave.

Beca ignored him and kept her gaze on Chloe. "You sure this is OK?"

"Of course," Chloe grinned easily, slightly overwhelmed by the very obvious display of Beca's desire to spend time with her over her boyfriend. Then again, she did despise movies so maybe it was just a means to an end. "How does tomorrow sound? That way I have a night to work on a design."

"You gonna draw it yourself?"

"Do you think I should?"

"Sure. You're great at that stuff."

"So many compliments from you today. How did I get so lucky?" Chloe joked, realising for the first time that she was still stroking Beca's arm. She dropped her arm, noticing Beca's frown at the loss of contact.

"Must be possessed or something."

Chloe rolled her eyes dramatically. "There's the Beca I know and love."

Jesse cleared his throat, appearing behind Beca again, holding her bag out for her. Other workers were making their way outside and to freedom but some were hanging back, waiting to see if there would be any more drama.

Beca glanced at him over her shoulder and rolled her eyes, much to his displeasure. "Yeah. Love you too Chlo. Text you later."

Chloe smiled wide, showing all of her teeth. "Yep. Have fun guys."

"Just try and stop me," Beca deadpanned as she headed for the door, disappearing with an awkward wave.

Chloe didn't realise she was staring at the empty doorway until Emily stepped into her eye line, causing her to blink back to the present. "Oh, hi Emily. How was your first day?"

Emily's responding smile rivalled Chloe's in brightness and enthusiasm. "Aca-mazing."

"Aca? Do you like Acapella?"

"I love Acapella! My mum was apart of the Barden Bellas, an all female Acapella group at Barden University. It was my dream to become a Bella but they disbanded a couple of years ago before I had the chance. I would have been a legacy."

Chloe looked away from Emily's emotive face, biting on her cheek harshly. "I was a Barden Bella."

"You were?"

"Yes."

"But you're so young so…" Emily's eyes scanned Chloe for a moment before they widened in recognition. "Oh-em-aca-gee! You were one of the last Bellas!"

Chloe nodded sadly, not wanting to relive that sad part of her history. The Barden Bellas had been the highlight of her college experience and she had thrived on performing with them. She had really felt like she had found her calling and had considered just staying in college forever to always be a Barden Bella. Until her junior year. On the cusp of becoming a senior and co-captain of the Bellas, disaster struck. Aubrey, her best friend and fellow future co-captain, lost her nerve and… well it wasn't pretty. The next year they tried to make a comeback but there had been something missing and the group just never got into sync. She'd graduated and tried to put the pain in the past and had, for the most part, succeeded.

"I'm sorry," Emily said softly when Chloe remained silent.

"It's OK. Being a Bella was one of the best things that ever happened to me. I'm sorry that you never had the chance to be one," Chloe said sincerely.

Emily shrugged easily. "You guys did your best, no one blames you. Acapella just isn't really a thing anymore."

Chloe sighed and nodded. Acapella was really dying out.

"Umm," Emily started, trying to cut through the sad pall that was hanging between them. Everyone else had left, leaving just Emily and Chloe together. "You mentioned going out for drinks?"

Chloe brightened immediately, putting thoughts of the Bellas to the back of her mind. "Yes!" She glanced around, taking note of the empty rooms. "It was kinda a last minute decision. How does just me and you sound?"

"Great."

Chloe grabbed her bag and was quickly walking out of the building, making sure to lock the doors behind her and smiling lightly at the memory of how helpful her keys had been that morning.

"So Lily… is she…" Emily trailed off, not really sure how to describe the woman that had terrified her today.

Chloe reached forward and placed a comforting hand on Emily's shoulder. "Sorry but yes, that is how Lily always is and always will be. One time I was close enough to hear what she said and I didn't sleep for a week. I'm pretty glad that I can usually just pretend she is a silent presence."

Emily nodded, accepting that and deciding to make sure to keep some distance from Lily. "And Stacie? Does she always…?"

Chloe blinked, tilting her head for a moment before her mouth formed an 'O' in realisation. "The boobs?" Chloe gave an example by grabbing and squeezing both of her own, causing Emily to blush furiously.

"Yes," Emily mumbled.

"Pretty much. But Stacie is actually really great once you get past that. She's really smart and great with people. Anyone else?" They had spent the last few hours drinking slowly and talking about people from the office. Chloe was lucky to be the type of person to get along with anyone and everyone so it was easy for her to talk up all of their good qualities. Except maybe Bumper.

