A/N: Hi guys ! Here we are for part 2 because you all gently recommend it and I felt inspired just after posting the first part. I think this one turned out good. There will be a third part, probably published in a month or so...
Thank you for reading. As always, feel free to share your feelings about it or point out any incoherent details.
"No, Theo, listen to me. I don't care. You guys work for me. Not the other way around. I will not hide. That's the end of the story."
Beca was pacing around the room, bare feet and only wearing her jeans. When she had woken up this morning, she hadn't expected this harassment coming from her phone. Chloe had patiently explained the situation to her before she dared lighting up her screen, but it didn't make it easier.
"Does people really care about that? I'm not even famous. My career started 2 weeks ago, how wrong could that be?"
Chloe, sitting with crossed legs on the bed, observed her shuffling and puffing air, talking with her hands as if Theo could see her. She didn't know how she felt about all this. Sure, the night before, she saw all the messages and how Beca's fans were already freaking out on social media but it was the 21st century. It couldn't be that bad, right?
"Yeah, sure. I'll go to the meeting. No, she'll…" Beca stammered, throwing a guilty glance to Chloe. "She'll stay in the hotel."
Chloe watched Beca hung up and throw her phone on the bed, mere inches away from her knee. The brunette grabbed her hair in frustration.
"What did he say?" Chloe asked, already knowing she wouldn't like the answer.
"Well, I'm sure you know what I'm about to say." Beca scoffed, not really believing it herself.
"He doesn't want me to be with you today." The sadness on Chloe's face was clear but she quickly erased it to put a brave smile on. "It's okay. I'll explore the city, do some tourist's stuff. No big deal."
Beca looked at her with puzzled eyes. Of course, she could hear the lie through Chloe's false enthusiasm. But she didn't have a choice. Theo made it pretty clear. It was better for Beca to not be seen with Chloe for some time. And even if she really didn't like this idea, Theo knew how to be convincing. It wasn't his choice anyway. The production company working with Khaled didn't want their future pop princess to be tag as gay so early in her career.
"You're sure about that? Because your face says otherwise…"
Chloe rolled her eyes and stood up from the bed effortlessly, already dressed in a summer dress.
"Yes. I could use some time alone. I could even hit the gym later, since you're too lazy to come with me." The redhead smirked, circling Beca's bare waist with her arms.
"Oh, but I thought you realized yesterday just how good in shape I already was…" Beca smirked too, pushing up on her toes to kiss Chloe languidly. The redhead moaned and deepened the kiss, her hands traveling Beca's back, caressing her neck and shoulders. Tracing the synchronic bars on her spine. Beca shivered. She knew she had to put a stop to this or she would be late.
"Babe…" She tried against luscious lips. "I really need to go."
"Hum" Chloe agreed. "Then, go." She said, but she continued to kiss her fervently. With a feverish mind, Beca took a step back from this beautiful monster. Her hands stayed securely on Chloe's shoulders.
"Okay, you're lethal, right now." The redhead tilted her head, amused. It looked like the roles had finally reversed. "I don't know what you're talking about." Chloe said, leaning to kiss Beca again.
"Nope. Not happening." Beca avoided those so welcoming lips and rushed to her suitcase. "I need to find a shirt and hit the road." She put a bra on and grabbed the first shirt she found, a Fleetwood Mac tee. She put her black Converse on hastily. Chloe got a cruel flashback of a 19-year-old Beca wearing the same outfit.
"You'll be okay on your own? Don't talk to strangers, make good choices and if you need anything, call me. Or call Theo because I will probably not have my phone."
Chloe didn't have the time to answer. Beca kissed her quickly on the lips and rushed through the door. Chloe exhaled heavily. Yes, she would be okay on her own but she didn't want to.
Beca had several interviews planned so she tried to keep her impatience at bay, controlling her nerves and answering questions as if it was the first time somebody asked her how it came she was working with Khaled. Not only that but the nerves that came with the potential questions about Chloe. The plan established during the meeting was clear : avoid the question or abort the interview. Beca had pointed out that it would only confirm the rumors but, apparently this bunch of old white men in suits that served as the head of the production company couldn't care less.
