Chloe has always loved music. From a young age, she'd known she would want to have a career in music - or help sick animals. Or become an exotic dancer, she still wasn't too sure. But all she knew was music. Whether she was singing a tune, breaking out a Beyonce style choreo - or even just listening to her best friend's newest mix.

"You're telling me that this isn't a David Guetta track!?" Chloe gripped the brunette's shoulder tightly, trying to find any fibs behind those navy eyes. Beca gave her a look.

"Come on Chlo," Beca shook her head as she went back to swiping her finger across the trackpad.

"It's alright."

And the gasp Chloe gusped was very dramatic. It made Beca smile, though.

Bottom line, Chloe Beale loved music. Almost more than anything. And so when she received a text that morning from Tom, she really didn't want to pause her music she was working out to, but she did anyway.

3:06pm Douche: Hey

Chloe rolled her eyes and then closed her phone.

She didn't feel like giving him the time of day, she had other things to worry about - like how she's barely working up a sweat right now.

She twiddled her fingers across the treadmill and began to pick up the pace.

Besides just thinking about the task at hand - getting in shape for worlds - Chloe began to think back to all that she's gone through while she's been at Barden. She thought about when she was constantly in a state of anxiety when she was first accepted into the Bellas, how Aubrey had to talk her down from her freak-outs - or else all of her hair would fall out. Or how Aubrey had to make sure she was alright whenever she'd get told off by their old captain, that was such a nightmare.

She thought back to how they'd torn down, and rebuilt the Bellas all thanks to Beca. If she never invaded the little DJ's shower stall during the other girl's freshman year, her life would have been a lot different now. It almost pains her to think about that, though - so she shakes it out of her head.

A lot of things remind her of the one particular Bella, even the music she plays, the color in a certain pair of denim pants, or a specific brand of headphones. Beca swears by them, afterall.

Not a day goes by where the brunette doesn't fill Chloe's thoughts. It's not unwelcome or unfamiliar though, she really loves the girl. She's always had a special bond with her, an understanding that only she could have - it was something with how she inserted herself into her life, she thinks. The walls never swayed her, even to this day she feels she is always tearing down more and more as time goes on, the small ones that she still has left that is. Chloe's never minded.

After listening to a playlist Beca had made for her some months ago, Chloe began to slow her pace down, before coming to a complete stop. She's always loved cardio, although thinking back she could remember a certain Australian would 'vertical run' for her cardio during practices. They did retire the mandatory cardio during practices, she still looks back fondly on the memories, enticing a small giggle from her lips.

Checking her phone once more, she looked through her notifications. More from Tom, but a few from much more important people.

She glances through the Bellas group chat. It always brought a smile to her face to see what her girls are up to.

4:13pm Amy: I'm just saying - we shouldn't give Legacy that solo when I'm practically the best singer in the group

4:15pm Emily: U know I can see your messages in here too right Amy?

4:16pm Beca: Emily also wrote the song, Aims. Let's leave it be?

As usual, Amy likes to make special requests at least twice a week since they've known her. Most of which get turned down - but they always hear her out, not like they have a choice. Chloe typed out a quick message as well, feeling she should reply as she's the captain too.

4:24pm Me: We've already rehearsed her solo, I'm team Becs on this one

The reply from Amy was almost instant.

4:24pm Amy: You're biased now Ginge, lezbehonest Attachment

Chloe almost spit out her water she was sipping on. Amy attached a GIF of scissors, doing what scissors do. And the redhead shook her head, holding back a laugh. Because it was super unexpected. None of the Bellas had really mentioned that her and the brunette were a thing now. She briefly thinks about if the girls feel uncomfortable, but then she brushes it off. She began to picture how Beca would react to that, tabbing out of the group chat now and deciding to send the DJ a text.

4:25pm Me: Did Amy get you all hot and bothered with that ? ;-) xx

And wanting to wait for the reply, she sat down on the nearby gym bench.

The Bellas had a pretty spacey gym room in their house, but only a handful of Bellas actually utilized it. Chloe and Stacie mainly used the area, while sometimes she would find Lilly hanging upside down off of a piece of equipment, asleep in a bat-like position.

Her phone buzzed, and she quickly went back to her messages.

4:27pm Beca: Nothing from that girl phases me anymore, Beale

Chloe bit her lip as she typed out a response, eyes gleaming.

4:27pm Me: You sure Becs? Keeping it in your pants, maybe? x

She loved to tease her best friend. It was just something she really enjoyed doing, something that truly made her happy was seeing the brunette squirm. And although she couldn't see the girl, she could imagine her. Red ears, wide eyes, and an incredulous open mouthed smile. It made Chloe's heart giddy.

