- Part 1 -


Arrhythmia


We sit in bars and raise our drinks to growing old.
Oh, I'm in love with you, and you will never know.
But if I can't have you, I'll walk this life alone,
Spare you the rising storm and let the rivers flow.

You'll never know the endless night, the rhyming of the rain,
Or how it feels to fall behind and watch you call (her) name.
-Sam Smith


They walk toward the beach side by side in comfortable silence - their arms brushing against each other whenever one of them strays from walking in a straight line. The sun is setting, and despite that the air is cooling down, the hot chocolate makes Aubrey too warm. She clutches a mug in either hand and focuses on the heat radiating off the plastic and scalding her palms. It almost distracts her from the knowledge that she somehow needs to locate Beca and break away from the group without Chloe noticing - and then that she needs to have a civil conversation with her. Almost being distracted is as close to distracted as she's going to get. She watches the steam rise out of the lids then glances over at Chloe and Sophia (who has her head on Chloe's shoulder and is absently tapping her empty sippy cup against Chloe's shoulder blade) before looking straight ahead.

Chloe looks up at her a fraction of a second after she looks away. She smiles a lopsided smile and nudges Aubrey's arm with her elbow. "Penny for your thoughts," she offers lightly then takes a sip of her drink.

Aubrey looks over at her again. She forces a tight smile and shakes her head. "I'm not thinking about anything." She breathes in the warm, salty air (finally beginning to adjust to the smell) and looks in the direction of the beach. She can't see it yet, but she can hear the seagulls. They've almost reached the ice cream parlor. She dreads that Sophia will recognize it and demand more ice cream once she sees it.

"You're always thinking about something," Chloe points out. She hoists Sophia up further on her hip and absently kicks at a stone on the sidewalk. "I'm thinking about us," she states.

Aubrey's breath catches in her throat as she tries to exhale and she tightens her grip on the mugs. She can only see this conversation leading one of two directions. The first is Chloe trying to pressure her into talking about whether or not they're more than just friends again. And the second is Aubrey's apology not being enough, and Chloe asking her where to go from there. She immediately tries to deter Chloe from continuing. "Chloe, don-"

"I think we should finish what we started in the kitchen when we get back from the bonfire tonight," Chloe elaborates, talking right over Aubrey. She pauses briefly, not long enough for Aubrey to get another word in. "I mean, I finished it myself after you walked out earlier. But we could just start over."

It's better than what Aubrey thought she was going to say, but still not something Aubrey wants to discuss - at least not in public. "Is that all you ever think about, Chloe?" She's not sure she really wants to know the answer to that question. The thought of Chloe constantly imagining her naked causes her cheeks to flush. Her lips try to smile, and that only causes her face to feel like it's on fire.

"It's not all I think about," Chloe replies and rolls her eyes. "It's not my fault I have a high sex-drive."

"Chloe!" Aubrey sputters and glances over at the toddler in her arms.

"What?" Chloe shakes her head. "At least I'm not like Stacie."

"That's not the point, Chloe," Aubrey replies quickly - though she takes a moment to thank God that Chloe is not like Stacie. "You can't say..." She pauses. "...sex," she hisses, "in front of a two-year-old."

Chloe laughs. "It's not like she knows what sex is, Aubrey." She bites her lower lip. "Well, given who her mother is..."

"She's going to go home and she's going to say it in front of Stacie," Aubrey states her concern.

"And you think that Stacie has never used the word 'sex' in front of her before?" Chloe giggles. "Aubrey, it's Stacie."

Aubrey waves her hand in a circle but stops when hot chocolate almost sloshes out over the edge of the mug. "You're not getting the point." The point is that they should not be discussing sex in front of a toddler.

Chloe smiles and sighs at the same time. She leans in closer to Aubrey and lowers her voice, taking on a more seductively husky tone. "So, are you going to have your way with me tonight or not?"

Aubrey stops walking before she even realizes her feet stop moving. She turns to face Chloe and stares at her in silence - her lips slightly parted and her entire mouth dry. Her gaze is drawn back down to Chloe's legs (it's impossible to tell she's even wearing shorts since her sweatshirt hangs so low). She swallows hard and looks at her face again then furrows her brows at the entertained look in Chloe's eyes. Chloe is just trying to get her all hot and bothered, but two can play at this game.