Emily chewed her lip and twiddled her thumbs, seemingly nervous about whoever she was about to ask about. "What about… umm… Beca?"

"What about Beca?" Chloe asked in a neutral tone.

"Oh, you know," Emily shrugged awkwardly, "You two seem like good friends, is she really always that sour? And what's her deal with Jesse?"

Chloe's finger began to absently circle the rim of her glass as she considered her answer. "Well," she started, before changing her mind and downing the rest of her drink, as well as the second one she already had in front of her. "I should get another," she said, blinking owlishly as the vodka rushed into her body all at once. "Be right back!"

Chloe leaned against the bar, bending over slightly to be able to talk to the bartender clearly. She didn't notice the way it provided a perfect view of her cleavage to the bartender, but he did.

"What can I get ya?" He asked, his eyes focused on trying to see as much skin as he could.

"Vodka and Cranberry. Two please."

"On it," he replied, adding a wink as he quickly made the drinks.

Chloe straightened, for the first time realising how he was looking at her like she was dinner. She grinned.

"Here ya go."

"Thanks," Chloe replied, her voice low and breathy. "What do I owe you?"

The man swallowed, visibly as his Adam's apple bobbed. "On me."

"Thanks," Chloe repeated, adding a wink.

"Sure."

Chloe gave him her best smile and turned, adding an extra sway to her step as she knew he'd be looking. She made sure to send him another wink as she sipped her drink after reclaiming her booth seat beside Emily. "What were you saying?" Chloe asked after almost finishing her drink in one mouthful.

Emily glanced between the bartender and her new friend for a moment before shaking it off. "I asked about Beca."

"Oh right!" Chloe said, her voice coming across with a fake cheerfulness. "She's my best friend, other than Bree of course. Jesse is her boyfriend. They've been together five years."

"Wow," Emily said, visibly shocked by that news. "I would never have guessed that. How long have you known her? You two seem really close."

"One year and we are," Chloe replied, finishing her drink and moving on to the second, as she intentionally kept her answers short and to the point.

Emily frowned, worried about Chloe suddenly graduating from gradual drinking to suddenly downing three drinks in just a few minutes. "Is she always so… dark?"

Chloe giggled, the noise sounding forced. "She's only like that around people she doesn't know very well. She's actually one of the kindest, most sincere and completely caring people I've ever met."

"Wow. Really?"

"Yeah. That's why I love her."

Emily blinked. Chloe coughed and quickly downed the rest of that drink too. "I mean as a friend," she corrected with a forced smile. "I love her as a friend. We're best friends."

Emily chewed her lip, unsure about how to continue. She wasn't the type to notice things but she hadn't been able to stop today. She'd noticed the way Beca's eyes continuously flicked up to Chloe's desk, even when she wasn't there. She'd noticed the way Beca always looked for Chloe when something funny happened. She'd noticed the way Chloe couldn't help touching Beca in some way whenever she walked past her. She's noticed the way Jesse watched their interactions like a hawk. And she'd definitely noticed the way their faces responded to each other's name or presence.

"Chloe," Emily began softly, "I know that I'm new and we only met today and you barely know me but if you want to talk I might be the best person for it. I mean, I don't know Beca or Jesse so I don't really have an opinion on anything. I'm neutral, like Sweden."

"I failed maps."

"It's a saying."

"Right." Chloe scanned Emily's face as she considered the offer. "It would be nice to talk to someone about it." Maybe it was the drinks.

"Go ahead."

"Becs is this great person and we get on so well and I-" Chloe swallowed, shaking her head slightly to clear her thoughts as her brain began to cloud due to the liquor. "She has Jesse though and they've been together forever. I refuse to get in the middle of that. Beca is my best friend and I love spending time with her and… and I love her. But I don't know how I love her, not for certain. I just know that I can't look at her without wondering what it would be like to kiss her, to touch her as more than friends, to call her my girlfriend."

Chloe's phone buzzed and she leaned forward to where it was sitting on the table.

Beca: We're here.

Chloe sighed and put the phone back down, grabbing her drink instead and finishing it. "She's straight." Chloe glanced up and saw Beca and her boyfriend quickly making their way through some standing patrons and on the way to their booth. "And she has Jesse."

Emily watched in wonder as Chloe changed the second Beca reached their table. Gone were her sad eyes and wistful pout, in their place was a beaming smile and shining blue orbs.

"Becs!" Chloe cheered, jumping up and pulling the short woman into a tight embrace that not even Emily could call friendly.