But you know what made Chloe's heart wild?

4:30pm Beca: Maybe, maybe not.

Was when Beca would tease back.

Chloe's stomach dropped a few floors, as she rounded her mouth for an answer. It was only a few words the other girl sent, but she could feel how effective they were, how they affected her. It didn't scare her though, these feelings. Because in all honesty - Chloe has always felt a lot. She feels so deeply for the birds in the trees when they whistle a tune, she feels for Dory in Finding Nemo. But most of all, she feels so much for the people she loves. Was it always platonic love in regards to the brunette?

Chloe didn't know.

But she would touch on that some other time.

4:31pm Me: It's okay if you can't Becs, and you can let me know if you ever need help with that ;-)

And Chloe knew maybe this wasn't how you were supposed to talk to your friends - but she couldn't help it with Beca. She loved the way she reacted, and she lived for the moments when Beca would say something even more courageous back.

It was like a drug, or an addiction.

But it was normal for them, what's a little flirting going to do? No harm done, in her eyes.

4:32 Beca: Dude

Satisfied, Chloe left it at that.

She decided that she wanted to have a little lunch before starting on her homework for that week, she only had to turn in one more paper for the year.

She was contemplating what all they needed to pack for worlds, how many boarding passes they needed to print out - and a million other things.

While stabbing at her salad for her favorite bits, she idly scrolled on her phone. After liking this, and reposting that, she decided she would finally open Tom's message.

3:10pm Douche: Again with the ignoring Chlo

3:15pm Douche: It's about the Vandergroft Gala tickets so just get back to me whenever

Chloe began to choke on a leaf, coughing dryly in a fit, eyes widening until she was just a breathing mess of tears that wouldn't fall. She took a few gulps of her water and began to refresh their chat as if just to fiddle - or to make the message go away.

"I heard choking," Flo bashes into the kitchen, scanning the room like an army turret, sporting a cedar wood scented candle in her hand as if she was ready to fight someone with it.

"Oh, Chloe - are you okay?" Flo then set down the candle on the table, scooting into the seat across from the redhead.

"You look worse than the time when my goat had hepatitis G." Chloe furrowed her brows at that, but brushed it off. She wiped her tears that finally fell from her choking a moment ago, and shook her head.

Chloe was fine, it just surprised her.

The Vandergroft gala was an event she used to attend with Tom every year when they were together. It was a magical night of ballroom dancing, live orchestrated music, the most flavorful foods and alcohol - all included with one ticket. If she had any reason to still be with Tom - it'd be to attend the Vandergroft gala. It was a weekend getaway, beautiful hotels and a reason for Chloe to dress up. She loved to attend the gala, she looked forward to it every year she was with Tom - but ever since they broke up some months ago, she had completely forgotten about it.

She wonders if he had gotten the tickets and was asking what she wanted to do with them.

"Thanks for checking on me, Flo," Chloe gave her a small smile, wiping her mouth with a napkin. She crinkled her brows.

"I just got a text that really surprised me, is all." Flo hummed, tilting her head slightly up in acknowledgement.

"Was it Beca?" The other girl gave her a knowing look, corners of her mouth going upwards, as if she was holding back her suggestive 'ooh's. Chloe felt a little twinge in her ribcage, but she replied steadily.

"No," She began to pick at her salad once more, crossing her legs under the table. "- it was Tom, actually."

Flo inhaled loudly through her nose, her eyes going big before she muttered some Spanish words Chloe made out to probably be some sort of prayer - before the Latina girl could get really into it, and whispered something about finding her good candles, Chloe stopped her.

"Don't worry," The redhead gave her a look of assurance, setting her fork down and reaching out to the other girl's hands to give them a quick squeeze.

"It was just about something silly. I'll get over it." Flo sighed, relieved it seemed.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Chloe wondered for a second. Did she want to talk about it? She wasn't sure. It was a really big bummer to realize she probably would never attend the event ever again - since Tom's parents practically own the event hall. But she wasn't sure if she just wanted to mull it over in silence or not.

"Well," She started, deciding it'd be nice to just see what Flo might offer. Beca was her usual confidant - or Aubrey - but the redhead just didn't feel like keeping it to herself right now. She let out a small sigh before continuing.

"So he has these…tickets -"

Flo then begins to light the cedar wood candle she placed down, with a lighter Chloe can only describe as scary looking - but she continues.

