Chloe furrowed a brow at the man whose resemblance to her, was close enough to almost be her twin, excluding the buzz cut and mustache. She carefully entered the room closing the door behind her. ''About?'' She questioned, feeling her heart rate pickup, wondering had her dad spoken with Matty in regard to her 'problem'.
''Dad'' He simply responded, rubbing his hands on his beige cargo shorts.
''Dad?'' Chloe repeated in an almost squeak, wanting him to elaborate.
''Yeah,'' He added rather nonchalantly, unaware of the evident panic on his sister's face as he stood up from the edge of the bed. ''he wants me to start preparing to follow in his footsteps.'' Mattie continued, shoving his hands in his short's pockets, as he began at the foot of the bed. Chloe could feel herself relaxing, as she listened to him noticing his eyes were glued to cream colored carpeting. ''He wants me to start preparing sermons and start clearing my schedule to join him in preaching at different troubled youth facilities, and homeless shelters etcetera, etcetera...'' He added even toned.
Chloe rested up against her bedroom door as she listened to him, folding her arms over her chest only after realizing this conversation wasn't going to be about her. ''And this is a problem because...?''
Matty froze in place, as if processing what she'd just asked. Looking over at his sister, he spoke through gritted teeth. ''It's his Dream! Not mine!'' Chloe was taken back by the evident frustration now plastered on her brother's face, she opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by her brother as he started pacing again, this time out of frustration ''I attend these church functions to appease mom and dad who want to hold up appearances, because we are what one might perceive as the 'perfect Christian' family.'' The Exasperated emphasis on the last part almost made the red headed girl cringe, but she still continued to listen in silence. ''It's not bad enough that we have to give up every Sunday morning for church, but to live life continuously having to maintain this well-behaved persona outside of it! This was never the life I wanted to live!'' He yelled. Feeling the tears well up in his eyes, he stopped in place looking up towards the ceiling, he refused to let them fall.
Chloe watched her brother as he squeezed his eyes tightly shut. He was trembling, she honestly didn't know what to say. She didn't even really know what to feel, but there was this ache in her heart as she watch a lone tear escape his left eye down to his chin. She wondered did he really see their lifestyle as some kind of publicity stunt?
There was a brief moment of silence before Matty opened his eyes again, he refuses to acknowledge the fallen tears and headed over towards Chloe's nightstand that was seated to the left of her bed. There sat an old family portrait from a church fundraiser event that they'd attended back when they were in middle school. They looked so happy in the photo, but were they ever really?
''I wouldn't call it a persona...'' Chloe finally spoke.
''What else would you call it then sis?'' He asked, staring down at the little boy in the photo as he placed the photo back down on the nightstand. Not really wanting her to answer he continued. ''Sure, we may not live the life of most sinners, but you surely can't consider us saints.''
Chloe held a hand up, ''Okay, sure we aren't perfect-'' She started, only to be cut off by her brothers mocked laugh.
''How could we ever be? We're living by a book that was twisted around to fit our parents' narrative!'' He added rather matter-of-factly. ''You may feel as though you lived to serve a god, but I've only ever seen us living to serve our parents.''
Rolling her eyes at him she stood up from against the door, she felt her anger build at the man who stood across from her. How dare he challenge their family's Christianity. Their parents had always enlisted god's word in them. Through all trials and tribulations, they were always taught to turn to God. Which reigned the question of when did Matt stop?
It was now Chloes turn to let out a mocked laugh, looking up at the slightly taller man before her. ''You can't say that you truly believe that?''
''Every word.'' he retorted; his neutral expression came off a bit unnerving to Chloe. ''Living all these years catering to the lifestyle that our parents have chosen for us, I've realized the only time I ever pray anymore is when I'm asking for a way out.'' His calm voice now faltering, even though his expression still seemed blank Chloe could tell he was now breaking on the inside.
Over the years he had been to countless therapy sessions but was never able to open up to anyone. For a place that he felt he should've had a voice, he'd always felt voiceless. Or maybe it was because he was trained to believe that their family's private life was to remain as such. Is that why this felt easier? Looking over at his sister, he knew she was the only one who could've truly related to him because they're practically living the same life. But if so, why didn't she understand? ''This isn't living.'' He muttered.
Before anything else could be said, Chloe felt the vibration of a knock at the door. The silence that filled the room was now almost deafening. She did her best to quietly move from against the door, as she waited for a voice to follow. After a few knocks it finally came. ''Chloe?'' Chloe's red face was now filled with a cheeky grin, as she opened the door. There supporting a red, white and blue flannel with her headphones hanging around her neck stood Beca.
