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Five months. That was how long Beca and Chloe had been dating. Five months of VIP and extravagant dates, flights between New York and Los Angeles – Chloe was still needed at City of Angels for interviews, side projects, and photo shoots – a lot of make-out sessions (like a lot lot) and waking up to each other. If Beca had to pick, that was her favorite of all of these. She loved watching Chloe sleep. Not in a creepy way, but she had developed that habit, to wake up at least ten minutes before the redhead. Whether it was her subconscious or her body had taught itself that way, Beca didn't know. She'd wake up, though, and study the other woman. How peaceful she looked, the wrinkle her nose was making when she was having a bad dream or just sleeping peacefully. Chloe's hands were looking for hers. In that little time, they knew each other Beca had both seen famous actress Chloe and domestic Chloe. She preferred the latter, to be honest. Domestic Chloe was goofy and messy and never cautious of doing or saying the wrong thing. Domestic Chloe was playing video games with either her or Jesse and was singing her heart out when her favorite song was on the radio or when Jesse and Beca would pick up their guitars and randomly play songs. Another thing that Beca had found out about Chloe was her amazing cooking skills. Even though the other woman was used to having a personal chef making whatever she desired, she insisted on cooking for them. At first, Beca had been cautious, but after she and Jesse tried her blueberry pancakes, it became like a routine for them. Beca would make the eggs, toast, and bacon, along with Jesse, when he was at home, while Chloe was on pancake duty. Beca loved that little family the three of them had created.
“Are you still not talking to me?" Beca asked Jesse as she entered the living room, two outfits hanging from each arm. Jesse turned to look at her, shook his head before going back to his video game. He was munching some popcorn, but most of them were ending up on the couch or on the floor. If Beca wasn't panicking about what to wear, she would have yelled at him.
"Come on, Jesse, I really need your help here." She whined, hoping her child-like voice would do the trick. It didn't. He was still watching the big screen without a care in the world.
"Why are you acting like a kid, dude?" She sighed.
"You're going to the Emmys!" He cried, and Beca didn't know if she should laugh or roll her eyes. She chose the latter, not wanting to aggravate Jesse more.
"First of all, it's not like the Oscars, chill. Secondly, you know I told Chloe that you should go with her, but she said she wanted to make it official. You know, us dating. I couldn't really say no to that." She saw Jesse's face soften at that and gave Beca a warm smile.
"So Bechloe is officially a thing after tonight?" He asked gleefully.
"Uhm, Bechloe was never a thing. I don't even know how you came up with that."
"I didn't. Your fans did on Twitter. You should see the fanart dude!" Jesse said excitedly.
"Not that I have." He said in a chill tone when he saw Beca's raised eyebrow.
"You're weird and creepy, and I don't want to know what you do in your free time." She chuckled. "But yeah, Chloe wants the whole world to know that we're a couple." She continued, a nervous smile forming on her face.
"You know you don't have to do that if you don't want to," Jesse suggested.
"Of course I know, Chloe asked me If I wanted that, and I do, I really want everyone to know. At least the media will stop bugging her. It's becoming ridiculous, seriously. Every interview I watch, at least one of their questions is if she has someone in her life right now. Don't they have their own business to mind?" She huffed, fed up with the way the media treated her girlfriend. Or any other celebrity for that matter. She didn't usually mind or even watched such interviews. But after Chloe, she always spared some time to watch Chloe on whatever TV show she was a guest on or whatever interview she was giving on any platform. Chloe had never asked her if she did, and Beca never mentioned it.
"But you're nervous. I can tell. I mean, even Sammy in the grocery store could tell. He asked me this morning if everything was okay with you."
Beca sighed, as she plopped to the couch, next to Jesse, her outfits forgotten in the armchair next to her.
"I'm afraid everything will change after tonight. I like that bubble we had created. When I was no-one, and people only speculated about Chloe and her mystery woman. I won't be just a random no-one. I'll be Chloe Beale's no-one. And that scares the shit out of me." She confessed.
"I'm not gonna tell you that you're overreacting. It's true, some things will change. Chloe's a fucking star, and you...well, to be honest, some people at work don't even know your name yet." Beca tried to look offended, but she knew Jesse was right. It was only yesterday that the receptionist called her Bella. "But it's all about how you and Chloe handle this change. Are you going to let it affect you or keep it under wraps as much as you can? Yes, Chloe's life was and will always be in the spotlight. But that doesn't mean yours has to be too. You can always attend parties and accompany Chloe, but other than that it's up to you to separate your intimate moments from the public ones. It's all about balance and willingness to work it out." Jesse offered.
"When did you become so smart?" Beca teased.
"Eh, I saw a video on Youtube about how to date a celebrity."
"Please tell me you're joking."
"Let's talk about your outfits instead, shall we?" Jesse said, quickly changing the subject.
"Okay I'm between these two," Beca replied while showing the two options she had. The first one was a black jumpsuit with a low cut, while the second a three-piece maroon suit.
"I thought your wardrobe mostly consisted of flannel shirts, black t-shirts, and black ripped jeans." Jesse countered.
"I bought them last week. I spent like half my money there, so you're doing the groceries and paying for the take-out this week." She grinned cheekily at him, "Now tell me, which one do you like the most?"
Jesse took his time to choose, giving the pros and cons of each outfit and even telling Beca to put them on and see how she looks on them. Beca definitely didn't expect Jesse to be so thorough but she did as he told her to. She needed to be perfect for tonight anyways. They spent almost half an hour alternating between the outfits, shoes, and hairstyles when Jesse finally had a verdict.
"The jumpsuit. You look good in both, but it's more feminine and hugs your body perfectly. I bet by tomorrow morning, you'll be on the cover of every magazine there is." Jesse said smugly.