"So, not to fall into gossips, but apparently you're quite the trend on social media at the moment." The journalist asked without really asking. Beca wanted to roll her eyes so bad but she couldn't. So instead she smiled politely and imagined (only imagined!) how she would slap this man across the face. A much younger Beca Mitchell would've not hesitate. But also this was the same Beca Mitchell who finished her first a cappella competition in jail so…
"Yes, well, people like to talk. I prefer to focus on my music."
Behind the journalist, Beca saw Theo making wild gestures to attract her attention. He was shaking his hand, motioning for her to cut the subject shortly. Unfortunately, the man in front of her seemed to have other projects.
"You really can't tell us anything about that gorgeous redhead who was seen at every one of your shows so far ?" The man pushed. Beca threw a final glance at Theo.
She remembered the look on Chloe's face when she agreed with him through the phone. She looked clearly hurt. But Theo said it was only for a couple of days so she went with it. Beca gulped, not really fond of her own choice.
"It's Chloe, she's my best friend. There's not much more to tell." She shrugged nonchalantly. The man scribbled hastily on his pad. Beca looked back at Theo. He was nodding with a proud smile on his face. Chloe will not like that. A ball was already forming in Beca's stomach.
BECA MITCHELL ISN'T GAY OR SHE'S A GOOD LIAR
Hi, everybody! Welcome back to your favorite gossip blog.
Today, I would like to talk about Dj Khaled's brand new protegee, Beca Mitchell. Recently, Mitchell was discovered and signed by Khaled with Cash Money Records, the label directed by Khaled's friend, Birdman. Mitchell is hitting the road with Khaled to every stops he had in Europe for his current tour.
The thing is, Beca Mitchell is really talented. I have nothing to say about that. I searched her social media, went through her Soundcloud account. It's really good. She will become somebody.
But apparently, she would also be very gay. And, guys, you know I like a really good gay gossip when I can. So the story is: to every stops she had performed, a mysterious redhead could be seen backstage. Some serious websites, such as TMZ, declared that a source working in Khaled's team declared that they were both together. Together together. As having-lesbian-babies together, okay?
And you know, I don't usually like reading those things without making sure of it being the truth. So I made some research and found this, in an interview given by Beca Mitchell this morning:
The woman is Chloe Beale, former co-captain of the Barden Bellas, the same a cappella group Beca Mitchell was captain of. They know each other for years now. A lot of pictures of the two of them can be found on Beale's Instagram. And, well, they look really close…
Now, okay, Mitchell wouldn't be the first to lie when put on the spot like this. And it's probably her team who told her to say that but I kinda, maybe, believe her, okay?
Why would she be lying anyway? We live in a tolerant society. It's not a crime anymore to be gay.
I would like to have your thoughts. Go ahead and crush the comment section !
See you guys for more gossips!
• Posted by GOast at 3.33 p.m
The night had already fallen when Chloe hit the treadmill. She had so much energy to use. So much anger to diffuse. Because she didn't want to be angry at Beca. She was but she didn't want to. She was trying to be mature here, you see. At least the most mature of the two of them because Beca hadn't answered to any of her texts since she mentioned that damn article and Chloe would prefer to cross hell and come back than calling Theo.
Chloe wasn't fooled. She was starting to really despise Theo for what he was doing. He knew Beca trusted him enough to respect his opinion and do what he wanted. Chloe would just had felt better if her girlfriend had talked to her before speaking to the press.
Beca's team wanted them to be best friends, so what? That was already what they'd been doing for six years. Why complain about some days more? Space was good. It was healthy. They were together almost every day for the last six years, they sure could have benefited from a bit of space. Beca would be okay with this. Of course, she would. She craved space. And isolation.
Chloe shook her head, focusing back on her stride and the energetic music blasting in her ears.
She just wished she knew what Beca was feeling right now. She didn't like not to be part of her plan.
Beca walked into the hotel room, exhausted as always. All the lights were almost off except for the ones surrounding the bed. Curled under the covers, Chloe was reading some thriller book she had found during the day in a library. Beca crawled on the bed to press her body against hers. Apparently, the brunette had totally forgotten the article.
"I'm so tired." She groaned through the fabric of Chloe's pajamas. "How can you be under the covers? It's like super hot in here."
"I got cold after the shower." Chloe shrugged, brushing Beca's hair with her fingers.
"Shit, I wanted to take a shower with you."
The redhead snorted. "Well, you should have come home earlier."