"To an event that I love to go to. Like -" Chloe's eyes are shining, and she speaks with her hands as she says, "More than anything." The other girl hums while she listens, clasping her fingers together on top of the table. Chloe rolls her lips together, picking back at her salad in thought.

"And I think he wants to know what I want to do with them. His parents have him go every year." Chloe then looks up, dropping one of her brows slightly trying to see what her fellow Bella is thinking. Flo then unclasps her fingers, and puts the candle out with them, a small sizzle resulting after. Chloe swallows.

"I think you should go," And although Flo just put a candle out with her bare hands, she looks understanding and soft with her stare. "It could be a fun excuse to get the spicy captain in a dress." She shrugs at Chloe.

And then Chloe can picture it, it comes as quickly as it goes - but Beca Mitchell in a dress? In a fancy dress?

Chloe beams, stabbing her salad a few times before taking a bite - chewing it really well so she doesn't choke again.

"Thank you so much Flo!" The other girl smiles, and then starts to leave, throwing a quick point at the salad.

"Also careful eating the salad," She makes her way to the doorway now, throwing a look at the redhead. "- I think Lilly uses that batch for her side business." Chloe coughs then, not knowing what that all even means. This batch? Side business? She didn't want to know.

She gives Flo a grateful smile before she exits, and Chloe makes to dump her ruined lunch into the trash with an audible 'bleck'.

…

It had been a decent work day for the DJ, Dax only had a few mess ups so there was only so much Beca actually had to fix today.

She was rustling through her keys to find the one that unlocks the front door to the Bella's house, successfully finding the right one and heading in. It was a little rowdy as she made her way in, dropping her keys in a yellow cup by the entrance.

She saw as Amy, Cynthia Rose, Legacy, Lilly, and Stacie, were all tangled up in an intense game of Mario Kart. Amy was trying to shove Emily off of the couch - assuming she was probably beating her on the leaderboard - CR was smiling while she played, and Lilly was playing with her bare feet instead of her hands. And Stacie - well she had seemingly given up, going in circles on the screen while she looked at her manicure.

Beca quietly made a mental note to herself she would never use the green controller ever again, that that is the now the dedicated Lilly controller.

"Hey Shaw-shank," came Amy, all the other girls threw Beca a greeting and she nodded back to them with a small 'hey'. She couldn't help but smile at the women.

While she's been at Barden, she would consider these girls to be her family - as mushy as that was, Beca would never admit it. But it was something she never thought she'd develop. She honestly never thought she'd graduate - but here she was. A new found family, an almost degree that she may most likely never use, but most importantly the growth she's had over the years. It almost hits Beca like a brick in the chest, looking over the people she's spent all of her time with.

She doesn't want to ever think about not being around them.

And that fucking terrifies her. Like a lot. Because when you've slept, ate, and hung out with the same people for four years - it's really hard to imagine life without them. Sure they'd call and text and see each other for special occasions, but Amy wouldn't be her bunky anymore, and Chloe wouldn't be down the hall anymore, and, and - Beca then tripped a step on her way up to her room.

Focusing now on trying not to eat shit, the brunette slumped her bag off her shoulder onto her desk now, kicking her shoes off too.

Thinking too much hurts Beca's brain. It throws her off her game sometimes, having music-block and acne breakouts - she needed something for relief. Her usual get away was simply opening her laptop, and going through a mix or just listening to music could help sometimes. But honestly it just makes her think about work right now, so she sighs loudly, throwing her jacket to the side of her bed, and plopping face down. She tried to seep into her white bed covers then, as if they were the soil and she was the rain. And that made her kinda sleepy.

Maybe just a little rest could make her feel better.

And she almost passed out, but she felt soft, warm hands touch her shoulders. She stiffened, eyes opening quickly before the other person began to rub firm circles. Beca didn't know who it was behind her now, giving her a massage - although her mind went to Chloe - she didn't care. She just didn't want them to stop.

Besides the initial shock of someone touching her unannounced - again, Chloe - she fluttered her eyes back closed. It just felt so good.

"You're so tense, Bec," The brunette turned so her cheek was pressed against her covers instead, to make sure she could talk normally without being muffled. But she just hummed, too distracted to talk right now. I mean come on, Chloe Beale is like the master of back rubs. She's only allowed her to do this a handful of times though, but it's exactly what she needed right now.

"Long day at work?" The redhead's hands traveled in between Beca's shoulder blades, down to the middle of her back, and up again. The brunette shivered.

Her hands were firm and sure, but still so soft. It made Beca's toes curl at the end of the bed. Clearing her throat, she tried to get any words out, but as she was about to speak, the other girl had proceeded to slip her hands under Beca's shirt and rub, and — Jesus.