"I hope they won't catch me doing something weird." Beca shivered at the idea.
"It can't be worse than the yearbook." Jesse pointed out, biting down a laugh threatening to escape.
"We agreed to never speak of it!" Beca warned.
"I'm sorry I know." Jesse couldn't hold it in any longer, collapsing into a fit of laughter. Beca smacked him with a pillow on the head before going to her bedroom to get dressed for the big night. Nope, she wasn't nervous at all.
She was ready with at least half an hour to spare before Chloe arrived. After having spent almost two hours getting ready for the big event, Beca was impressed by how Chloe did this every time. Putting on the jumpsuit and her black pumps were the easiest part. But hair and makeup? That was another story. She had called her friend Stacie to lend a hand but even with the two of them, it took that long.
"The things I do for love" Beca sighed, as she sat on the couch as graciously as she could in fear of wrinkling her outfit.
"Dude that was the quickest it can get. I'm pretty sure your girlfriend started this process, two hours before us." Stacie argued.
"And she's not done yet" Beca added while showing them the text she just got from Chloe.
"See?" Stacie smirked.
"You're just as insufferable as Jesse, you know that? Where is he, by the way?" She wondered. She hadn't seen him around the apartment since they started their routine.
"He thought I was gonna ask him for help, so he went for a run the moment I stepped my foot in here."
"The last time Jesse ran was in P.E." Beca laughed, and Stacie joined her.
They talked for a while and caught up with their latest news. Stacie was also an old friend of Beca and Jesse's, doing her research at Columbia University. Her schedule had become even more hectic since she had her daughter, Bella, but she promised to find some time that evening to help out. And Beca was forever grateful for it. Jesse came back half an hour later, holding a hot dog in one hand and a can of coke on the other. Beca raised her eyebrow at this sight of his, but he shrugged it off while offering some of his food to her.
"I just put my lipstick on dude, don't tempt me." She whined. "Plus I don't wanna smell like.." she took a better look at Jesse's hot dog "onions and ketchup."
"Sorry princess, next time I'll buy a simple one." He mockingly bowed before disappearing into the kitchen.
"Why are you still living with him?" Stacie teased. Beca was about to reply when she heard a knock on the door... She jumped on her feet immediately and ran towards the door. She got a peek at the mirror next door, smoothing her hair back, before opening the door.
"Holy fuck, Chloe..." Beca breathed at the sight of her girlfriend. She was wearing a light blue dress with a tail behind, baby blue high heels, while her hair was perfectly styled in an elegant bun.
"Very eloquent, babe..." Chloe chuckled as she entered the house, her dress dragging on the floor. She pecked Beca's lips, who was still standing at the door, facing the now-empty threshold.
"You look like a Greek Goddess..." Beca commented, taking a good look at her girlfriend. Each time she said Chloe couldn't get any more beautiful, Chloe would prove her wrong.
"Hi, I'm Chloe.." Chloe introduced herself to the other woman while extending her hand.
"Well, contrary to this one, I know who you are." Stacie joked, earning a laugh from the redhead. "It's nice to meet you, Chloe. I'm Stacie. Also, my daughter is a very big fan of yours." She added.
"Well, I do hope I can meet her then." Chloe flashed one of her signature smiles.
"No way.." Beca chimed in... "I'm still Bella's favorite aunt, I'm not ready to give away that position yet."
"And I'm Chloe Beale," Chloe said smugly.
"Do I smell a challenge here?" Beca said mischievously. Chloe replied with an equally mischievous grin.
"You two deserve each other." Stacie laughed. "Anyway, since I'm still Bella's favorite person, I have to go put her to bed. Chloe, it was so nice meeting you. Becs, remember what we said." She hugged them both before leaving.
"Are you ready for tonight?" Chloe asked once Stacie was out."Nope. But I had a couple of shots, so we better hurry before my momentary bravery wanes, and I'll chicken out."
"You don't have to come if you're feeling uncomfortable, Beca. I can easily attend this on my own." Chloe offered, fearing of pushing Beca too far.
"No, it's cool. We said we'll do this together. I mean, how bad can it be?"
Beca should have bit her tongue before speaking. If the lights from the photographers' cameras didn't blind her, the culture shock would definitely kill her. Yes, Beca had seen part of Chloe's world, the fancy restaurants, the VIP section of every place they went, their own freaking driver, but this was a whole new level. Aside from every freaking photographer and interviewer screaming the celebrities' names every second to catch their attention, the atmosphere was buzzing with something Beca hadn't seen or felt before. Never in a million years would she imagine herself walking the red carpet while holding the hand of the most beautiful woman on the planet (which also happened to be her girlfriend).
"Oh my God, It's Beyonce!" Beca hissed on Chloe's ear as they were making their way down the long carpeted road. They would stop every few seconds to smile for the cameras and then continue. Beca now understood why Chloe insisted on arriving two hours earlier before the event. She was pretty sure they were walking for at least half an hour, and they hadn't even made it halfway.
"Why are you looking down?" Chloe asked, confused when she noticed Beca bowing her head after she made eye contact with Beyonce.
"Because I'm not worthy of her." She explained.
"We can go there and say hello if you want," Chloe said as if it was some old friend from school.
"Are you nuts? This is freaking Beyonce. I'll faint if I got too close to her." Beca said. Chloe tried not to laugh, but Beca's flustered face made it really hard.
"Any other celebrity crushes I need to know about?" Chloe teased.
"Nope, just you babe." Beca winked. Chloe leaned in for a kiss when someone called her name.
"That's my publicist, Aubrey. She probably wants me to talk to the press." Chloe sighed, "Come with me?" Chloe asked as she extended her hand for Beca to take.