"I know. I wish I did." Beca whined and sat up, suddenly ecstatic. "It was sooo boring and those damn journalists with their stupid questions. They don't even care about what I'll be doing for the next year."
"No but they care about your best friend, though." Nice one. The subtlety of an elephant in a porcelain museum. Chloe was almost proud of herself. If Beca thought she could avoid it, she was terribly wrong. But the brunette looked more taken aback than anything, with her surprised sapphire eyes and mouth wide open.
"Don't worry, I'm sure Theo told you to say that ?" It was more a question and less of a statement. Chloe needed to know it wasn't Beca's idea. The brunette cleared her throat, clearly guilty.
"Well…"
Chloe stood up, irritated. "Damn it, Beca ! This morning you said you didn't want to hide ! What happened since then?"
"I don't know, okay?" Beca said defensively. "There were all these discussions about what could happen if I came out. Theo told me the producers threatened to give up on me. How was I supposed to react?"
Chloe couldn't believe what she was hearing. The day before, Beca was promising she would give up everything just to be with her and less than 24 hours later she was breaking her promise.
"Do you even hear yourself talking ? You could be anything Beca. With or without them. What happened to your promise ? You said you wouldn't leave them break our relationship."
Beca was starting to feel the weight of her words and actions. She didn't measure how bad it could affect Chloe. And she didn't want that. But on the other hand, everything was still new. She couldn't risk the very first deal she had, just because of some gossip articles.
"And I won't. I promise you. But, Chloe, please, it's temporary. See this as a better chance to keep our privacy. Not a paparazzi on the trees, no flash when we'll go shopping…"
Chloe shook her head. She didn't like that. At all. But Beca was right. If it was temporary, she just had to trust her and be patient. Crossing the distance, Beca circled her arms around her waist. Sighing, Chloe let herself be coaxed.
"At least it's not far from the truth. You're my best friend." Beca smirked. "Just with some benefits."
Chloe rolled her eyes but leant into a kiss. She really missed her girlfriend, anyway.
Temporary. Chloe would cling to that word like a lifeguard. But how long was temporary?
Two weeks later, it was still supposed to be temporary. Chloe was still shocked to realize how they'd changed in those two weeks. A new routine replaced the previous one. Beca was still coming home exhausted and was still falling asleep anywhere she could. But Chloe wasn't always there to take care of her anymore. Chloe stayed in their hotel room, moping around, not knowing what to do. Her day consisted in reading, working out and worrying about her relationship with Beca. More recently, she became aware of all the things people said about Beca on social media. She didn't have anything to do so Twitter was a good time killer. Especially when they were in a country where the weather wasn't particularly on their side.
When Beca walked in, that day, it was earlier than usual. Chloe was folding freshly clean clothes, not bothering to turn around to look at her.
"What are you doing ?" She asked with a frown.
"Laundry."
"Why ?"
Chloe looked up to her with disbelieving eyes. Why was it so important ? It wasn't the first time she had to do laundry since the tour began.
"Uh, because I don't have a personal assistant to do it for me ?"
"Oh. Right."
Chloe saw Beca slouch down on the bed, clearly in a bad mood. She sighed. During those two weeks, Beca became sadder and sadder. She said it was because she didn't have the time to work on her music at the moment with all her obligations but Chloe knew better. The redhead let go of the shirt she was folding to approach Beca. She lay down next to her, leaning on her elbow, and passed a sweet hand through Beca's hair, causing two blue eyes to look at her.
"Hard day ?" Chloe asked. The sadness in Beca's eyes was heartbreaking.
"Hard month." She whispered, leaning into Chloe's touch.
"You're already tired of being a superstar ?" The redhead mocked gently in a cheery tone.
"No, I…" Beca sighed and crawled a bit to be closer to Chloe. "I just really miss you. All the time."
Chloe softened. As much as she hated the whole situation, sometimes she forgot how hard it must be on Beca too. Sure, she would travel with her and watched the shows from afar but it wasn't the same. She circled her arms around Beca's waist and nuzzled her cheek, depositing a quick kiss there.
"I wish I could be with you more often. I miss you too, baby."
Beca whined and hid in Chloe's neck, breathing her perfume, feeling her soft skin against her own.