The shorter girl let out a very inappropriate noise - on accident - causing Chloe's hands to still, and twitch just around Beca's spine. It's like she could feel little embers entwine from between the redheads fingers, down into her bones.

It was only a few seconds where Chloe paused, but then she continued rubbing circles, thumbs digging into her knots. Beca shivered again. Maybe she ignored it.

"You better be careful making noises like that, Mitchell," Chloe sighed as she spoke, her tone was low and the brunette thought she would pass out. It's like her head began to fill with fog and static, but she could feel it fill her whole body. Her voice was close and hot, by her left ear.

"I'm only a woman." And the insinuated sentence, was almost too much for Beca. She couldn't play dumb, she knew exactly what the other girl meant.

Her stomach did a few flips thinking about it - so she scrunched her eyes really tight, thinking, begging her brain to find any words at all, and trying not to focus on the way her friend is making her feel.

"Dude, I-" Was what had came out, a little bit more out of breath than she'd hoped for, but it wasn't what she wanted to say. What could she say after that?

See, Chloe is a flirt. She's touchy, and bubbly, and loves to be flirtatious - doesn't matter who it's with. But sometimes Beca wasn't too sure it was completely harmless when she'd say certain things. But maybe it was her own feelings playing games on her - like it wasn't harmless because she felt it affecting her.

Another stroke of the other girl's fingers on a particular knot on Beca's back drew a sharp inhale from her - she wouldn't let any other questionable noises come out of her though. She wasn't sure what reign that would give Chloe - and she isn't sure she wanted to find out what exactly she would do.

"Feels good is all." The brunette states in a sleepy tone - which she totally didn't force out. She hoped it sounded convincing, nonchalant and normal. She heard the other girl hum.

"I'm glad." Chloe continued to work her hands around, finding one particular knot that wasn't giving in. She then felt the other girl straddle her backside, snapping her head around like an owl.

"What are you doing?" She sounded panicked - or shocked, but kept her tone small. Chloe's blue eyes averted to Beca, trailing away from the task at hand.

"Can you take this off?" The redhead tugged twice on the shorter girl's shirt, successfully making a light blush take over Beca's neck. The brunette furrowed her brows, now balancing on her forearms to look behind herself better.

"My… shirt?" Chloe nodded, tugging a few more times.

"Why?" The other girl rolled her eyes with a huff. Beca doesn't know what's going on, she didn't care if she asked it without any thought. Maybe there's some rational reason and she wasn't going to be devilishly devoured by her best friend. She gulped at her choice of words there.

"Well," She started, curling her fingers under the hem of her shirt now.

Beca was on fire.

"So I can do my job as best as I can," The redhead pinched a small bit of skin by Beca's hip. "Duh." The DJ contemplated for a second.

I guess it'd make sense to want to do her best, and the clothing piece may get in the way, she supposes. But it just seemed like such a fucking intimate interaction - she wasn't sure she could do it. Nonetheless, she lowered her head back down, and hiked her shirt up - but not off.

"Is that better?" Beca got her words out, still a bit breathless, and the other girl hummed with a small 'totes'.

Some time went by, Chloe still remained in her position rubbing intricate shapes on Beca's shoulders and sides, and Beca almost fell asleep again. Although her fingers were like little wax melts dripping all over her, she found it relaxing eventually. Right before she almost fell into a sleep coma, Chloe cleared her throat.

"So," Beca hummed sleepily into her covers.

"There's this… thing," Beca's brows dropped in confusion. Chloe was usually very bright, and so sure of herself. But right now, she sounded so nervous - like she wasn't quite sure how Beca would react. This can't be good.

"It's an event actually," Beca could hear the other girl's brow lift as she spoke, she could tell Chloe was really unsure as to how Beca would react to this.

"The Vandergroft Gala. I used to go every year with," Chloe cleared her throat once more. "-Tom." And at that, Beca stiffened, her eyes shooting open. It's crazy how just hearing his name made her blood boil. God she hated that guy.

"But, obviously, I wouldn't be going with him now," and Beca couldn't tell what emotion or feeling the redhead was surfacing in her voice, but there was something there. She hopes she doesn't miss Tom.

Beca closed her eyes with a small sigh.

"He gave me my ticket," Chloe then pulled Beca's shirt back down so it was normal again, and ceased her massage she had been giving, and instead just laid her hands over Beca's back while she spoke.

