A/N: Hey guys! Here is chapter 27 featuring the Bellas' victory party the night off and when they got back to Barden. Songs listed below.
Boy are we winding down to the final chapters.
The next fic(possible sequel… like 90% for sure sequel… I'm trying to keep it vague and open in a sense that it could pick up after this story or after the canon from the second movie) should be up around August. I just need to take a break from fics for a while.
Anyways, enjoy.
I don't own pitch perfect.
It was the most ca-amazing thing ever. Amy rushed towards the stage to lift the trophy but she double backed just seconds before she actually did thanks to Aubrey's glare.
"The co-captains should have the honors." she said as Aubrey reached her, followed by the rest of the Bellas.
Ashley chuckled when she heard this. "Sadly, your co-captain still has her tongue down Beca's throat." She had pointed out as they looked behind the couple still busy with each other. The soft simple kisses had turned into something more heated.
Aubrey was about to march back and drag the two on stage when Chloe finally broke the kiss and realized they were the last of the Bellas still not with the group. With Chloe by her side, she and Aubrey finally claimed their dreamed title.
The rest of the day was pretty a magical mystical blur to Ashley.
She remembered a dinner with Beca's set of parents – apparently there were two what with all the remarriages – and Emily's parents where they got the chance to meet her former Bella mom.
There was some sort of after party with all the acapella teams somewhere after that.
But Ashley knew, the only party that truly mattered was the one they were having with the Bellas in her, Jessica, Amy, and Lilly's room that night.
They had the bigger room, so there was no argument about where the Bellas only after party would be at. Luke had wanted to go with Emily in tow but they were all met with a resounding 'No!'
This was the Bellas party for themselves.
This was theirs to enjoy.
Stacie was sitting by the edge of Amy's bed, Aubrey was having a good time, talking with Jessica, Ashley, and Denise by the window. The room was a little cramped for all the Bellas to be there, but they needed this. They deserved this.
Beca's playlist was playing some random song in the background, Cynthia Rose and Lilly dolling out the drinks that Aubrey and Chloe had bought.
"What are you thinking Chloe?" Stacie asked the redhead sitting next to her, nursing her drink. "This is our night, why are you looking so glum? By the way, where's Beca?"
"Oh, she slipped out to meet with her mom and dad I think. Bree was giving a speech earlier when she whispered something about it." Chloe replied. "And I'm so not glum!"
"Well, something's definitely on your mind." Stacie then said. "So what's it about?"
"I promised Beca I'll move with her to LA at the end of the year." Chloe answered with a sigh. "But, I didn't get into the grad school UCLA. It was a last minute thing really. I've applied to Barden and Columbia since Bree was thinking of applying for law school there too. I also applied to UNC and UPenn. I got accepted in all of them but I accepted Barden's offer. So that means…" she further explained, tipping her head to one side with a shrug.
"Oh, oh, oh, oh!" Stacie started to say excitedly, slapping Chloe's hand that was resting on the bed a good few times as she remembered something a very excited Beca had told her and Amy.
But before she could say anything, she stopped herself, believing that it was best for Chloe and Beca to talk about the matter themselves.
"Talk to her Chlo. Don't be scared. For what it's worth, I think yours is a love that can survive heaven and hell." Stacie said with a wink, Chloe still looking at her curiously for her sudden burst of excitement.
The alcohol was definitely taking effect.
And it didn't help that Amy took that opportunity to switch out the song on the playlist that was currently playing ever so slyly.
Ain't this what you came for
Don't you wish you came, oh
Girl what you're playing for
Ah, come on
"Stacie!" Aubrey immediately called out, although her tone sounded more playful than mad.
"What, it wasn't me." Stacie said while shooting Amy a look. Amy simply shrugged. "Oh, what the hell." Stacie said before she broke into a song.
Come on, let me kiss that
Ooh, I know you miss that
What's wrong, let me fix that
Twist that
Amy lowered the volume down and she and Cynthia Rose immediately backed her up.
Baby, tonight's the night I let you know
Baby, tonight's the night we lose control
Baby, tonight you need that, tonight believe that
Tonight I'll be the best you ever had
Aubrey was smiling, loosening up, playing along and pulling Stacie closer towards her for a quick kiss as the song played out.