"I wish you could be there tomorrow. There's like these big stars coming to see Khaled and I wish you could meet them."
Chloe perked up. It was new. There weren't a lot of guests on Khaled's tour because it was hard to have Rihanna or Beyoncé or Kanye West as a guest. They were too demanded and usually on their own tour. They were lucky to meet Jennifer Lopez though when she came to watch the show and Beca was fully charmed. Chloe got tones of photos to prove it.
"Really ? Who's it ?"
Beca's smile stretched over her lips. She couldn't help but feel ecstatic for this news.
"It's Demi Lovato and Khelani."
Chloe pushed away from Beca, not believing her ears. The smug smile on Beca's face was so endearing.
"No way ! How's that possible ?"
"You know since Khaled toured with them last year, they decided to come and do a thing together. I'll be mixing a medley of Lovato's songs with Khaled so they can perform together."
Beca tried to keep her cool but Chloe knew how she loved Demi Lovato. During a drinking night with the Bellas, she learned the singer was Beca's awakening. Beca had met her on a VIP meet and great when she was 16. It was the first time the brunette questioned her sexuality. Since then, Beca used to play her music, sing her songs in the shower and recently, Chloe learned some of them were actually Beca's lady jams.
"Oh, so we're totes cool about it, right ?" Chloe said with a sly smile. "No freaking out ? No fangirling ? Totes cool."
"Totes cool." Beca said, smiling back. Her face crunched up immediately. "I may be a little bit starstruck when I see her though." She said, showing how little much with her fingers.
Chloe laughed because it was an understatement. And she understood because she would be thrilled herself to meet Demi Lovato. But she couldn't. She would stay in that hotel and dream about it.
"I'm sure it's going to be okay. She's a good person. You will stutter but it's alright. She's going to love you."
Silence fell in the room. Beca played with some of Chloe's hair. She was thinking hard. She saw the disappointment fall on Chloe's face. What if she came with her ? It wasn't that terrible. Even if they were just best friends, it would be really suspicious for them to stop hanging out with eachother just because some trash newspapers said they were a couple.
"You should come. Tomorrow."
"Seriously ?"
Chloe looked back at her with hope in her eyes. Yeah, she couldn't back down now. And she wouldn't. Beca wanted to share this experience with Chloe. Make memories. Chloe didn't stay in Europe with her just to hide in a hotel room.
"Yeah, seriously. I miss you and I don't care what they're going to say. This is Demi fucking Lovato. I want you to be there."
The bone crushing hug that came after that was worth it. She was tired of hiding Chloe in a closet just to please some white men with a God complex.
"Your reputation is fragile, Beca."
Beca glanced sideways to Theo, her arms crossed. They were watching Demi Lovato gush on Chloe's outfit as if they knew each other for a very long time. Theo didn't like the fact Chloe was with them that day but Beca didn't care. She was also supposed to have fun with all of this or else where was the purpose ?
"I don't have a reputation. It's been a month. Can't you give up already ?"
It was frustrating. All of this. The interviews, the management, dealing with crew members and their big mouths. Beca was exhausted and her patience was wearing thin. She was sick of hearing everybody tell her what she was supposed to do.
"No, I can't. Internet is forever and you know it. There're enough Bellas' videos on Youtube to cover your entire lifetime."
"Well, I don't care. We were champions. I'm not ashamed of them. And I'm not ashamed of Chloe either. I don't want to hide her anymore."
Theo sighed heavenly, pinching his nose. Managing Beca Mitchell was becoming harder and harder with time. He didn't expect that level of infuriating behaviors when he proposed to sign her.
"I don't ask you to hide. I want you to surround yourself with friends who are good for your reputation."
"Chloe's not my friend. She's my girlfriend. You need to back down, man. I will not keep this up for long."
Frustration was one of the things that became usual with working with Beca. Theo took a deep breath.
"Listen, Beca. Next week, Martin Lewis is coming to watch the show. If Chloe is there, he will not be happy to see his instructions are not followed. And I will be the first to get fired for that."
Beca's jaw clenched. She didn't like the man at the head of the production company she signed up for but she didn't chose the management when she signed. She just chose the opportunity to work with Khaled.
"So keep that in mind when you'll chose to crush the work of tens of people just to be with your precious girlfriend."
