Chloe was vibrating. Like, actually vibrating while they were on their way home. And although the brunette really liked it when Chloe was happy or excited, she couldn't help this awkward nagging feeling that tugged at the back of her head. An unsettling feeling. Oh my god, was she gonna throw up? Pass out? No, no no – she's good. She's fine.

"Oh my gosh, it went so well!" The younger girl gripped the sides of her seat tightly, blinking once.

"I - yeah, it was good." Scrunching her nose, she hoped the redhead wouldn't pick up on her odd, uneven tone of voice. But who was she kidding, it was Chloe.

Feeling a hand on her knee, the brunette inhaled shakily.

"What's on your mind Bec?"

The brunette shot her eyes over to the other girl for a moment, worrying that she was too distracted. She thought about reminding Chloe to keep her eyes on the road and maybe changing the subject, but besides her comforting hand on her knee, she was paying attention. Ugh.

Beca let her eyes close for a second, exhaling quietly.

"In all honesty," Her molars caught her cheek.

"I don't know Chlo." She couldn't look at the redheaded girl in the drivers' seat right now. Her head was swimming and she really didn't know what was wrong. The night went relatively smooth but something was nagging at her for some stupid reason.

"A lot." Chloe nodded quietly beside her.

"- I guess." She added. Her answer, she decided, was absolute shit. But there wasn't much more she could say. It's always been hard for Beca to talk about how she feels - even with Chloe. Although it's become easier to open up to the redhead, the brunette just cant form her feelings into fucking words apparently.

A much more audible exhale escaped through her nose. She was winding herself up and she didn't need to - she knew that.

Peeking over, Beca noticed the senior's grip tighten on the steering wheel.

"A little overwhelmed?"

"That kinda fits. But I'm okay - I promise." The last part of Beca's sentence was rushed, hurried. She did not want Chloe to think that she wasn't okay. Because she was okay, and this is all okay. She'd do basically anything if Chloe had asked her to.

"Oh," The redhead cleared her throat vaguely. Beca turned to take a quick look at the other girl. A few things came to her very busy mind. Chloe looked stunning. The lighting that was hitting her every detail on her face just worked. But she also looked… sad. And that idea absolutely broke her heart.

"Okay." And within a few seconds, that beaming smile was back on her face. But Beca could see right through that.

..

It was a long night at the studio for Beca. She was tired, her boss was really on her ass about getting a song out for him, and Dax seemingly never calls the tech guy, leaving Beca to fix things way too often.

Slipping off her shoes by her desk, she just wanted to chill out, relax, and take a breath for a second. So, she wobbled over to her bed after she set her computer case down.

Plopping down, she began to think.

She couldn't help it – overthinking. It was something that she's always done when it came to situations she was unsure about. She would think most people do it at some point, but lately she's been doing it like, all the time. Beca had so many questions. Was she actually going to move to L.A after Worlds? Would she keep in touch with the Bellas after she leaves Barden? She would, right – they wouldn't let her not keep in touch. Right? Chloe wouldn't let that happen – right?

"You're doing that thing." Looking up, Beca winced before clearing her throat.

"I don't know what you're talking ab-"

"You got that constipated look on your face, dee-jay." The Australian sat down on her bed across from Beca's whilst sporting a semi-serious expression which was rare and slightly out of character of her. The brunette didn't argue any further with Amy, her toe playing with the duvet at the edge of her bed.

"Is this about your aca-wife? Because I could give you some good pointers on-"

"God Amy, no." Beca closed her eyes while simultaneously covering them with her hands. She really didn't want to know what pointers her friend would give her about – wherever the hell she was going with that. Swallowing hard, she removed her hands with a sigh.

"I just, I dunno – I get to thinking about what's gonna happen after all this." Her eyes strayed towards where her feet were playing with her bed sheets, her fingers beginning to fidget with the hem of her shirt.