Two can definitely play at this game.

Aubrey steps forward. She suddenly wishes her hands were free to rest on Chloe's hips - but closing the proximity between them is good enough. Chloe's lips part and the amused look becomes one of desire. Chloe is so touch-oriented that Aubrey only has to be close enough to be almost touching her to get her attention. Chloe briefly searches Aubrey's eyes before her gaze is drawn to Aubrey's lips. Aubrey leans in so they're not quite touching. She smirks as Chloe swallows thickly. "If we were alone, I'd have my way with you right now," she informs her. She straightens up and takes a step back, giving Chloe a moment to process her words.

Chloe's breaths are suddenly shallow. She licks her lips and scans the area - and Aubrey thinks she might actually be looking for somewhere to put Sophia. She looks over at Aubrey again and presses her lips together.

Chloe's sudden loss for words is Aubrey's way over knowing that she won this round. She resumes walking toward the beach - this time with a smug grin.

xxxxx

"I want ice cream," Chloe announces as they make their way past the ice cream parlor.

Aubrey rolls her eyes. So much for thinking that it would be Sophia begging her to go inside. Somehow even this conversation isn't even better than anything else they could be talking about. "You have hot chocolate," she says and keeps walking. She glances toward the shop. The lights are off. "It's closed anyway."

Chloe tilts her head and looks at the windows of the shop. "The sign says it's open," she points out. She stops walking and turns toward the building. "I haven't eaten since breakfast, Aubrey."

Aubrey stops when Chloe stops. "They probably just forgot to flip the sign." It's pitch black inside the shop. There is definitely no way that it's open. She shouldn't have to suffer through Tyler again just because Chloe can't remember to feed herself anyway. "There will probably be food at the bonfire."

Chloe turns to look at her. "Are you sure?"

"Chloe, you're going to a bonfire with Amy and a bunch of Trebles," Aubrey reminds her. "There is going to be some kind of food."

"Good point." Chloe nods and takes a few steps forward. The sound of plastic hitting the cement stops her again.

Aubrey looks down at Sophia's empty cup on the ground. "I got it," she says before Chloe can try to bend down to retrieve it herself. She looks at Sophia to tell her not to throw her things, but Sophia is fast asleep - her thumb in her mouth and her other hand entangled in Chloe's hair. Aubrey tries not to smile - and fails. She tucks the mug she's been drinking from under her arm then bends over to pick up Sophia's cup.

"Bree, did you hear that?" Chloe asks suddenly and turns back toward the shop.

Aubrey lifts her head. She looks toward the shop then up and Chloe. Birds chirp in the distance. "Hear what, Chloe?" She grabs the cup then shakes it to make sure it's really empty and not going to spill everywhere. "I didn't hear anything." She tugs open the zipper of the diaper bag with one hand (careful not to pull the bag off Chloe's shoulder) then stuffs the cup inside. She zips it back up and looks at Chloe.

Chloe takes a step closer to her. "I just...thought I heard something," she answers vaguely, barely above a whisper. The street lamps flicker on and they both look up. Chloe suddenly looks uncomfortable. She shifts Sophia's weight and looks around.

"It was probably just a seagull," Aubrey logics calmly. She vows to not even put thought into it potentially being something else. Unless Chloe was just hearing things - which is entirely possible considering they're alone on a dark street.

"Yeah." Chloe presses her lips together and shakes her head. She smiles softly. "It was just a seagull."

Aubrey rests her hand on Chloe's mid-back and looks up and down the street. She breaks her vow to not think about the noise, wondering if Chloe potentially heard the music that has been following her. "Chloe..." Her name slips out before Aubrey can stop herself.

Chloe leans into her hand and looks up at her. "What?" she asks, her voice no longer showing any sort of fear from whatever she had possibly heard.

Aubrey's words catch in her throat. Scaring Chloe would do more harm than good. She presses her lips together into a tight smile and shakes her head. "Nothing."