With that, Theo walked out, probably returning to his phone calls. Beca stayed there, tense, watching Chloe talked with a worldwide superstar with glitters in her eyes. She was so glad she wasn't aware of all the discussions around their relationship. Knowing Chloe, she would be so stressed out that it would be impossible for to be this relax talking to Demi Lovato. Maybe it was better that way, Beca convinced herself. Chloe didn't need to know all the bullshit hidden behind polite smiles and confident handshakes. Chloe didn't need this feeling of losing control on her own life, like Beca was experiencing. She swore she would protect her from the industry and she would keep that promise.
Maybe it was better if she stayed away while doing so.
Beca watched Chloe storm out of the cab and followed her. They were in London for the week and the pouring rain was making their life a nightmare. Holding her cap on her head so it couldn't fall out, Beca rushed through the hotel doors, hiding from the flashes of the cameras, searching for Chloe. The redhead was power-walking toward the elevator, making her way easily through the crowd of clients. Beca came next to her to wait for the elevator but said nothing. The infuriating look on Chloe's face was enough to prevent her from saying anything anyway.
They were going back from a fitting for Beca's first photoshoot. It had been a month and a half since she signed with Khaled and her career was already evolving. She was about to drop her first single, a pop song written for her by some unknown writer and mixed with Khaled during the tour. She was thrilled because her music was finally going to be heard. But she was less thrilled by her personal life though.
In the elevator, they weren't alone so Beca stayed quiet but she tried to take Chloe's hand. The redhead threw her a sour look, taking her hand back. Beca's shoulders slumped. She didn't know how to fix this anymore. When they walked in their hotel room, Chloe rushed to the bathroom without saying anything. Sighing heavily, Beca put off her cap and started undressing in the middle of the room.
She was pathetic. She knew it. Chloe was jealous and she had serious reasons to be. Theo found her friendship with a French musician, Lucas Lepilleur, to be very useful for her career so he decided to plan some PR stunts. The musician was just starting in the industry too and his stops in Europe happened to be the same ones as Beca. They met during a rehearsal. The young guitarist, two years younger than Beca, was supposed to play the first part in Paris and Beca had to arrange a mashup so he could sing with Khaled. A serious boost to his career. They got along just right, both really passionate about music. They were also both really gay so their teams agreed on stiffling the rumours with other ones, more accomodating ones.
Obviously, Chloe was furious about it. Especially when said fake rumoured boyfriend was supposed to be with Beca all the time now to make the rumours run. The young man was cool and really respectful, that wasn't the problem. Chloe just couldn't bear watch Beca with another man. She suffered enough when it was Jesse.
In her pajamas, Beca walked to the bathroom door to knock twice. No answer.
"Chlo, please, we need to talk about it. You can't just hide in there forever."
There were shufflings behind the door. Then it opened suddenly, with a really mad Chloe on the other side.
"Oh I can't hide in the bathroom but I should hide in here forever ? That would be better for you and your boyfriend to go on with your life ?" She said in a spiteful tone, her eyes glassy and hurt.
Chloe stormed out of the bathroom and went to her suitcase, sorting out her pajamas for the night.
"You know I don't have a choice. I can't just say no to those things. At least we don't have to kiss or hug. It's just so the news speak about it instead of the other rumors. It's temporary."
Temporary. A word so often used now that it was starting to have less and less meaning. Temporary. Chloe didn't know what that word meant anymore. Temporary. It was infuriating her. Nothing was temporary anymore. Except maybe their relationship.
"Nothing is temporary, Beca. Don't you see it ? They want you to appear as an hetero girl, they want you to sell an image that isn't even you. But you keep working for it. As if you liked it that way."
Chloe put off her sweatshirt and threw it in her suitcase with a huff. Beca took two steps forward.
"Of course I don't ! I like having you around. You know Lucas is just a friend. I'm in love with you, not anybody else." She explained with her hands and all the honesty she could muster in her eyes.
Chloe huffed again, sitting on the bed to put her pants on.
"I saw you talk with that makeup artist and she didn't seem like just a friend."
Beca was so surprised her mouth fell open. How could Chloe think she would cheat on her ? She wasn't like her father.
"Come on, Chloe. She's a crew member. I have to be friendly to all of them or they will tell TMZ I'm secretly a bitch." Beca snorted. Usually, Chloe would have laugh. But not tonight. Because she remembered very well how the girl let her hands linger on Beca's neck and how Beca laughed it off as nothing.