Beca just stood there eyeing the two Beale siblings, ''I'm not interrupting anything, am I?'' Watching as both Beales shook their head in unison.
Chloe bit down on her bottom lip, her eyes never leaving the petite brunette. Whilst Matty grabbed at the back of his neck, moving his hand upward to scratch the back of his head, he glanced between the brunette and his sister. Figuring he had said all he needed to say, he gave Beca an awkward wave as he slid out past her deciding to take his leave.
Beca's attention trailed him down the hall, watching as he disappeared behind his bedroom door. Noticing the awkwardness but deciding not to speak on it. She turned to her friend, but only to be caught off guard by an unexpected, yet not so unexpected hug.
''I've missed you Bec's.'' Chloe whispered, as she swayed the slightly smaller girl with her eyes instinctively closing.
Beca stiffened at the embrace, ''But you just saw me yesterday...'' her hands continued to rest at her side, any form of human contact was always so uncomfortable for her. Especially hugs... Even though she felt as though she should've been used to these hugs from Chloe, it just always seemed like too much work. With her feeling as though she had to monitor where she put her hands. Can't be too high, can't be too low. Which is why, they were perfect right where they were.
''I know'' Chloe Smiled, shrugging at the slightly shorter girl as she pulled back from the hug, grabbing the younger woman's hand, lacing their fingers together as she led them over to her bed, listening for the door click.
''You're so weird.'' Was all Beca could say, as she felt a rush of nervous butterflies. Something about such a simple action always seemed not so simple for some odd reason. And as she shut the door behind her, the air always seemed to thicken.
''Only with you,'' Chloe winked. Releasing Beca's hand, as she sat down on her bed, scooting up against the headboard. ''Want to watch a movie?'' she asked, picking up the remote to turn on the tv.
Beca could feel her cheeks reddening, turning away from Chloe when she noticed the amused look on her face. ''I guess...'' she said, laying down across the foot of the bed. Which for some reason gave Chloe the green light to put on the sappiest movie she could think of. Beca couldn't recall but thinks the title had the word book somewhere in it. But what she did know was that it had far too many love scenes and those things always made her super uncomfortable, which caused her to spend a majority of the movie staring up at the ceiling. Unbeknownst to Beca Chloe had watched her throughout these scenes, rolling her eyes at how dramatic her friend was. Eventually crawling over to lay beside her, when Beca groaned and covered her face with her hands. It was the kissing in the rain scene, just seemed like such a lame cliche in Beca's opinion.
''You don't like the idea of kissing in the rain?'' Beca removed her hands from her face only enough to look over at her friend, who was propped on an elbow looking down at her.
''Why would that idea be appealing to anyone?'' Beca fussed, disgust evident on her face.
''Seems romantic,'' Chloe cooed, leaning over to tuck a loose lock of hair behind Beca's ear, her gaze glancing down at Beca's lips then meeting back up with her eyes.
Beca swallowed hard at that, feeling her mouth go dry ''Yeah, I mean the risks of getting colds are always fun.''
In this moment Chloe wondered what it would feel like to Kiss her. ''I mean it could be, with someone who's worth it.''
Beca nodded, subconsciously licking her lips her eyes moved down to Chloe's, before she quickly directed them back upward. There had been countless rumors spread around school about the two going on months now. No one really understood their friendship, not even Beca if she was being honest. But neither had ever attempted to put the rumors to rest.
God Beca was beautiful, Chloe would always catch herself staring at her. As well as needing to touch her in any way she could, rather it be hand grazes or full out hugs. Chloe craved these moments, and it felt dirty when her mind wondered to the thought of touching her friend in other areas.
''What's going on in that weird little head of yours?'' Beca asked, needing to kill the awkward silence as she rolled over on her side.
''Trust me, you don't want to know.'' Chloe warned, with a chuckle.
''Wouldn't have asked, if I didn't.'' Beca simply responded.
Chloe contemplated what to say, before scratching at what looked like a yellow mustard stain on her velvet comforter. ''You have to promise you won't freak out.''
Beca laughed at that, ''You've done unbelievably weird stuff our entire friendship, yet I'm still here. Nothing you could ever do could freak me out.''
Chloe looked up from the stain over to her friend, ''Okay'' She nodded to her, reassuring herself that what she was about to do was okay. Temptation wasn't a sin, she reminded herself. ''Don't freak out.'' She told Beca, who confusingly nodded her head. Chloe then cupped Beca's chin with her right hand, and leaned in. However, acting on Temptation, is what makes it a sin.