I don't wanna brag, but I'll be
The best you ever had
"I'd ask what I missed but… gross." she heard Beca comment, finally returning to join their group.
But Stacie couldn't care to comment back.
She was busy with her girl.
The Bellas were all too tired the next day with their flight back home. They still have an uphill battle to finish the year.
But Cynthia Rose had to admit, she didn't expect to be where she was now. At least not during that first few days at Barden.
Chloe and Beca were a few seats away, the redhead falling asleep on Beca's shoulder while holding her hands. Aubrey and Stacie had disappeared from where they were seated, no two guesses where they were. Amy was entertaining Ashley and Jessica with her outrages stories while Lilly was playing something on some hand held console. Denise herself was dozing off next to her too.
It's been a crazy ride.
And boy was Cynthia Rose was looking forward to do it all over again the following year.
"Okay, we have guests outside Chloe. Including Luke, and precious Emily, and I still can't comprehend it but Swanson and the bumbling magician best friend of his. So, can you explain to me, what we're doing locked up in your room? Shouldn't you be making out with your girlfriend or something?" Aubrey huffed as she sat down the edge of her best friend's bed. It was the last day of finals, it was officially the start of summer vacation for most of them. They were all celebrating all that needed to be celebrated for the end of the year, with graduation in just a few days too.
It was a moment to loosen up, have fun, and just be.
But the future was still peering over them heavily.
"I'm practicing my speech Bree." Chloe replied as a matter of factly. "And we actually haven't talked about what we are just that we're together, officially, just no labels needed."
"So, skipping whatever that pathetic no labels thing is, what speech are you practicing again? It's not like you're already planning to propose to her tonight."
"God no Bree, that would freak her out." Chloe replied.
"But you've actually thought about it?" Aubrey asked with a chuckle and Chloe simply rambled on some nonsense thing that she assumed was a confirmation of it.
"Alright then future Mrs. Mitchell, what is it?" Aubrey teased.
"Stop that already!" Chloe replied with a huff and Aubrey laughed. "I'm planning to tell Beca decided to attend grad school here at Barden for a year before, you know, trying to transfer to somewhere in LA."
"Why would you want that anyways, transfer? Barden's got a good graduate program in your field. Besides, I' planning on staying to pursue my MBA too, my dad finally let out to letting me pursue what I want. We shockingly don't have to move next year."
"Yeah, I know. But… Ugh, right, you don't know, do you? The only reason Beca was here this year is because she made a deal with her dad. One year of college and he'll support her move to LA to pursue her dreams."
"Wait, Mitchell wasn't going to stay?" Aubrey then exclaimed. "Why wasn't I informed about this?"
"Why are you the one freaking out? You're not the one entering a long distance relationship in a best case scenario. I'm just, Beca's sort of fragile with things like this. I'm the one who just upped and blurted out that I'd go move with her and now I'm deciding to stay."
"That's for your own future Chlo, and God knows, you're future has that midget involved no matter what, and you know it." Aubrey replied. "I'm having a dilemma because I was planning on passing the torch to Beca and Stacie, make them co-captains. Now I guess I'll have to pass the torch to Amy…"
"She's grown on you, huh?" Chloe asked smugly that it annoyed Aubrey.
But only for a little bit.
Because it was true that Mitchell started to grow on her, especially when she demonstrated her ability to lead the Bellas while working over the set-list for Nationals.
"Wait, did Beca ever bring up travel plans with you?" Aubrey then asked, her mind running different thoughts at the same time.
"No. Although we do have tickets for the summer."
"Do I need to ask when you got that?" Aubrey asked, quirking an eyebrow at her and Chloe shook her head with a smile. "Look Chlo, I think you're making this a big deal. I think even if you move to the moon, Beca will still give you her heart and soul so don't sweat it, okay?"
"Yeah, I know. I just don't think I can survive that long without her too, you know?"
"Don't give me pictures in my head that I don't want Beale. Get this straight with her now and I better not hear Titanium blasting all throughout the house after." Aubrey replied as she stood up, giving Chloe a hug.
"I'm making no promises!" Chloe retorted.