"Whoa there Chlo," Beca laughed, wrapping her arms just as tightly around her friend. "How many have you had?" She asked as she pulled away, keeping her hands on the redhead's hips to stop her from swaying.

"Not many," Chloe answered, sitting back down and pulling Beca with her, leaving Jesse to pull a stool over from a nearby table.

Beca glanced behind Chloe back at Emily. 'How many?' she mouthed.

Emily held up 9 fingers in response and Beca nodded, treading an arm around her friend's shoulder, telling herself it was to keep her steady but knowing that she was actually enjoying how touchy a drunk Chloe could be, and that's saying something considering how touchy a sober Chloe is.

"Do you want a drink?" Jesse asked eventually.

"Maybe two waters?" Beca said, stroking Chloe's hair absently as the redhead leaned into her shoulder. Jesse left for the bar and Beca turned to the redhead and the temp. "So what's the topic of conversation?"

Beca frowned when Emily and Chloe both reacted with matching blushes but she was distracted when Chloe suddenly pulled away from her side, putting a small amount of space between them and making her impossibly cold.

"I was just giving her the low-down on the folks at Dunder Mifflin," Chloe said, knowing at least she could get away with a half-truth.

"Yeah?" Beca asked. "Who were you up to?"

Chloe glanced at Beca and smirked, "You actually. I was telling her you're just a complete pile of fluff."

Beca rolled her eyes, leaning forwards to seem like she was trying to make it easier to hear Emily but actually closing the gap between her and the redhead next to her. "Temp whatever she told you was a lie and I won't hesitate to harm you, physically, should you spread her lies." Her face was serious and her tone was terrifying.

Emily's eyes widened and her face paled. "She-she didn't tell me-I, I won't."

"Good." Beca leaned back into the booth, crossing her arms across her chest and letting herself enjoy the warmth she felt as her bare arm rubbed against her best friend's.

"Don't be so mean," Chloe pouted, turning her back on Emily to poke at Beca's folded arms. "I like her. She reminds me of a mini-me. So be nice."

Beca refused to budge. New people weren't really her thing. Chloe was only the third person she'd ever opened up to, Jesse and her mother being the first two. And now that she thought about it Chloe had gotten much further than the other two. She was definitely persistent.

Chloe added a pout and puppy eyes to her pleading, her slightly drunk state making her blinking much slower, almost hooding her eyes. "Please for me?"

Beca swallowed. Hard. Her arms fell to her sides. "Fine," she huffed, disappointed that she'd given in so easily. "So what's your deal temp?"

"My name is Emily."

Beca just looked at her.

"No deal really. I'm doing a gap year before college to mature and experience more of the world before going to Barden University next year," Emily gushed, enthusiasm pouring out of her.

Wow. She really was an innocent and mini-Chloe. Maybe Beca could stand to be a bit warmer to her. "Yeah? You thought Dunder Mifflin would help you mature and see more of the world?"

"Maybe. It's working so far," Emily grinned, gesturing at the bar they were in. "And the money will help pay for college."

"And you're going to Barden for college. Why?"

Emily glanced at Chloe quickly, wondering if she should be honest. Chloe nodded her head slightly, giving her the go-ahead. "My mum went there. She was a Barden Bella. I'm a legacy, I wanted to be a Barden Bella too."

Beca looked at Chloe, giving her a quick smile and nudging her with her shoulder, her form of saying, 'You OK'? Chloe gave her a sad smile in return. The redhead had spoken constantly and at length about the acapella group that couldn't and although she had no interest in something so lame she couldn't deny how passionate her friend was about it. They even joked that if Beca had gone to Barden maybe she would have created a remix, like the ones she'd loaded on Chloe's iPhone, and the Bellas would have won the ICCAs.

"So, legacy," Beca started, wanting to bring the conversation to something that wouldn't upset her friend. "You like to sing."

"My name is Emily and yeah, I love to sing. I even write my own-"

"Here you are," Jesse announced, cutting off whatever Emily was saying. He placed a tray down on the table, moving four waters, a beer and a vodka and cranberry off of it before sitting down.

Beca frowned at the vodka and cranberry, knowing it was Chloe's drink of choice and that she hadn't ordered it. "What's with that?" she questioned, gesturing at the drink.

Jesse pointed a thumb over his shoulder. "Compliments of the bartender. Looks like our Chloe has herself a fan," he smiled.

Beca felt her skin crawl as she looked at the way the man was undressing Chloe with her eyes. "Yeah, no. I'm gonna take that back." Beca reached forward to grab the drink but Chloe stopped her, picking it up instead.