"Yeah, she was very friendly with you." Chloe said, bitter. She walked to her side of the bed and lighted up the lamp on the nightstand. She passed a hand in her hair in frustration and tiredness.
Chloe knew she was beautiful. She wasn't stupid. She saw how people would notice her, with her piercing blue eyes, red hair and bubbly personality. But Beca's beauty was another kind of beauty. The one you were pulled to. Magnetic. It wasn't just about physical attraction. When Beca walked into a room, her charisma made the heads turn. So of course Chloe was jealous. She would be stupid if she wasn't. Because that was how she fell in love with Beca in the first place. Being pulled by that magnetic force. And she knew how it felt to be Beca's center of attention. How it felt to be important for such a charismatic person. So jealousy it was. Because there was no chance she would help somebody take her place.
"I'm tired, Beca." Beca noticed the full use of her name. "I can't fight for the both of us indefinitely. You have to do it too."
The brunette walked up to the bed and looked at Chloe, seeing all the sadness in those eyes naturally full of happiness. She didn't know how they came to this. It was her fault, she knew it, but she didn't understand how they became this sadder version of themselves.
"I fight for us, you know I do." Beca almost pleaded, not dearing coming into the bed.
"No, you don't. Not anymore." Chloe said in a trembled voice, her eyes full of tears. Beca looked at her with uncertainty in her eyes. She didn't like the turn this conversation was taking.
"Usually when I think about us I see happy memories. Now all I see is how all these memories led us to this. To this gap where you live in your world and I live in mine. I don't recognize you anymore." Chloe sighed, all the weight and tension pressing on her shoulders.
"But Chloe, that's still me. What do you want me to do " Beca asked, desesperately.
"I want to go home." Chloe whispered, resigned.
Beca stayed silent, too stunned to answer anything. It wasn't so much the fact that Chloe was so sad that she wanted to go back to New York but more the fact that it felt like a breakup. As if she knew that letting her go meant losing her.
"As much as I would love to just up and leave, that's not how it works and you know it"
"I know and I don't ask you to do that. The school year is starting in a week and a half anyway so… It's better go back home. We could use some space."
Beca nodded, thinking hard. She didn't like the taste in her mouth or the ball of nerves in her stomach. She didn't need space. She needed Chloe Beale next to her, listening to music in a cosy apartment. It awefully felt like a breakup but she didn't want to think about it.
"But I've loved you for years now." Beca said with disbelief in her voice. Chloe looked up at her with soft but sorry eyes.
"And I've loved you for just as long. I just wish you would be better at showing it."
Without adding anything, Chloe turned around and put the light off. With her back on Beca, the brunette couldn't see her crying silently. Beca finally went in bed, her back to Chloe with sheets between them. She prepared herself for a sleepless night. As exhausted as she was, she couldn't erase the look on Chloe's face from her mind. Sighing heavily, she closed her eyes, leaving a single tear roll down her cheek.
How had everything turned upside down without her noticing it ? She loved Chloe. She had loved her since day one when they met at this activities fair. Why was it so hard for her to confront her team and say no ? Just fucking say no, Beca ! But she couldn't, could she ? Or she would lose everything. But it was supposed to be worth it, right ? No, maybe it wasn't. Chloe should be able to understand her obligations. It should work both ways.
Maybe Chloe was right. Maybe she wasn't the same anymore. Maybe she had changed and they needed this time apart to understand how much. Maybe everything would go back to normal after that.
A/N: Hey, weirdos !
So, first of all, I need to know how you all manage to write smut as easily as it seems. This is so hard ! Seriously, I had this story in my head for quite some time and couldn't sleep anymore because of how difficult it was to write. It still feel all too repetitive to me and maybe a bit lacking of emotions but I've come to the end of it pretty satisfied of how it turns out. Thanks to all of your fantastic stories that inspired me, I've finally finished it but, honestly, I don't think I'll give it a try again soon.
Anyway, my goal was for this story to turn out cute and sensual so I hope it's what you felt while reading it. I wanted their love story to be more important than their sex life. I didn't want to write smut just for smut. Don't hesitate to tell me what you thought of it.
As always, thanks for reading.
Take care, everybody !