"Nah, I'm cool. I'll just stay there and wait for you to finish." Beca replied.
"Are you sure?" Chloe asked uncertainly.
"Yep. That's your thing. I'd probably stumble on my words and make a fool of myself. Now, go, charm those weirdos." She waved her off. Chloe gave her one last look before following the other woman.
It didn't take long for Chloe to please her publicist and talk to as many reporters as she could. Beca was standing with the other agents and PAs, her eyes never leaving Chloe. Talking to them and answering whatever they were asking came so easy to her. She never hesitated and always paused to think before answering. Chloe was very cautious of her public image and was weighing every word. Beca admired her. Her girlfriend was in her element, and Beca knew she would never get used to this. Once Chloe finished, Beca made small steps towards her.
"What did they ask?" Beca asked
"Oh, you know, the usual stuff; If I think I'll win this year, About my outfit, my new projects, you..." Beca perked her ears at the last one.
"Me? What did she ask about me?" Beca tried to sound nonchalant but failed.
"What we knew from the beginning they were going to ask. If we're a couple, how long have we been dating, etc." Chloe replied. Beca nodded.
They finally arrived at the big theatre, where Chloe handed her invitation before they entered the venue. Their seats were at the very front, thankfully next to an actor, Beca didn't know. They sat down, and Beca clasped Chloe's hand in hers.
"Are you nervous?" Beca asked Chloe, who was reading something on her phone.
"Wasn't I supposed to ask that?" Chloe asked back, her eyes never leaving the screen.
"I'm not nominated for an Emmy, babe." Beca chuckled. Chloe finally raised her eyes to meet Beca's.
"I'm okay, I guess. I mean, if I'm honest with myself I don't really care. I'm more excited with the fact that you're here with me than if I'll win or not."
"You sound so cheesy right now." Beca tried to lighten the mood.
"Becs, I'm serious. I love it that you're here. Nothing else matters right now." She kissed Beca soundlessly. "Now, if you excuse me for a second, I really need to revise my acceptance speech." Beca put a single strand behind Chloe's ear before letting her focus on her phone.
After what felt like hours for Beca, the show finally started. Contrary to how long it took for this thing to start, the actual show was progressing really quickly. Or at least that was how Beca felt because she was anxious for Chloe's category to arrive. Chloe had left at some point to present an award but other than that, they spent the rest of the show holding hands and quietly discussing each win. Beca had no idea what Chloe was saying most of the time, but she didn't mind. Even though she had tried to wave off a potential win, Beca knew that Chloe was getting nervous. When the time for the category came, Chloe grasped Beca's arm.
"And the Emmy goes to...." The presenter opened the envelope while the co-presenter took a quick peek at it and leaned at the microphone.
"Chloe Beale!" Both of them shouted, and Beca refrained from whistling and squeezing Chloe in her arms. Instead, they shared a small kiss, before helping her with her dress and escorting her to the base of the stairs. She gave her one last kiss on her hand before going back to her seat. Whether she was being weird or was breaking some protocol, Beca didn't give a shit. She was beyond proud of Chloe.
"I'll probably sound so cliché right now, but I'm speechless right now.." Chloe began. "This project was one of the best experiences I had. I'm forever grateful for Tommy choosing me to bring this character to life and letting me tell her story. But Tommy was just a small part of the amazing crew that worked on this project. And if I had time, I would thank each and every one of you individually. So a big thank you to the whole cast and crew of the "Brave Hearts", my agent Flo Fuentes for pressuring me into auditioning for that role, I owe you, and finally to my girlfriend, Beca, for being here tonight to support me." They shared a look before Chloe took the trophy and made her way backstage. After ten minutes, she was back in her seat.
"I...Uhm, I didn't know you had included me in your speech." Beca said.
"Because I didn't tell you silly." Chloe booped her nose, but Beca didn't respond.
"Did that make you uncomfortable?" Chloe asked, cursing herself for clearly overstepping some boundaries. I mean, what was she thinking?
"No, no of course not, Chlo...I was just really surprised. Congratulations, by the way. I knew you would win." Beca said confidently.
"Thanks, Beca. It really means a lot to me."
"I'll always have your back," Beca whispered, a sincerity to her voice.
"And I'll have yours," Chloe said back as they shared another kiss.
"Anyway, how much longer does this thing have? I'm getting bored." Beca whined.
“And I'm dating a child...." She chuckled. "Just two more awards, and then we have the after-party," Beca informed her.
"Will there be booze? And food?" She added the last part as she felt her stomach protesting.
"Well, of course. It's just your average party. Except for a ton of celebrities and overpriced drinks."
"Yeah, just your average party," Beca repeated mockingly, earning a push from Chloe.
*
Beca couldn't say she had attended many parties in her college or teen years, but she was sure they looked nothing like this. She would have definitely had another shock if it hadn't been for the welcome drink a waitress passed them as they entered the venue. After the show, they didn't make their way to the party right away. Instead, she and Chloe stopped by Chloe's penthouse for a quick change of clothes. Chloe had offered to lend her something more comfortable, but Beca politely declined. She had wasted too much money on this jumpsuit, and she'd wear it until she got all her money's worth. They left the apartment half an hour later, Chloe now dressed in a green cocktail dress. Beca mentally congratulated herself for showing restraint and not jumping into Chloe then and there. She did give her promise of a private after-party, though.