"And this song goes out to a particular friend of mine who wants to have something to slow dance with tonight. Barden, it's been a blast being your Midnight DJ for the past school year. Looking forward to serve as your DJ again next year. Until then oh faithful listeners." Beca said just as she played the song that Stacie had specifically requested before they left the party.
As usual, Chloe was sitting in the booth with Beca, her midnight shifts becoming their late night thing. She's been trying to build up her confidence to talk to Beca about their not so distant future. With given evidence from the past on how stubborn the DJ could get and how easily she gets heartbroken, Chloe wanted to handle this… Wait.
Did Beca just say…
…next year?
It's amazing how you knock me off my feet, hm
Every time you come around me I get weak, oh yeah
Nobody ever made me feel this way, oh
You kiss my lips and then you take my breath away
So I want to know
Chloe looked at Beca with a mixture of surprise and confusion. "What?" she heard Beca ask as if she didn't just say something insane mere seconds ago.
"You said next year?"
"Yeah?" Beca asked, this time being the one confused by Chloe's reaction.
"You'll be the Midnight DJ again, next year?"
"Yeah, Chloe, why are you… oh… oh yeah…" Beca then said starting to realize why she was freaking out. "Sorry, I was planning to tell you soon. I talked to the parentals and they seem happy about it too. I hope you don't mind, but I do plan on staying on Barden and maybe earn my degree before heading to LA first. I loved being a Bella Chloe, and I enjoy this midnight gigs, and you know, college isn't that half bad." she explained.
And Chloe smiled a brilliant smile, immediately leaping over to Beca, capturing her lips. "What's this about?"
"I never told you, but I applied to grad school and I decided to accept Barden's offer." Chloe summarized.
"Chlo, that's great news!" Beca replied with a smile and Chloe couldn't help but laugh.
She had been worried about nothing.
Luke ducked out of the Bellas party early so that he could get to the station on time but not before dropping by some other parties around campus, saying goodbye to his old friends in case he doesn't get the chance on graduation day.
Earlier that day he and just officially passed the booth and everything WBUJ to his one and only step-sister, Beca. No one would run it better.
And Luke was glad that Beca decided to stick around Barden for the next three years too.
He was on his way to the station, flipping through his emails about job offers from the companies he applied to both in LA and around Atlanta – he wanted to keep an eye out on Beca.
It was time to make a decision for his future.
And Luke just couldn't help but be happy.
It's been a long year, and yet the best things he never expected had come.
There was really nothing more he could ask for.
I want to know what turns you on
I'd like to know (So I can be all that and more)
I'd like to know (I'd like to know what makes you cry)
So I can be the one who always makes you smile
The song Stacie requested started playing on the radio and Amy couldn't help but gather all the Bellas for one last trick. Stacie and Aubrey had been pretty inseparable for the rest of the night and Amy wanted to take a bit of credit with their happily ever after, something never acknowledged by the two.
Why, if she and the Bellas never pushed through with the helicopter mistletoe victim switch, things might have still been derailed on the Staubrey train.
Or maybe not, but who cares?
Amy was planning on getting the two to say their first – at the very least public – 'I love you's' through a very elaborate scheme…
…only to be derailed by Jesse.
"I think we can skip playing matchmaker tonight Amy. I'm all up for Bellas fun but for some things, we just have to let nature take its course." he gave as a sage advice.
"How about we help out that friend of yours to string together comprehensible sentences around Legacy and stop producing doves out of nowhere instead?"
"Ah, now that would be a great help." Jesse replied and so the Bellas moved onto their new matchmaking project.
They should really make a business out of this…
They walked back in comfortable silence to Beca's dorm room for quite possibly one last time. Tomorrow, she'd have to clear out and move into Luke's apartment, with Matt moving out and all soon after graduation.
Beca never imagined she'd ever be okay with holding someone's hand and revel in the simple joys it brought her.
Amy was still with the Bellas, and it was perfect really. They had the room all to themselves.
Beca ran to her computer as soon as she made it inside and started to play a song from her very extensive 'Chloe' playlist.
"May I have this dance Ms. Beale?" Beca asked with a smirk and Chloe laughed. "What? Stacie got her request fulfilled for a slow dance with Aubrey, I'm getting mine if you would?"