"Like what if we just don't see each other ever again?" Peeking back up at her friend, she could see Amy squint in an offended way. Or like what Beca was saying was just stupid or silly. And maybe Beca knew it was stupid to worry about it, but she can't help but feel like she won't see these awesome nerds again. And it scares the absolute shit out of her. She lowered her gaze.

"Beca..." The blonde started with an airy exhale as she said her name.

"You know we wouldn't let that happen. We're going to have so many Bella reunions," Beca began to chew on the inside of her cheek.

That didn't seem like enough for the short girl.

"And life goes on. All of us are going to have each other when, I don't know – when we get married. Bumper and I are going to have a wedding someday,"

Beca raised her eyebrows with a small, tight lipped smile. She glanced up.

"I mean, uh, yeah. Or not Bumper, or maybe – you know, someday." Beca rolled her lips together before looking back down. She had a point. There will be times when they would all see each other, be there for each other. It won't be too often, but life does go on.

"Bellas forever afterall – we took an oath." Beca nodded with a small sniff.

"We drank the blood of our sisters."

"Chloe said it was Boone's farm."

"We paid the registration fees."

"You didn't."

"Don't go pointing your little small elf fingers at me, short-stack." Beca groaned, flopping her back onto the bed.

"I am not an elf!" Amy made a disbelieving noise before she stood up. The brunette felt a light slap on her knee, prompting her to give the other girl her attention.

"By the way, we knew it." Beca's ears perked up at this. She narrowed her eyes, pushing herself so that her elbows held up her upper body.

"Knew what?"

"Bhloe, duh." Beca shook her head lightly. It was a little amusing – and surprising don't get her wrong – that they 'knew', considering they didn't know a thing. The brunette shrugged.

"You're never wrong, Aims." Beca uttered under her breath. The Australian tapped her belly once, before pointing to the stairs.

"This croc needs to be fed, Bumper's waiting for me at Texas Roadhouse." Beca crinkled her nose. She does not need to know any details (Amy always dives into details) – but she's going to assume if she just nods, that the blonde will take her cue and exit. And she did – that left Beca alone with her thoughts once more, although, now they weren't as invasive and negative. Amy's a weirdo – but she knew what to say. Minus the part about the crocodile or whatever.

"Chlo, you gotta watch this video with this one cat – what's wrong?"

The brunette watched as the redhead sat slightly hunched over the kitchen island. Her locks were splayed messily around her ears and nape, a small bun laying near the top of her head.

It was kinda late, some of the Bellas were out doing their own thing – Amy and Stacie are almost always not present at this time of night – but Beca and Chloe enjoyed staying home. They do a lot of things together, she really was the short girl's best friend.

Beca liked the little things they got to do every night – and yes, she even liked the musicals Chloe made her watch. Musicals were more tolerable than regular movies, in her defense – music made everything better.

Looking at her best friend and co-captain now, slouched onto the granite with a very sad looking baked potato, Beca was seriously contemplating the offer of a Disney movie.

Carefully, she slid onto the stool beside the usually bright girl whilst locking and placing her phone back into her pocket.

She pointed.

"I see you're eating a plain potato." There was a small noise from the senior to her right. Beca knew that Chloe did this when she felt sad or upset. She would grab a whole potato, throw it in the microwave, and just, eat it. No butter. No salt. Just a soft potato. She doesn't know why this was Chloe's go-to, but it was a sign that Chloe had something eating away at her.

"What's up, Chlo? Talk to me?" There was a brief pause before Chloe side glanced at Beca, and then sighed.

"I feel like I've been an awful friend Beca." Beca's reply was immediate.

"Why?" The shorter girl watched as Chloe poked at the potato on her plate. Shifting her eyes up, she saw Chloe's lip do that nervous circle thing.

"I just, you. I've been so unfair to you, Becs," The fork in the ginger's hand was set down with a small clang as she turned towards the younger girl. Beca furrowed her brows, but quickly grew concerned. She felt a little defensive, but she chose to wait for her friend to continue.

