- Part 1 -
Arrhythmia
Why are you looking down all the wrong roads,
When mine is the heart and the soul that is sore?
There may be lovers who hold out their hands,
But (s)he'll never love you like I can, can, can.
-Sam Smith
Chloe makes herself at home in the inn's kitchen by tossing their dirty dishes in the sink. She lets go of Aubrey's hand (finally) and makes her way toward a counter off to the side of the room. "I asked Beca if she needed this done right away, and she said to take our time," she states as though Aubrey is already in on what exactly it is they're doing in the kitchen.
Aubrey comes to an abrupt halt in the doorway - holding the swinging door open with one hand. "I'm not doing work for Beca," she informs Chloe. "Beca can quit being lazy and do her own job." She won't help Beca. She'll be civilized and speak to her later at the bonfire. But she won't do whatever work Beca doesn't deem worthy of her own time. No. She won't. She folds her arms across her chest, propping the door open with her shoulder, and narrows her eyes at Chloe's back.
"Beca has a million jobs to do this week," Chloe sticks up for her. "We can do this one thing for her."
"You mean you can do it," Aubrey replies. Chloe signed them up for this job; Chloe can do it herself. She turns and walks over to the sink then turns on the water. It only takes a brief glance around for her to locate dish soap and a sponge. She grabs them both and begins to wash off the dishes that Chloe left abandoned.
Chloe turns around to face her again. "Aubrey, that's what the people who work here are for." She walks over to the sink and grabs Aubrey by the elbow, but Aubrey nudges her away. She slides her arms around Aubrey's waist instead. "This is going to be fun," she insists. That's what she keeps saying about the week in general.
Aubrey turns around slightly, holding a sponge in one hand and a glass in the other. "I'm not having fun here, Chloe," she points out in case Chloe can't see that. A few minutes of picking flowers doesn't make up for their bathroom mirror being turned into a horror movie prop. "I just want to survive the week. This is Beca's fault, and I'm not putting my time and effort into something she should be doing herself."
Chloe nods. "Okay." She pulls back. She gives Aubrey's arm a squeeze then lets go of her. She smirks and leans in so her face is only inches away from Aubrey's cheek. "But if you change your mind, I'll be on the other side of the kitchen." She gives her a light swat on the bottom then walks away.
The glass Aubrey is holding nearly slips out of her grip. She groans and considers snapping at Chloe to stop doing that – but then she'd probably stop doing it. She shoves the sponge inside the glass and washes it then rinses it out. Chloe rattles things around across the room as Aubrey cleans up their mess. She'll probably be cleaning up whatever mess Chloe is making now as well. She grimaces in irritation. She places the last clean dish on the dish rack to dry then wipes her hands off on a towel as she turns to face Chloe.
Chloe lines up five miniature containers of cake frosting samples across one of the counters.
Aubrey eyes the frosting and furrows her brows. She's tempted to ask what Chloe is doing, but she holds her tongue. She doesn't even want to know what Beca asked them to do. Really, she doesn't.
The curiosity is like an itch just waiting to be scratched.
Chloe turns around and hoists herself up onto the counter. She picks up the first container and peels off the lid. "Beca wants me to choose an icing for her cake," she says absently and places the lid beside her. "Are you sure you don't want to help? I know how much you like chocolate. You steal all of my Hershey's Kisses out of the cupboard."
Aubrey's lips twitch. It's not as though she can deny it. They don't exactly live with anyone else who could be the culprit. "You steal all of my stuff," she shoots back.
"I do not," Chloe denies it. "Your food is disgusting. Those health bar things you buy taste like paper."
"You wouldn't know what they taste like if you didn't steal them," Aubrey replies smugly.
Chloe opens her mouth like she's going to counteract that statement then closes it again and guiltily bites her lip. "Sometimes I don't have time for breakfast," she explains. Aubrey thinks if Chloe woke up earlier, that wouldn't be an issue. Chloe shakes her head and seems to brush off the topic as she looks down into her frosting container. She's about to dip her fingers into it when Aubrey realizes it's hazelnut flavored.
"Chloe, stop!" Aubrey blurts out immediately. "You can't eat that."
Chloe's head snaps up. "Why not?" She looks at Aubrey then down at the frosting again. "It's just icing," she sputters and Aubrey can tell that her tone got to her.
Aubrey steps forward and snatches the container out of her hand. She takes the lid as well so Chloe doesn't touch it again. "Do you want to break out in hives?" she inquires and holds up the container so the flavor is at Chloe's eye-level. "Or, worse, for your throat to close up? For serious, Chloe, you need to look at things before you put them in your mouth." She doesn't mean to snap, but her concern gets the best of her – and then it's too late to change her tone. "You didn't even pack an EpiPen."