"I'd love to." Chloe replied, accepting Beca's hand.
I like the feel of your name on my lips
And I like the sound of your sweet gentle kiss
The way that your fingers run through my hair
And how your scent lingers even when you're not there
Beca's hands found a perfect spot around Chloe's waist as the redhead wrapped her arms around her neck.
"I have to admit Mitchell, you're song choices are topnotch." Chloe whispered as she pressed her forehead with Beca's, swaying gently to the music.
"I'm a musical genius, what can I say?" Beca replied with a chuckle and Chloe smiled.
And God how she loved that smile.
That smile melts her heart and drives the butterflies in her stomach insane.
It was just so Chleo.
And I like the way your eyes dance when you laugh
And how you enjoy your two-hour bath
And how you've convinced me to dance in the rain
With everyone watching like we were insane
"Chlo?" Beca then asked.
"Yeah?"
"Um," Beca started to say trying to keep herself cool as she felt her heart beat wildly against her chest. "Let's make it official." she then said.
"What?" Chloe managed to ask through her giggles.
"Chloe, I'm being serious." Beca replied.
"I know sweetie, but I can't help that you're being adorable." Chloe replied, giving Beca a quick kiss on her cheeks. "To be honest, I thought it already was."
"It is, I mean was, I mean… Look Beale, does any clue with what I'm doing here? Give me a break, I thought I'd ask properly."
But I love the way you love me, oh, baby
Strong and wild, slow and easy
Heart and soul, so completely
I love the way you love me
"Oh, you didn't seem so clueless that night." Chloe whispered into her ears causing Beca to blush, remembering their first time together during their last night at New York.
"Sh-shut up Chlo." Beca mumbled nervously and Chloe chuckled.
And I like the sound of old R&B
And you roll your eyes when I'm slightly off key
And I like the innocent way that you cry
From sappy old movies you've seen thousands of times
Chloe stopped, pulling away from Beca for a brief minute to get a good look at her.
And of course that just had to take Beca's breath away, Chloe looking as stunning in the moonlit room.
But I love the way you love me, oh, baby
Strong and wild, slow and easy
Heart and soul, so completely
I love the way you love me
So much has happened in that room, so much that Beca didn't even dare imagine before.
"Beca Mitchell, is this your way of asking me if you can call me your girlfriend?" Chloe asked, putting into words what was in Beca's mind.
"Yes." she replied almost wordlessly.
So listen to me now
"Definitely. Yes." Beca manage to say in between Chloe's kisses. "So will you?" she asked, pulling away for a second.
And I could list a million things
I'd love to like about you
But they all come down to one reason
I could never live without you
"Only if you agree to be my date for the senior ball."
"I already agreed, Beale. Do I need to agree again?"
"Just wanted to check you haven't changed your mind."
"I'll never change my mind on you Chloe. You're the one thing I'll always be sure of." Beca replied, looking deeply into Chloe's eyes and Chloe smiled.
I love the way you love me, oh, baby
Strong and wild, slow and easy
Heart and soul, so completely
I love the way you love me
"That's all I needed to know." Chloe smiled, pulling Beca close and resting her head on the nook of her neck. The song was winding down but a new one was soon to follow.
And Beca knew, holding Chloe close like the way they were now was all that she could ever want.
She loved Chloe Beale, and nothing was ever going to change that.
Chloe Beale loved her too. And Beca knows that it was because of that love that she found all that she never even could have dreamed of.
I love the way that you love me
Songs featured in the chapter: 'Tonight (Best You Ever Had)' by John Legend ft. Ludacris; 'I Wanna Know' by Joe; and 'I Love the Way You Love Me' by Boyzone (there are different versions of the song with minor changes in the lyrics available :P)
Next chapter features the graduation ball of our senior Bellas (yes, Chloe is graduating…) wich may or may not feature the second riff off of this fic… ;)
PS: Some of the dialogues… I'm planning to build on them for the sort of part 2 fic. Exchanges between Stacie, Chloe, Aubrey, and Beca have some lines that sort of give an idea of what's going to happen. Either proving what someone said or failing because of circumstances… but yeah, that should be a nice hint on what I have under my sleeve… I did say angst… :)