"I shouldn't have dragged you into this whole thing, any of it! It's all so complicated now," The redhead's eyes were glossy, and the blue irises were bright in a sad way. It just about broke Beca's heart.

She reached out to hold Chloe's hand in comfort.

"Chloe," She squeezed her hand to really get her to listen. She waited a second to think about what she wanted to say, how she wanted to assure her that it wasn't like that, that she shouldn't worry.

"I'm okay," There was still doubt in her friend's eyes, so she squeezed her hand once more.

"Really. You're my best friend. My best friend, and I'm in this for you. Even if it gets complicated," She shrugged momentarily.

"We're still Beca and Chloe, you know?" The redhead sniffed once, beginning to compose herself.

"Nothing complicated about that." Beca noticed the other girl sat up straighter as she gripped the brunette's hand with both of her own.

"Beca and Chloe." She repeated back. Beca nodded firmly, rubbing her index finger across the other girl's wrist.

"Beca and Chloe." The brunette said again, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. The redhead beamed with all her teeth.

"Bhloe." Beca's smile dropped into a blank stare.

"Dead to me, all of you." The other girl giggled before Beca felt her arm get tugged full force into a Chloe Beale hug. She let it happen, she doesn't get manhandled often okay? She could have easily karate-chopped Chloe's hand off but that would have been really painful, you know?

She rolled her eyes, wrapping her hands around the redhead's middle.

Her chin settled atop Chloe's shoulder. Beca wasn't a touchy feely person, but everyone likes Chloe Beale's hugs. The brunette was no exception.

She exhaled loudly through her nose, deciding to close her eyes and grip onto Chloe more properly, one of her hands rubbing small, comforting circles into the redhead's back. A small sigh came from the senior, warming Beca's neck with a little moisture – and all of a sudden it's like her whole body was hyper-aware of everything going on right now. She could feel a ghost of her friend's nose barely skimming the side of her neck.

The little dip of Chloe's lower back.

The steady breaths hitting her skin below her ear.

The light smell of vanilla under her nose.

She could feel one of Chloe's fingers begin to gently scratch against the fabric of Beca's shirt. She inhaled sharply.

"Whoa!"

Beca jumped back into her seat, startled, like she was caught doing something bad. But she wasn't so that feeling confused her. Or, whatever – maybe she was? She wasn't. God help her.

"Am I really going to be able to say it for once?" Stacie said, hope laced in her tone. Jessica nodded , motioning an encouraging hand towards the two captains.

Stacie let out a small squeal, before clearing her throat and composing herself. She lilted her head up.

"Keep it in your pants, maybe?" Beca quirked her brow. There was a short pause before the leggy brunette span and smiled at Jessica.

"How was that? Did I do it right?" Jessica grabbed a bag of chips and began to munch away, speaking with her mouth full.

"It was perfect, Stace." She crinkled the bag and turned on her feet.

"C'mon, let's go watch that movie about the big shark." Jessica stated on her way out.

Stacie left the two girls with a wink, and Beca felt hot. She could feel how crimson her ears were by then, and faced her co-captain. There was a certain shimmer behind those big blue eyes, but she also seemed a bit rosy in the face.

Beca cleared her throat.

"So… big shark?"

Chloe beamed, then nodded enthusiastically.

…

The movie was nothing to gawk at. Beca could state that yes, it was about a big shark and that was about all she could remember. Looking around, all of her fellow Bellas had already gone to bed by this time. Checking her phone, she saw it was about one in the morning.

Her fellow captain had fallen asleep on her shoulder. Glancing down at the fluffy blanket sprawled across them both, she let her rest there while she zoned out to whatever was on TV after the movie ended.

It was hard for the brunette to convey her feelings - even in her own head. It was hard to ignore the vague burning sensation she felt constantly where the redhead laid her cheek, or the flutter in her chest whenever she moved or stirred in her slumber. Beca could hardly breathe when she concentrated too hard on it.

She'd always be good at pushing things down, and eventually forgetting they're there. But it was becoming harder to forget, when she's reminded everyday that they're there - and they're real.