Chloe narrows her eyes to read the container then makes a face at it. "Aubrey, you need to relax," she replies calmly. "I don't even react that badly unless I eat a whole lot of it." She pauses. "How do you know I didn't pack any EpiPens? I have two in my bag."
"Well, you were just about to eat a whole lot of it." Aubrey tosses the lid and container in the trash. "And because I packed them." She picks up the other containers on the counters and looks over the ingredients. By now, she usually just automatically knows what contains hazelnuts and what doesn't, but it doesn't hurt to check. One container contains peanuts and another has a simple 'May Contain Traces of Nuts' warning. She determines they're both fine and nudges them back over to Chloe. It makes life easier that out of the entire tree nut family, Chloe somehow manages to be an oddball who is only allergic to one kind. Most people with nut allergies are allergic to several.
Chloe picks up the chocolate peanut butter frosting and pries off the lid. She tosses the lid on the counter then dips two fingers into the frosting.
Aubrey wrinkles her nose and tries to locate a spoon for her. "You just had your hands in the dirt outside, and now you're going to lick them off?" She doesn't bother to mask her disgust as Chloe sucks the frosting off of her fingers.
Chloe leans her head back and accidentally hits it on the cupboard door behind her. "This is so good," she murmurs as she pulls her fingers back out of her mouth.
"That's disgusting," Aubrey replies.
Chloe licks the frosting off of her lips then looks at Aubrey and smirks. "My fingers have been in more interesting places than the dirt, and you didn't care if I licked them off then." She winks at Aubrey. Aubrey's face flushes fifty shades of red. Chloe places the container on the counter then picks up another sample and uses her fingers to try that one as well.
"Use a spoon, Chloe," Aubrey sputters. She tries not to focus on Chloe's fingers in her mouth. She has to look away from her. Her mind drifts and she tries to get it back on track. Too many times has Chloe licked off her fingers after – okay, that's not fair. She clenches her jaw and thinks hard about work. Her job is about as big of a turn-off as something can be. Getting stuck in traffic while on coffee runs is not even remotely sexy. Filing papers is not attractive. Filling out-
"Try this one." Chloe shoves one of the containers too close to Aubrey's face. "You washed your hands."
Aubrey presses her lips together and leans her head back. "I'm not doing that." She places her fingers on the edge of the container and pushes it away from her. "I'm going to find a spoon." If she's going to give in, she's at least going to eat like a civilized person. She frowns and eyes all of the drawers that could potentially contain silverware.
Chloe lowers the container to her lap and also looks at the drawers. "I have a better idea," she blurts out a few seconds later. She lowers herself down off the counter and sticks one of her fingers in the frosting.
Aubrey sighs and turns to face her again. She's not even hungry. They just ate breakfast, for crying out loud. "Chloe…" Her words catch in her throat when she realizes the mischievous look Chloe is giving her. "Chloe…" she tries again, warningly this time.
Chloe ignores her. She tilts her head to the side, revealing her neck, and slides the frosting across the smooth expanse of skin. "Come on," she insists as she places the container down then leans back against the counter with her hands on the edges. She lowers her voice to a seductive tone. "I hear I taste even better with icing."
Is it possible for one's mouth to both water and feel stuffed with cotton at the same time? Aubrey can smell the vanilla frosting as she stares at it on Chloe's neck – just above her collarbone. It won't hurt to just taste it…
"Hurry up," Chloe urges, "It's starting to feel weird." She scrunches her face.
"We shouldn't be doing this here," Aubrey points out. She tries to cling to the reason she was so adamant about not taste-testing to begin with. Beca. She tries to think about Beca. Beca is even more of a turn-off than her job is. She glances around the kitchen, thinking about her lips against Chloe's neck.
"It's just us." Chloe absently rocks herself forward then back against the counter again. "No one is coming in here."
Aubrey draws in a breath and allows her gaze to travel from Chloe's jaw downward. "We should go back to our room," she suggests. She silently curses herself when she realizes how eager her voice sounds.
"Aubrey," Chloe snaps. She sounds mildly amused. She tilts her head a bit more. "My head is going to fall off if you don't get over here now."
Aubrey makes a noise of indecision as she exhales and glances around the empty kitchen one more time. Her heart is pounding as she considers the prospect of someone walking in on them. It's kind of thrilling. But, at the same time, it's the worst thing she can currently think of that could happen to her. She stands stubbornly rooted to her spot for a fraction of a second longer then lets out an irritated, defeated huff as she closes the distance between herself and Chloe. "For serious, Chloe," she hisses in exasperation as she tries to zero in on the frosting.