After the initial shock had died down, Beca took her time to observe the space around her. She felt like a kid in a toy store, taking everything in but also remembering to keep her mouth shut. She had stopped a waiter at some point and asked for another drink to calm her nerves. Her eyes fell upon the huge buffet with an enormous variety of appetizers. She felt her stomach groan again and thank the DJ for keeping the music loud enough to mask the sounds her body was making. Even though she was starving, she didn't attempt to approach the table. No one had made their way over to the buffet the entire time she had been there, and she felt weird to be the first. Didn't celebrities ever eat? She cursed her evening self for not accepting the hot dog Jesse offered her. She looked away before she could drool, and after another swirling around the place, her eyes stopped at the center of the room. They had placed some sort of stage, and a DJ was playing music. His mixes were okay, Beca thought, but if she was up there, she'd have the whole room dancing by now. Perhaps she could ask Chloe if they'd let her play with the equipment later. Speaking of Chloe, the redhead was out on the balcony, outside talking to a group of people. She was laughing at something one of them said, and Beca felt a pang of jealousy. She scoffed at herself. First of all, Chloe was allowed to speak or laugh at whoever she wanted. Beca would rather be that someone, but when Chloe made her way to the group, Beca didn't follow her. She preferred walking around the venue like a creep to talking to strangers. Chloe understood and didn't pressure her. Her eyes fell once again at the big buffet. Fuck it, Beca thought. She hadn't eaten anything since that morning, and well, none of them looked like they would make the first step. She grabbed a plate for the stack on the right corner and started to fill her plate. She didn't want to seem like she was starving, so she chose only a few of the choices available and hoped it would do the trick. The moment though she took the first bite, she wished she had taken more. It was the best food she had ever eaten in her life. She now started gulping them down two at a time, to the point her mouth was full. She was about to stuff once more in there, but a voice stopped her.
"Beca, there you are!" Chloe exclaimed happily as she put her hand around Beca's waist.
"Guys, this is my girlfriend, Becs...." She paused when Beca turned around and looked at her quizzically.
"Hi!" Beca managed to say between mouthfuls and threw a glance at Chloe. She didn't seem mad or embarrassed. In fact, her face was unreadable, which scared Beca. Way to go Beca, she thought to herself.
"Hi, I'm Beca, which you already know." Beca rumbled once she had swallowed the rest of her food. They were smirking at her, and Beca hoped nothing had stuck on her teeth.
Chloe sensed Beca's discomfort and stepped in, "Babe, this is Marcus and Johnny Wayne, they own...."
"Wayne Records!" Beca finished for her. "Oh my god, it's an honor to meet you, I loved all of your projects, you guys are like the guru of music."
"I didn't know you were familiar with them.." Chloe said, impressed.
"Of course I know them, Chlo; these guys are like legends in our job."
"Are you a music producer as well, Beca?" Marcus asked, intrigued.
"Well, I wouldn't call myself a music producer yet, more like an intern," Beca replied bashfully.
"Nonsense.." Chloe chimed in. "Beca does everything; she produces, she DJs, she writes and plays music. And she's incredibly talented."
"She has to say that because I'm her girlfriend" Beca joked, earning a laugh from the duo and an eye roll from Chloe.
"There's one way to find out then," Johnny said while pointing at the DJ.
"Oh, no no, I can't. I mean, I can't go up there and shove the dude away." Beca declined.
"Poor guy needs a break, Beca," Marcus said mischievously. "I'm sure you could fill in for him for a few minutes. You know, show us what you got." He winked. Beca looked at Chloe for help. She was looking at Beca expectantly.
"Only if you want to." Chloe reminded her.
"That goes without saying," Johnny added hastily in fear of making Beca uncomfortable.
"No, it's okay. But I'll need your help." She said, looking at Chloe.
"Of course," Chloe replied without missing a beat.
"Alright then," She smiled shyly as she gave her hand to Chloe for her to take. Chloe handed her drink to Marcus as they both made their way to the stage.
"Uhm, hi everyone, my name's Beca, and this is Chloe...but you already know that.." She rolled her eyes at herself, making some people laugh.
"Nice to know that if you don't like my music, I can always switch it to stand-up comedy.." They laughed again, and Beca didn't know where this newfound self-confidence came from.
"Anyway, apparently, there are some dudes over there that desperately want me to play something for them. And since I'm far from prepared, let's just improvise, shall we?" The crowd agreed with her.
"Okay, you with the phone in your hand, nice dress, by the way, how about you give me a song to start with?" The woman seemed embarrassed, and Beca mentally cringed, but she recoiled immediately.
"Uhmmm, Just the way you are, by Bruno Mars." The woman replied.
"Great choice. Chloe, you good?" She looked at her girlfriend, who had grabbed a microphone and was staring at Beca lovingly. Chloe nodded before starting to sing the first notes of the song.
“Oh, her eyes, her eyes
Make the stars look like they're not shinin'..."
Beca joined in almost immediately with Nelly's Just a Dream.
"Uh, uh, uh
I was thinking bout her, thinking 'bout me
Thinking 'bout us, what we gon' be
Opened my eyes yeah, it was only just a dream"
Some of the people in the crowd had joined them too, clapping along to the beat Beca had laid, while others had taken their phones out and recorded them. They were looking at each other, never breaking eye contact, even after the song had ended. The crowd erupted into cheering and clapping, but it took Beca a few seconds before snapping herself back to reality.
"Beca that was awesome," Chloe whispered while laying a kiss on Beca's cheek.
"It was nothing." Beca tried to shrug it off, but Chloe was having none of it.
"Come on guys, let's give it up for Beca!" Chloe said through her microphone, and the crowd didn't disappoint. Some of them had started chanting Beca's name, and if Chloe wasn't there by her side, running soothing circles in her back, she would have turned as red as a tomato.
They stayed for a bit on the stage before eventually coming down. People were still cheering at her, and some of them even asked for a selfie, but Beca politely declined as she walked to the now-empty balcony. She took a few deep breaths to ground herself. Chloe came beside her a few seconds later.