She heard a breath shoot out of the girl beside her slowly, seeing the way Chloe straightened her legs and curled her toes into a big stretch. The taller girl made a funny croaking noise, followed by a few smacking of her lips. She seemed to have had a nice nap.

"What time is it?" Chloe asked groggily, wiping at one of her eyes.

And even as they're covered in sleep, and her hair falls all over the place, Beca just thinks she's the most beautiful thing she's ever seen, like ever. Which is okay.

She's always known her best friend was beautiful, gorgeous, and a bunch of other words of the like. She never thought twice about them. She has these revelations more often than not, convincing herself that thinking like this is completely normal. She isn't blind.

But recently it's felt like Beca shouldn't feel like this. Like maybe it's too far for comfort.

"Like one, something." She stated softly in reply. Chloe hummed. She watched the other girl as she gathered herself there, the redhead having a light pink lipped smile splayed, as if she's remembering a distant dream. Beca cleared her throat, noticing how dry it was in that moment.

"You fell asleep probably about a third of the way through that movie." Beca mentioned, playfully tugging on Chloe's sleeve.

"I don't know what you're talking about," The co-captain sat up entirely now, giving her body one more stretch. "- I remember the whole thing, so." She shrugged.

Beca nose laughed, the corners of her mouth curling into a small smirk.

"You're bologna."

"Me? Bologna?" Chloe scoffed, facing the brunette. Beca stared back at her, no emotion whatsoever.

"Bologna Beale."

The redhead shoved Beca lightly, uttering a small shut up before letting out a loud yawn.

Beca could see all of the stars in Chloe's eyes, after she yawned. They glistened with happiness, and tiredness - and it made her knees ache. Something was up with her. The chest thing was happening again.

Bringing her lips into her mouth, wetting them and exhaling, she nodded to the stairs.

"Let's get you tucked in." Chloe, checking her phone real quick, glanced back at Beca and nodded in agreement.

Halfway up the stairs, the redhead stopped the other girl. "Becs?" It was really quiet, and followed by another small yawn. Beca, just about a stair or two ahead of her paused and looked back at Chloe. She mumbled a distracted yeah and searched the other girls face.

She looked tired, and adorable like a usual Chloe Beale. But there was something else there. Her brows were furrowed a bit, and her lip was being chewed on, as if she was contemplating her next words thoroughly. Beca felt her chest bubble and flutter again, which she truly wished it didn't do - but she also felt a bit of anxiety mixed in there. This moment felt a lot more intimate than she thought it should be. It was dark, and only the hall lights were shining on their faces - and it made her even more nervous as to what the other girl might say.

And it worried Beca. In this very spot - she shouldn't be feeling like anything other than a simple request, question, or whatever would come out of the other girls mouth. So she swallowed the flutters down to her stomach, beginning to drown in those blue eyes.

"Would it be okay if I slept in your room tonight?" Chloe was nervous to ask, Beca decided. She absently began scratching at the paint on the handrail.

Chloe had slept probably anywhere she could fall asleep. In Amy's bed, on the recliner, at the dining table, name a place and she's probably fallen asleep there.

Beca's bed was no stranger to that.

"You know I like to be the big spoon!"

Beca huffed, wiping her nose with a deep furrow of her brows. The brunette didn't mind being the little spoon - but she always fought Chloe on it anyways.

"Don't emasculate me, Beale."

"Oh shut it and get comfy."

For some reason, tonight felt different. She felt different. But it was Chloe they were talking about.

"Becs?"

Beca snapped quickly, tapping the railing once and shaking her head. It would be silly to say anything besides,

"Duh, of course you can."

And just like that, Chloe was beaming so brightly, stifling another yawn.

It wasn't long until the two girls were drifting off to sleep in the DJ's bed, but Beca's mind was still racing as she began to doze off. Pictures of red, and blue flickering behind her eyes, and although her chest was doing the thing again - she found herself becoming comfortable with it more and more everyday.