Chloe smiles back at her and furrows her brows. "Aubrey," she starts slowly and tilts her head. "Are you okay?" She presses into Aubrey's side. "Tell me the truth."

Aubrey lets her arm slide around Chloe's waist. The mug of hot chocolate scalds her through her shirt where its tucked under her arm, but she ignores it. "I'm fine," she insists.

Chloe bites her lower lip and looks down at the pavement for a moment before back up at her. "I'm worried about you," she admits with a concerned smile. "I just want you to tell me what's wrong."

Is she really that obvious? "I'm fine, Chloe," Aubrey repeats. She takes a step toward the beach, lightly trying to draw Chloe along with her. "We're going to be late."

Chloe leans her head against Aubrey's shoulder for a fraction of a second. "Okay." She lifts her head and nods, starting toward the beach again.

xxxxx

Chloe heaves a loud sigh as they step onto the beach. "I don't want to give her back," she says and looks down at Sophia. She smiles and hugs the toddler slightly closer to her.

Aubrey rolls her eyes. She stops walking as soon as she feels the cool sand slide between the bottoms of her feet and her sandals. "I can't handle two children," she replies absently and squints as she stares straight ahead. They're not the first ones there. A few Trebles have spotlights and are shining them on the giant bonfire that Jesse is trying to light. She tries to spot Beca.

"Hey!" Chloe tries to elbow her. Hot chocolate sloshes over the edge of her mug.

"Watch what you're doing, Chloe!" Aubrey jolts away before Chloe's drink can get on her clothes. Point proven. She arches a brow at her.

"Oops," Chloe murmurs. She chews on her lower lip and looks away from Aubrey.

Aubrey shakes her head. It'd be a waste of energy to be frustrated at Chloe, so she just forgets that she was nearly soaked with hot chocolate and scans the beach again.

"We just look like this little family, you know," Chloe says quietly.

Aubrey glances back over at her - unsure of what she's getting at. She's not sure if Chloe means herself and Sophia, or if she means Aubrey as well. She manages a slight nod and tries not to look confused.

Chloe looks down and digs her toes into the sand.

Aubrey faces forward again. She doesn't see Beca. She inhales slowly and lifts a hand, patting Chloe on the shoulder. "Go find Stacie or Donald," she directs her and keeps looking up and down the beach. "I have to go do something."

Chloe looks up at her. "Do what?" she asks with a tone of innocent curiosity.

Aubrey turns her head and meets Chloe's gaze. "Something," she answers simply. She pulls her phone out of her pocket and looks down at it.

Chloe stares at her for a moment then shrugs. "Okay, Miss Mysterious." She smiles and scans the beach once before looking at Aubrey again. "Just hurry back so I don't get bored."

Bored? Aubrey wonders what the chances of Chloe getting bored while being surrounded by a bunch of people are. She turns to face her again just as Chloe is about to kiss her cheek and their lips collide. Chloe tastes like cinnamon and whipped cream. Aubrey pulls back. "You did that on purpose," she accuses her - although she's not really sure how Chloe would have known that she was going to turn her head.

"I'm just warming you up for tonight," Chloe quips without a thought.

Aubrey licks her lips. They still taste like Chloe somehow. "I didn't agree to that yet." But she knows she's not kidding anyone. They'll be doing more than kissing later, and Aubrey suddenly finds herself at a loss for words - which is not acceptable.

Chloe winks at her. "I'm gonna go find Stacie." She scrunches her nose then turns and starts walking toward the fire - which Jesse seems to have finally managed to light.

Aubrey stares at the back of her head before she realizes that she was about to text Beca. That thought alone is enough to ruin the mood. She draws in a breath as she looks down at her phone and flips it open. They could just not speak - but then Aubrey would never get closer to finding out who the hell has made it their mission to make her week miserable, if it's not Bumper. She presses a few buttons then sends the dreaded text.

'Where are you?'


Pack up and leave everything;
Don't you see what I can bring.
Can't keep this beating heart at bay.
Set my midnight sorrow free,
I will give you all of me.
Just leave your lover, leave (her) for me.
-Sam Smith