"Let me." She stood, swaying for a second before steading herself with a hand on Beca's head.

"You good Chlo?" Beca asked, really not wanting the redhead to walk across the bar by herself but not knowing a subtle way to invite herself along.

"Yep," Chloe responded, popping the p. She grabbed her phone and bag even though she knew Beca would watch them for her.

Beca watched, filled with worry, as Chloe made her way to the bar. She was walking fine. She probably wasn't as drunk as Beca thought she was. Her line of sight was blocked when Jesse stood up from his stool and plopped down into Chloe's seat. The short brunette glared at him. "Dude. That's Chloe's seat."

Jesse shrugged and dropped a heavy arm over his girlfriend's shoulders. "She'll understand. I want to sit with my girl. This is still our date night, isn't it?" He sent Beca a smile which she once found adorable, now it only reminded her that it wasn't as bright as Chloe's.

Beca sighed. She really was being a bad girlfriend when Jesse had always been nothing but sweet and persistent. The problem was that she wasn't in love with him. She loved him, as a friend, as a best friend, but she had always turned him down because she just didn't feel anything for him. One day she'd woken up, feeling cold and alone and scared about her post-high school future. He'd called, asking her out, and she'd said yes. It had been nothing more than a desire to not be alone for the rest of her life and the knowledge that Jesse was the type of guy who wouldn't leave no matter how stunted she was emotionally (and physically). So five years later and he was still persevering and she wasn't sure how to tell someone who loved her that she didn't want him anymore, never had. So she didn't, and she wouldn't, regardless of the way her heart was starting to pull her in a different, dangerous direction.

Jesse placed a light kiss on Beca's lips, solidifying the fact that she felt nothing for him. She smiled, as best as she could, trying to look happy, but quickly turned her head to look for Chloe again. Her heart raced at what she saw.

Chloe made her way to the bar, taking short, sure, steps and breathing deeply, forcing the alcohol to stop playing games with her head. She donned her best smile when she reached the bar, placing the drink lightly on the wooden surface. "Hi again."

"Hey. I'm Rick," the man greeted, much cooler than he had during their first conversation, obviously bolstered by the fact that she'd come over to talk to him again.

"I'm Chloe." Chloe stuck out her hand and shook his, her booze-addled mind liking the way his hand felt rough in hers. "Thanks for the drink but I should probably stick to water for now."

"That's a shame," Rick responded, not reaching for the glass to empty it. "I made it especially for you. It's nice and strong," he added a wink at the end.

"Thanks, again, but I shouldn't. I should really be getting back to-" Chloe glanced over her shoulder and felt her blood run cold. Jesse had taken her seat and Beca was curled into his side, staring at him. Chloe clenched her jaw. She couldn't deal with this tonight. Not after what she'd told Emily. "You know what," Chloe said, turning back to the bartender, "Screw it." She grabbed the drink and finished it in one go.

"Wow," Rick breathed, impressed and not hiding it.

"What time do you finish?" Chloe asked, not caring how forward she was being. She was an adult, she was a single adult, she could do what she wanted.

Rick gestured at a nearby waitress who nodded in response. "Now," he said, walking around the bar and grabbing Chloe's hand. "Let's get out of here."

Chloe let him pull her out of the bar as she pulled out her phone, quickly sending a text.

Rick paused at the door, looking back at her. "You sure you want this?" he checked, just in case.

Chloe glanced back over her shoulder. Beca was kissing him. Without taking a moment to think it through she grabbed his face and connected their lips, forcing her tongue into his mouth and tasting his minty fresh breath. "I'm sure," she breathed against his lips.

"Good," he smirked as she pulled her outside.

Beca felt her phone vibrate and she grabbed it out, her body feeling numb after seeing Chloe kiss the man and leave with him.

Chloe: Hey I'm gonna call it a night. Had too many for a work night. Say sorry to Emily and make sure she gets home safe. See you tomorrow, love you xoxo.

Beca could only stare at the words blankly. She had no right to be mad, she had no right to be upset, so she decided to feel nothing.

A/N: Whoof. I know that seemed to take a sad turn at the end but I assure you it will mostly be a ball of happy fluff. Coming up in the next chapter we have a day-cation to the beach which will be rad :)

As always, leave a review or PM me with what you think. You can also duck over to Tumblr (I'm so glad I got one before the TCAs!) and say hai at Awesam-blog

Peace.