"But I also was able to get another ticket." Beca really wanted to see her friend's face instead of laying there like a dope. So, she wriggled herself around, so that her front was now facing the other girl who was still straddling Beca. She placed her hands idly by the redhead's jean clad thighs, rubbing soft soothing circles with the pads of her thumbs. She watched as Chloe paused, eyes dropping down to Beca's hands for a split second, and then locking her gaze back to Beca.

She wonders briefly if this was okay, but Chloe dropped her hands to the other girl's stomach now. She took that as a sign that it was fine for her to proceed.

"You can talk to me, Chlo," Beca smiled small, nodding slowly once.

"It's just me, I won't get mad - or anything." Beca narrowed her eyes for emphasis, patting Chloe's leg once for encouragement. And trying to be soothing, encouraging - can be really hard for Beca. But she does her best for Chloe.

The redhead lets out a breath, fidgeting with the hem of Beca's shirt now.

It was a shirt that was a gift from the girl, actually. An old, faded out Pink Floyd shirt that Beca literally wore all the time. It was very soft, and went with basically everything. She wonders if Chloe remembers that Christmas.

"I wanted to see if you'd go with me? I know I already have the ticket -" And as if a bandaid had been ripped off, Chloe went rapid fire.

She talked so fast, her blue eyes stuck to her fingers that were tugging and twirling with Beca's shirt. The brunette tried not to chuckle. And Beca swore she caught most of the word vomit, but she also kinda didn't. Her cheeks puffed while she held in her giggles.

"- and I could totally return them, oh." The redhead stopped her rambling string to look at Beca again.

"You're laughing." Chloe didn't look hurt, or nervous anymore, she just looked amused. Beautiful, she thought for a moment but scratched it out quickly.

"I'm sorry, it's just, damn." Beca smiled a toothy grin at the other girl, her fingers mindlessly rubbing small circles again into her upper legs. Chloe bit her lip, and Beca only briefly caught that out of her peripherals. She glazed over it though.

"You can talk fast," And with that, both of the girls started laughing. It was like music to Beca's ears. And Beca could find things in music most people probably couldn't. Like how a bass line could match up with another one perfectly, or how two BPM's may be exactly the same even though they're in completely different time signatures.

And right now, Chloe's laugh sounds like something familiar - a feeling, not quite like a song, but just as intoxicating.

Beca loved it.

Their laughs calmed down to small giggles, and Beca began to drum her fingers now. And Chloe then entangled her own into the bottom of the brunette's shirt once more, messing with the fabric.

"Is that why you tried to butter me up just a second ago?" Beca gave her a small smirk, watching as Chloe became a little bashful. Her eyelashes fluttered, and her cheeks were a little rose-colored. And again, Beca's stomach was hot.

"Maybe…" The other girl replied, tracing small circles around Beca's abdomen now. It sent fire all around her, and into her own fingertips. Beca huffed.

"Maybe?"

Chloe then locked eyes with Beca, scrunching her mouth to the side as she replied with another, "Maybe."

Beca rolled her eyes.

"Did it work?" And then Beca spanked Chloe's right leg. It wasn't too hard or anything - she didn't want to hurt the girl - but it was kinda loud. The redhead dropped her jaw in shock, but Beca could tell she wasn't being serious, she could tell she was trying not to smile.

"It totes did." And with a small wink, the other girl rolled off of Beca, now realizing just how cold it was afterwards - Beca watched as Chloe made her way to the stairs. But right before she was going to make her way down, her eyes narrowed to the other bed.

"That's my pillow!" Chloe stomped over to a certain Australian's bed, before snatching the item from it, and proceeding to grumble down the stairs.

Beca couldn't help but chuckle. Amy is somewhat a very impolite kleptomaniac.

The DJ only found this out a little while back when they were at the retreat and she exclaimed she had been stealing twenty bucks from her wallet very frequently - and Beca never carries cash anymore. If Amy ever tries to use her bank card she could at least dispute it.

It makes Beca feel better that it's not just her Amy has stolen from. Although it's not a huge deal, she thinks. Like if Amy really needed the money Beca doesn't mind if she took it, even though she was quite upset at the time. But when she found her favorite pair of headphones in Amy's purse one night - she did invest in a padlocked backpack.

Shaking her head, she kicked her covers down, and slipped herself inside them. She was just so exhausted - even though her work day wasn't too rough. She just felt like a million weights were all over her, and it made it kinda hard to breathe. But she enjoyed the time she had with her friend, she always made her happier to be awake and in the moment.

And thinking about the redhead, into her covers her breaths became even, and she dozed off into a well needed nap.