"Bec?" She asked quietly, not wanting to scare the other woman.
"Hmmm?" Beca replied, her eyes still closed.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah." She finally opened her eyes to look at Chloe. "We crushed it up there, didn't we?"
"What are you talking about? This was all, you babe. I merely lent my voice."
"I wouldn't have done it without you," Beca revealed. She had turned to fully face her girlfriend now.
"Beca, you are beyond talented. Whether I was there or not, you would have killed it anyway. I never felt more proud in my life." Chloe closed the distance between them, her hands now resting on Beca's shoulders.
"Well, you're not so bad yourself, you know." Beca teased.
"Ass." Chloe laughed. "Anyway, ready to go home?" Beca didn't have to answer as a yawn escaped her lips, betraying how tired she was.
"Let me say goodbye to the Waynes, and then we can go, alright?" Beca sleepily nodded. Chloe placed a kiss on top of Beca's head before going inside.
"Just your average party." Beca chuckled to herself.
*
"Dinner at the APL tonight?"
Beca rolled her eyes at Chloe's choice for their date night. It's not like she didn't like overpriced gourmet dishes made by the best chefs in L.A. She really enjoyed them. The first couple of times. After that, it was starting to get boring. For the last five months, the pair had been dating their main date activities included: nights over at Beca or Chloe's apartment, cocktails in bars that only celebrities were allowed, and dinners in fancy restaurants. Beca knew why Chloe was doing it. She may have been clueless at first, thinking that Chloe wanted to show her part of her world or share new experiences or whatever, but after five months of doing the same thing, it was getting hard to miss. These were the only places that she was feeling safe, without someone trying to snap a picture of her. Beca had been understanding, for the most part, she definitely couldn't imagine how crazy paparazzi or fans could get. But after publicly announcing at the Emmys that they were dating, Beca kinda hoped that this would change. Sure, Beca had suggested many times activities out of Chloe's usual spots, but each time Chloe would kiss her and tell her they'd go another time. Except for this time never came. She couldn't call Chloe's bullshit because it was justifiable. Yet, she didn't know if she could keep up with this. With another sigh, she shot a short text on Chloe, agreeing once again with Chloe's choice. But not without a plan forming in her mind.
The same night, Beca was parked outside Chloe's penthouse, waiting for the other woman. One of her appropriate-for-dates-Spotify-playlists was playing, making the waiting less boring. Beca was humming along with the song when she heard Chloe's heels clicking on the pavement.
"Hey, babe," Chloe greeted as she was ready to open the passenger's seat door. Beca beat her to it and closed it before Chloe could have the chance to get inside.
"Nope, you're sitting in the back. At least for now." Beca informed her. Chloe was somewhere between confused and shocked.
"Why?" She managed to ask.
"You'll see. Now, get inside you weirdo, we really need to get going." Chloe shot her another look, but eventually, she opened the back door and got inside. Once she was seated, in the middle seat, she noticed a bag of clothes resting beside her. Beca started the car and drove away from Chloe's neighborhood.
"Beca what is this? What are you doing? And when did you get a car?" Chloe asked as curiosity got the best of her. Beca had repeatedly told her all these months that they were together that she refused to buy a car.
"I'm hijacking our date." She replied, her eyes never leaving the road. She managed to cast a glance at the redhead through the rearview mirror. She didn't look mad.
"What does that even mean?" She questioned, this time more irritated.
"It means that you're changing the clothes you're wearing right now, and wear these on the bag."
"What's wrong with my clothes?" She was sure that Beca would love that dress when she bought it. It showed the right amount of cleavage, and her whole back was exposed.
"You're a little overdressed for where we're going." Chloe only now noticed that Beca wasn't dressed formally either. She was wearing a grey hoodie with the letter B in the middle and black jeans.
"Should I be concerned about this?" She asked, half-joking, half-serious. Beca was being cryptic, and it kinda scared her. She heard Beca breathing before swerving and stopping the car at the side of the road. She unbuckled her seatbelt and turned around to face Chloe, who was still holding the clothes in her hands.
"Chloe, I'm really tired of going to fancy restaurants. I swear they're amazing, and I love getting to know your world, but it's getting kinda...trite." Beca confessed. Chloe was taken aback.
"I-I'm sorry Beca, I didn't do this on purpose." Chloe apologized, not sure what else to say.
"Listen, I know why you're doing this. And I understand. But I promise you we can also have fun places other than Hollywood and Beverly Hills, or whatever shit you've been taking me to. I'm not mad at you, I just think we need some change for the sake of our relationship. So, tonight it's time I showed you my world." She replied with a tentative smile. Chloe didn't answer right away, which made Beca less confident about her plan.
"Please tell me I didn't become a total dick by doing this?" She begged.
"No, you're right. We need to try new things. And I need to stop being so overprotective of my private life and thinking everyone's out there to take a picture of me." Chloe reassured her.
"Cool. Oh, and don't worry about being recognized. I brought some camouflage. Just check the whole bag." She said. Beca kissed Chloe's forehead before shifting back to her seat and starting the car again.
"Glasses and a beanie. Really, Becs?" Chloe laughed at Beca's idea of good camouflage.
"Hey, it worked for Superman." Beca shrugged. Chloe shook her head as she began undressing. Beca tried hard not to look from the rearview mirror and kept her eyes on the road. But of course, Chloe wouldn't make it easier for her. She felt Chloe's hot breath against her ear, making her grip the steering wheel a little tighter.
"So, you didn't tell me. Is this car yours?" She purred.
"Wh-why?" Beca had to ask.