Chloe groans. "Aubrey, you are ruining the moment," she complains.
Aubrey rolls her eyes then closes them. She draws her tongue across Chloe's neck then closes her lips around the frosting and tenderly kisses it off of her. It's better she than she expected – and she went at it with relatively high expectations. But the taste is nothing compared to the gasp that escapes Chloe's lips and the way her back arches away from the counter – her hips pressing against Aubrey's hips. She peppers small kisses across Chloe's neck, licking the frosting off her lips between them. Her reasoning for being hesitant begins to fade.
Chloe takes more frosting and makes a trail of it up her neck – which Aubrey diligently followers with her tongue until she reaches Chloe's mouth. The vanilla blends in with the peanut butter frosting Chloe had earlier – along with the intoxicating taste that is unique to Chloe. Chloe parts Aubrey's lips with her tongue and Aubrey presses her back against the counter. She briefly tries to comprehend how Chloe lured her into this (again) but gets distracted when Chloe wraps a leg around her legs and pulls her in closer. They almost fall back onto the counter but Chloe's elbows stop them. One of the containers gets knocked onto the floor by Chloe's arm.
"Wait." Chloe pulls back slightly then eases them both upright. She crosses her arms in front of her then pulls her shirt up over her head and drops it on the counter behind her. Her daisy chain stays intact.
Aubrey's eyes nearly bug out of her head. "Chloe!" she whines and glances at the door. She tries not to glance at the black lace bra Chloe is wearing, because she knows it will weaken her resistance.
"Does it look like anyone is coming in here, Aubrey?" Chloe asks. "Live a little bit. We're on vacation."
Chloe keeps saying that, but it doesn't feel like vacation. Aubrey shakes her head. "Vacation does not mean having sex in random places." She tries to keep her voice down. How many times has she said that in the past? And since when does vacation mean having sex at all? The shower should have been a one-time thing.
"It kind of does," Chloe replies. She reaches behind her and grabs the vanilla frosting. She stares at it and bites down on her lower lip for a moment before grinning and drawing a heart just above her cleavage with it. She smirks and puts the container back down then licks the excess frosting off her finger. "Maybe we should just stop talking," she suggests after she pulls her finger out of her mouth.
Aubrey frowns. "I'm not going to stop talking," she replies and shakes her head. She's torn between Chloe and the potential of being caught – and it's becoming distressing. She shouldn't have let it get to a point where Chloe took her shirt off. "I'm for serious here, Chloe, what if someone comes in?"
"Then lock the door," Chloe replies. She sounds like she's beginning to get irritated.
Aubrey glances back at the door. "There is no lock," she points out. "Why can't we do this back at our-"
"Shhh." Chloe presses a finger to Aubrey's lips.
Did Chloe just shush her? Aubrey scoffs and swats Chloe's hand away from her mouth. She gapes at her in offense. "What the hell, Chloe?"
Chloe briefly gives her an agitated glare before her features slowly begin to soften – starting with confusion in her eyes and ending with the corners of her lips curving downward into a frown. She looks away and grips the counter ledge again then swallows and drops her hands. "I'm sorry," she strains quietly, looking anywhere but Aubrey. She touches her forehead and shakes her head. "That was stupid." She moves her hand a few centimeters away from her head. She exhales a breath and drops her hand back down to her side. She presses her lips together to form a straight line and looks past the ground – like she's momentarily staring at something far away beneath the tiles.
Aubrey blinks and tries to process the last sixty seconds. Her thought process doesn't go far past wanting to touch Chloe and waiting for the moment in which the door is bound to open. She looks back at the door and bounces lightly on her heels – impatient with herself as she tries to weigh her options. Out of the corner of her eye, she can see Chloe staring at the floor – looking rather revolted by her own actions. "Screw it," Aubrey whispers under her breath. She turns around and presses Chloe back against the counter then squats down and traces warm kisses around the frosting heart on Chloe's chest. She can feel Chloe's actual heart beating against her lips.
"You don't have to do that." Chloe tries to back up, but there's nowhere to go. She's pinned between Aubrey and the counter. "We can go back to the room. I was being st-"
Aubrey stands up straight and kisses her hard on the lips to shut her up. Chloe hums against Aubrey's mouth and rests her hands on Aubrey's sides – under her shirt. Aubrey gasps slightly as Chloe's nails rake lightly across her skin. She nudges Chloe's legs apart with her knee then leans forward and slides her thigh between them. Chloe kisses her harder and rolls her hips against Aubrey's leg for friction. There's almost a desperation in the movement. Aubrey keeps Chloe trapped in the space between herself and the counter and raises her leg up against Chloe's center. Chloe grinds down against her and lets out a drawn out moan.
