The following week, Chloe couldn't shake the thought of Beca. There was something about her, something quietly captivating that Chloe couldn't quite put her finger on. Maybe it was the way Beca's shy smile barely touched her lips but seemed to carry so much meaning, or the way she'd hesitated—just for a second—before offering her quiet, almost unsure thanks. Chloe couldn't get over the feeling that Beca wasn't as distant as she let on, that there was a hidden depth waiting to be uncovered.

It was a typical Tuesday afternoon when Chloe ran into the janitor again. Sophie was at daycare, and Chloe had just finished up a meeting when she noticed Beca cleaning the hallway again. The janitor's cart was parked beside her, a mop hanging from one of the hooks, while she methodically worked on the floor.

As Chloe walked past, she stopped, unsure of what to say. They'd exchanged pleasantries before, but this time, something about the moment felt more loaded. Beca glanced up as Chloe approached, a flicker of recognition crossing her face, but there was no immediate escape this time—no running away from a conversation she didn't feel ready for. Chloe smiled, but this time, it was more than just an acknowledgment. It was a genuine attempt to connect.

"Hey, Beca," Chloe said, her tone casual, but there was an underlying warmth to it. "How's your day going?"

Beca looked down, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt as she hesitated. "It's… okay," she said quietly, almost too quietly. "Just the usual, I guess."

Chloe tilted her head slightly. She could see that Beca was holding something back—perhaps the same way she had been the last time they spoke. "I was thinking about what you said the other day," Chloe continued. "About singing. I've been wondering… did music help you when you were younger? Or was it something that just came naturally to you?"

Beca blinked, clearly startled by the directness of the question. She shifted uncomfortably, glancing down at the floor as if it might provide an answer for her. Chloe watched patiently, allowing her the time to gather her thoughts.

"I don't know," Beca murmured finally. "It was something my mom noticed helped me when I was little. She thought it calmed me down when everything else felt… overwhelming." Beca's voice wavered slightly, but she quickly recovered. "I didn't really start singing until she passed. It was just me and Dad, and… well, he didn't understand it the way she did."

Chloe's heart ached at the admission, and her voice softened as she leaned a little closer, her expression earnest. "I'm really sorry about your mom," she said quietly. "But it's kind of beautiful that she knew how music could help you."

Beca's gaze lifted slightly, meeting Chloe's eyes for the first time in the conversation. The vulnerability was palpable, but there was also a hint of something else—a faint flicker of hope.

"Yeah," Beca replied, her voice a little steadier. "I guess it's one of the few things I have left from her."

Chloe nodded, her mind working over what Beca had said. The words "few things" lingered in the air between them, and Chloe couldn't help but feel that there was more to the story that Beca wasn't sharing. She didn't press, though; instead, she offered a gentle smile.

"If you ever feel like sharing more, I'm here," Chloe said, her tone warm but not pushy. "And if you ever want to… you know, sing around someone who won't judge you, I'd love to listen."

For a moment, the janitor just stared at her, and for the first time, Chloe noticed the tiniest of smiles tug at the corner of her mouth. It was shy, hesitant, but undeniably real.

"Thanks," Beca said softly. "I'll think about it."

With that, Chloe gave a small wave and began to walk away, but as she rounded the corner, she couldn't help but glance back. Beca was still standing in the same spot, mop in hand, but she seemed a little different. Her shoulders weren't as hunched, her posture a little less stiff. Chloe couldn't help but wonder if the smallest of cracks had opened in Beca's wall—if, for just a moment, she had let someone in.

Chloe's curiosity about Beca was no longer just about her musical talent. It was about the layers she was starting to see beneath the surface, the quiet strength, the pain, and the hidden potential. And as Chloe continued to reflect on her words, she found herself more determined to find a way to connect with Beca. The path forward wasn't clear, but Chloe was willing to take the first steps.

As for Beca, she was beginning to wonder if she could trust Chloe in a way she hadn't trusted anyone in a long time.