"Well, to be honest, I've never had sex in a car, and I thought maybe we could fix that later, somehow?" She replied while kissing Beca's pulse point.
"Jesus Christ, Chlo" Beca breathed, her heart rate suddenly quickening. Either Chloe with her voice dripping sex would kill her or her inability to keep her eyes on the fucking road. Chloe had practically latched herself on Beca's seat, leaving open-mouthed kisses on her neck while her hand was working on her jeans' buttons.
"Jesse! It's Jesse's" Beca managed to shout, snapping herself out of the haze.
"What?" Chloe asked, confused while retracting her hand.
"The car. It's Jesse's. He let me borrow it for tonight. So, if something happens to that car, he's going to kill me. Then you. Then me again." Beca warned.
"You're no fun." Chloe huffed as she got back to getting dressed.
"You're insatiable, you know that?" Beca said once Chloe was ready.
"Well, it's not my fault, but seeing you drive...it's sexy," Chloe explained.
"You should have seen me on a motorbike then." Beca winked through the mirror.
"You own a motorbike?" Chloe asked, shocked.
"Owned." Beca corrected. "I had one when I was like fifteen. Of course, it was illegal, and of course, my mom didn't know. I managed to keep it a secret for almost a year, but I had an accident, broke my arm, and my mom found out. In the hospital. She was giving me an earful for like three months. Suffice to say, she never let me ride one again."
"I can definitely imagine a young teen rebel Beca," Chloe smirked.
"It's not that hard considering I'm almost the same person now. Anyway, we're here." Beca announced as she parked in a relatively empty parking lot. Chloe tried to see through the window, but they were tinted.
"Close your eyes," Beca instructed. Chloe complied and waited for Beca to guide her outside. After a couple of seconds, Beca opened the back door and helped her out of the car.
"Alright, open your eyes, princess," Beca said.
Chloe opened them slowly and took in her surroundings, "What is this?" She asked.
"We, mortals, call it a fair. We go there to play games, eat caramel apples, ride the Ferris wheel and...have fun."
"I know that, silly." Chloe rolled her eyes. "What I mean is I didn't know they were still a thing."
"It's not that much, to be fair, but it's quiet, and we can have fun without anyone batting an eye." Beca smiled, and Chloe did the same. She wore her glasses and beanie as she took Beca's extending hand.
Chloe would never in a million years imagine that being with Beca on a remote fair outside of L. A would be one of the best dates she'd ever had. She was apprehensive at the beginning, public places without the escort of her bodyguards always made her nervous. She sounded like a diva right now, but she couldn't say she didn't have her fair share of creepy fans. Yet Beca made her feel safe. Among other things. She hadn't felt so calm and happy since her dad used to take her to fairs back in Florida. She missed this, the feeling of no one knowing her name and being almost unnoticeable. And she loved Beca. Even though they hadn't said those words yet, Chloe knew how she was feeling for the other woman for quite some time now. Beca was so thoughtful and always treated her just like any other human being. She never took advantage of who Chloe was, never used it against her even when Chloe was acting like an asshole. Like earlier. She was trying so hard to keep her life under the wraps that she never paused to consider if Beca enjoyed this. She felt so selfish.
"I'm so sorry, Beca," Chloe said out of the blue. They were walking around the fair for almost an hour while also sharing some cotton candy.
"What for?" Beca asked, perplexed.
"For always planning our dates around my needs. And for not asking you what you like."
"Chlo.." Beca sighed as she stopped in front of the other woman. "This is not your fault. I should have something. But I didn't mind most of the time. I could feel you were at ease and that all that mattered to me. However, I knew that if we kept this up, I'd start resenting you for it and push you away. Now that you know, though, we can always keep it balanced." Beca offered tentatively.
"I'd like that." Chloe agreed and bent to kiss Beca when she heard a noise.
"What's that?"
"That's my stomach," Beca said, embarrassed, earning a giggle from Chloe.
"So, what's the plan now?"
"I haven't planned this, to be honest, but I know a place. Come on."
Their next stop was at McDonald's, ten minutes away from the fair. When Chloe noticed the big yellow M logo squealed like a little girl catching Beca by surprise.
"I didn't know you were that big fan of McDonald's."
"My dad used to bring me here every Saturday evening when I was younger. Mom thought we were going to museums and stuff, but we rarely did. Instead, we'd drive around for a while, and then we almost ended up in one of those." She replied while pointing at the restaurant in front of them. They opted for ordering their food from the drive-thru instead of going in. When their order was ready, Beca paid for it, much to Chloe's chagrin, before driving towards the beach. Ten minutes later, she and Chloe were sitting on the now cool sand, munching their fries and looking at the big ocean ahead of them
"That's the first time you said anything about your parents." Beca pointed out while popping a fry into her mouth. She tried not to make a big deal out of it, but curiosity took the best of her.
"I'm sorry, that's not my place to ask," Beca said after meeting with Chloe's silence.
"No, it's okay. My relationship with my parents was always somewhat strained. I mean, they played a huge role in choosing that path for me. Not that I resent them or something. You know I love my job, and I wouldn't change it for anything in the world, but sometimes I wonder how different my life would have been if my mom let me continue this as a hobby." Chloe revealed.
"Were they like those parents obsessed with fame or something?" Beca asked softly.