Aubrey doesn't hear the door open but she feels a cold draft against her heated skin. She almost thinks nothing of it.
"Dude!"
Aubrey jolts back away from Chloe at the sound of Beca's voice. Chloe accidentally bites Aubrey's lip then knocks the frosting containers off the counter as she stands up straight. Aubrey spins around to face Beca and Jesse.
"Oh my god," Beca continues, staring at the two of them.
Jesse has ducked his head and is looking at the floor. "Looks like they have a head-start on our honeymoon," he murmurs – definitely more entertained than Beca is.
Aubrey tugs down her shirt where she realizes it's riding up and straightens her posture – attempting to look at least slightly put together. "It's not what it looks like," she gives the statement enough confidence that maybe they'll believe her. But, no, it's obvious that it is exactly what it looks like. Her face feels like it's burning. Her entire body is flushed with embarrassment. She has to remind herself to breathe. She tries to side-glance at Chloe, but she can't seem to take her eyes off the spot on the wall just behind Beca's head.
"Do you two have sex everywhere?" Beca demands. She steps forward and begins to pick up the frosting containers. "Don't answer that," she replies to her own question before Aubrey can even process what she asked.
"Not everywhere," Chloe answers anyway. She smiles. "Just most places. Convincing Aubrey to be an exhibitionist is kind of my thing."
Jesse snorts then tries to cover it with a cough.
"Chloe!" Aubrey chokes and turns to look at her. She frantically tries to think of a way to extract herself from this situation. Jesse is blocking the door.
"What?" Chloe mouths. "It's hot." She shifts around then awkwardly grabs the bottom of her shorts and tries to pull them down so they're not riding up. Beca and Jesse both arch a brow at her and Aubrey kicks her in the shin to make her stop. Chloe folds her arms. "You know, you're always welcome to join us," she extends the offer to Beca.
Beca's head snaps up and she freezes – just staring at her. Aubrey stares at her as well, gaping slightly. Did she forget Jesse was in the room? There is suddenly enough tension in the air to smother someone. But only Aubrey and Beca seem to feel it.
"I don't think Beca's into that," Jesse breaks the silence with a light chuckle. Aubrey can't determine whether the laughter is from amusement or nervousness. "Maybe we should go, Bec."
"Yeah." Beca places the containers on the counter next to Aubrey. She doesn't look at Chloe or Aubrey as she makes her way back toward the door.
"No, you know, I want to know why Beca isn't into that anymore," Chloe says calmly. She tightens her arms across her chest. "I mean, she seemed pretty into it that time in-"
"Are you being serious right now?" Beca spins around to face Chloe again. "You're going to do this right now? In front of Jesse?"
Aubrey doesn't like where this is heading – at all. Her gaze flashes back and forth between Chloe and Beca. "Chloe, we need to leave," she states seriously. She grabs Chloe by the elbow to lead her to the door before this entire thing can explode in their faces.
Chloe turns to the side and knocks Aubrey's hand away. "I don't see why we should have anything to hide, Aubrey," she retorts.
"There's a difference between not hiding something and being inappropriate about it, Chloe," Aubrey tries to bring light to what Chloe's saying. "We're going back to our room." It's more of an order than anything else. They need to leave before a fight happens.
Chloe turns around and snatches her shirt off the counter – wringing it tightly around her hands rather than putting it on.
"You still let her talk to you like that," Beca takes the conversation in a new direction. She almost sounds amused behind her irritation. "Unbelievable."
"Aca-scuse me?" Aubrey's voice goes up an octave and she turns to face Beca. She's the one trying to help – trying to protect Chloe. "What is that supposed to mean?"
Beca puts her hands up and takes a step back. Chloe doesn't say anything.
"Look, maybe we should just…" Jesse tries to diffuse them, but Aubrey doesn't care what he has to say. None of them appear to be listening to him.
"Let's just go," Chloe mumbles. She looks around then shakes her head and walks toward the door – brushing past Jesse on her way out.
Of course it's now that they're leaving – not when Aubrey suggested they should. She raises her arms then slaps them down against her sides as she walks with determination after Chloe.
Jesse catches Aubrey by the arm as she's about to step out the door. "Hey, are you okay after earlier?" he asks.
Aubrey rips her arm away. "Now is not the time," she snaps. She shoves the door open with both hands as it's swinging shut then continues trailing after Chloe. Chloe doesn't wait for her; she just stomps off like a child. Aubrey rolls her eyes.
"We're not going through this again, Chloe," Aubrey warns her. After that, she has a feeling she's going to be discussing much more than just photographs and mirrors at the bonfire later. She can kiss her desire to have a civil conversation with Beca goodbye.