"No. I mean... I don't know. I always had a flair for the dramatic and used to sing around. But my parents never thought anything of it. I was just like any other kid my age. But when my drama teacher told my mom that I was like really, really good and she wouldn't be surprised if I pursued this, something snapped in her. She enrolled me in singing and ballet classes and in a theater camp. I was young, and I loved the attention everyone was giving me. But she wanted more. After a couple of years, we started going on auditions, first for silly commercials, then for bigger roles. She was sort of my agent. More jobs were coming our way, the money was good, but my mother was never satisfied. That was until we moved here. I was only eighteen. She was getting more demanding, putting me into strict diets to fit the mold. And yet, I still thought she was doing it for me, to have a chance at a better life. It took me almost five years after that to see through her bullshit. I had two job offers, one for a small part in a TV show and one for a big movie with a lot of big names in it. I wanted the TV job; it fitted my style. Mom wanted the movie. We fought, but eventually, I agreed to do the movie. I resented her for it and swore that this would be the last time she'd tell me what to do."
"I'm so sorry Chloe. I had no idea your mother was..." She couldn't find the words, but Chloe helped her
"An asshole?" Chloe tried.
"Yeah. I mean, I know she's your mother and stuff, but she was. How about your father, though. Didn't he do anything?"
"He tried. He argued with my mother often, but we both knew who had the final say in this family. We were both trapped."
"Do you still talk to them?" At that part, Chloe swallowed hard.
"My dad got sick months after I started working on the movie. We were filming in England, so it was hard for me to come and go. My mother called me and told me the news. Prostate cancer. Stage four. The doctors gave him less than six months. But he fought it. He actually lived four more months. He died three days before my first Academy Awards." Tears ran freely down her eyes now, and Beca cursed herself for opening old wounds.
"You don't have to tell me more, Chlo." Beca tried.
"No, it's okay." She wiped her eyes with the inside of the sleeve. "As you understand, I was a complete wreck. I didn't want to do anything, let alone go to that stupid thing. But my mom insisted I went. She said that If I didn't, people might think I'm too stuck up for the Oscars and call me a snob. And of course, I listened to her. So I dressed up, went there, smiled for the cameras, and got my first Oscar. The next day I took some calls, and three days later, I hired Flo and Aubrey. My agent and publicist respectively. I never told my mom she was officially fired. I just brought the girls home and started working on our next projects. She took the hint quickly and left a few weeks later. We only talk now on holidays and birthdays." Chloe finished. Beca nodded her head. She'd never imagine Chloe had been through that much.
"What about these girls? Are they cool?"
"God yes! They're amazing! I have complete control over my career and life. There have been times I wanted to yell at them, but I know they do it for my sake. I'm really grateful for having them in my life." Chloe smiled at the thought of her now best friends.
"I'm so glad everything worked out for you, Chloe. You deserve to be happy." Beca said while kissing the side of her head.
"Anyway, enough with the sob story," Chloe said, effectively ending the conversation. She looked at her phone, finding two missed calls from Aubrey and a text from Flo.
"Is everything okay?" Beca asked as she heard Chloe's phone ringing like crazy.
"Yeah, they're just worried about me," Chloe reassured her. Beca nodded while checking at her watch.
"I think it's time we get going." She announced, and Chloe agreed. They hopped into Beca's car and back to the city of Angels.
*
"So, our parents bought a farm," Jesse told Beca. They were on their way to Jesse's company, with a cup of coffee each on their hands. Beca stopped dead in her tracks, her mouth shaping in an O.
"A farm?" She asked, not believing what she just heard.
"Yep." Jesse chuckled at Beca's reaction. "They were talking about it for months, but they just went with it eventually."
"Well, yeah, mom told me about it when we last visited, but I thought it was some sort of midlife crisis." Beca reasoned.
"Nope, they sounded pretty happy about it.."
"As long as they don't make me milk a cow or run behind some chicken, I'm happy for them too."
They were close to the building when they noticed a bunch of people waiting at the entrance. The moment one of them caught Beca approaching, she yelled her name, making all of them turn around and start snapping pictures of her. Some of them had gone that far, as to bring some sort of a recorder to ask Beca questions. Beca felt her blood turn cold. Chloe had warned her many times about the paparazzi and the lengths they could go to catch a glimpse of her, but she never imagined this would happen so quickly and outside of her work's building.
"Hey, dude, back off," Jesse yelled while shrugging his jacket off his shoulder and draping it over Beca's head as he stood protectively in front of her. Beca's hands were shaky, and the only thing she could hear besides her ears' ringing was Jesse's voice telling them to fuck of as she escorted her inside the building. Her breathing had become ragged, and she almost collapsed, but Jesse was quick to catch her. Thankfully they didn't follow them inside the building.
"Becs? Are you there?" He asked once they were in front of the elevator. Beca was looking at him blankly, not able to process what he was saying.
"Beca, I need you to take big deep breaths. Can you do that for me, sweetie?" He asked, calmer this time, his eyes never leaving hers. She nodded mechanically.
"Where the fuck is that thing?" Jesse yelled angrily. He pushed the buttons rapidly as if this would help.
She was sweating and Jesse's face was becoming blurry, but his voice was giving her some clarity, to not let her feet give up on her. Jesse saying Chloe's name was the last thing Beca heard before everything went black.
She didn't remember exactly how she found herself on Jesse's couch, both him and Chloe looking warily at her.
"Babe..." Chloe breathed when Beca finally opened her eyes.
"What are you doing here?" Beca asked, confused. She was disoriented and still had a heavy feeling on her chest.
"Jesse called me. He told me you had a run-in with the paps and then passed out. Beca I'm so sorry, I never imagined they'd come to your place of work." Chloe apologized while clasping Beca's hands into her own. Beca could tell Chloe was genuinely sorry for what happened, even though she had no control over this.
"I'm gonna kill you, Jess" Beca threatened with no malice in her voice. She would rather Jesse hadn't told anything to Chloe, but she would have found out eventually.
"I would have killed him first if he hadn't called me," Chloe said sternly, her eyes never leaving Beca.
"Good to know, I'm not alive in either scenario." Jesse joked, earning a glare from Beca.
"Jesse, could you please get Beca some water?" Chloe asked. Jesse sensed Chloe's latent request to give them some space, to which he complied. He kissed Beca's forehead, before leaving the pair.
"How are you feeling?" Chloe asked worriedly.
"I'm good." Beca lied. The last thing she wanted was for Chloe to have one more thing to worry about.
"Becs.." Chloe sighed. "You don't have to lie for my sake. I know what happened made you scared and violated, and I wish I could somehow rectify that. I'm once again sorry for what happened. Maybe I can hire a bodyguard or something. If that makes you feel less alarmed every time you go outside." Chloe suggested.
“So, I take it that wasn't a one-time thing, huh?" Beca chuckled to hide her discomfort.
"I can't promise you that," Chloe replied honestly.
"It was scary..." Beca relented after a few moments of silence between them. "I mean one moment I was talking to Jesse about our parents' new farm, and the next a bunch of pap ambushed me and started taking pictures of me. I felt so small."
"I know, and I promise I won't let this slide that easily. I'll fix this."
"I don't wanna sound like a pessimist or something, but what are you gonna do? Pay them? Even if you do, you can't possibly pay every paparazzi in America off." Beca reasoned.
"I know, but I'll find a way... I'll..." She didn't finish her sentence as her phone beeped, indicating a new message.
"I'm sorry, I need to go. Can we talk about this later?"
"Yeah, sure..." Beca sighed, relieved that she wouldn't have to talk about her feelings. Chloe kissed her soundlessly before she stood up. She straightened her skirt before casting one last look at the brunette.
"Whatever you need, just call me okay? I'll be there in a sec." Beca could only nod.
Turns out this later came much much later than both of them had anticipated. After the paparazzi incident, Chloe had an unavoidable trip to England and was gone for more than two weeks, and Beca... Beca had almost forgotten it. Keyword: almost. She had become more apprehensive of her surroundings and had limited her outings to the minimum, only going out for a run and at work. But Jesse was always there with her. She felt bad, having to drag him around and tried to get rid of him many times, yet every time Jesse asked if she was sure about it, she always caved. Chloe had offered more than once to hire a bodyguard for them, but Beca each time declined. A bodyguard would make this situation more real. And that scared Beca. She didn't feel ready to abandon her privacy that easily. Not yet, at least. If she was honest with herself, it was eating her alive. How could she continue being with Chloe if she couldn't handle that part of Chloe's world? She had thought of that many times over these past few months, yet it was always a thought at the back of her mind. Not it was real. It had happened. And it would happen. If Beca wanted to be with Chloe, this was a small price she had to pay. Right? These thoughts were becoming more and more permanent and were nagging at her constantly. And unfortunately, as much as she had tried to hide it from Chloe, she knew. Their conversations lately seemed strained, and Beca hated herself for that. Hated the fact she had to pretend for Chloe. For not just opening her damn mouth and talking about these things like an adult. If only Beca had the balls.
"Hey, babe." Chloe greeted her girlfriend as she entered Beca and Jesse's apartment. The latter was out of town, and Beca had invited Chloe over for the night. Chloe had just gotten back to the States, and she didn't waste any time when Beca proposed they had a quiet evening in. She had missed the brunette.
"Hey, Chlo." Beca greeted back with a peck on the redhead's lips. Chloe wasted no time in discarding her shoes and jacket off as well as placing her overnight bag in Beca's bedroom. Beca on the other hand tried to stay occupied by grabbing two glasses and a bottle of wine from the fridge. She placed them on the coffee table while waiting for the other woman to come. Chloe was back in the room a few seconds later, taking the vacant seat next to the younger woman. She let her phone on the table before giving her full attention to Beca.
"How are you Becs?" Chloe asked. She took Beca's hand in her own and traced soothing circles on it.
"I'm good." Beca shrugged, her eyes not meeting Chloe's.
"You sure? You just seem a bit off." Chloe pointed out carefully in fear of upsetting the brunette.
"Yep. Just a bit tired." She sighed.
"Beca it's okay, you can talk to me." Chloe tried again.
"Jesus, Chloe, I'm fine. Can you just back off for a second!" Beca snapped but immediately regretted it. She put the ball of her hands in her eyes, trying to wipe the frustration she was feeling away, "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me." She apologized. The hurt look on Chloe's face broke her heart, and she wished she hadn't used that tone.
"Beca you don't have to apologize. But something's clearly bugging you, and I wish you could just talk to me."
"I don't know what you want me to say, Chloe..."
"I just want you to tell me what's going on with you lately. Ever since I left for England, every conversation we had, every text you sent back felt like you did it because you wanted to be polite or something. I would have preferred if you hadn't talked to me at all."
"I don't know how to deal with all this..." Beca confessed.
"What do you mean? What's all this?" Chloe demanded. A strange unsettling feeling was forming on her chest, but she tried to push it away. It was doing more hard than good anyway.
"This...lifestyle...."
"Are you referring to the paparazzi incident? Because I told you I can fix this."
“Yes. I mean no. I mean, I don't know..." She sighed. "It's not only that. Sure it played a huge role as it made me realize some things, but I don't think it's only this."
"Beca, I don't understand what you're trying to say, so please help me a little here."
"It's just too much for me, Chloe. You're used to this, paparazzi knowing you and following you everywhere you go, your relationships always being in the public eye, but I don't think I'll ever get used to this. It's challenging as it is, but I don't know. Ever since the incident, I always feel exposed. Like I can't go outside without Jesse being here; it's insane." Beca said.
"And I offered to pay for a bodyguard."
"To do what Chloe? Scare them away? They'll keep coming."
"But at least you'll be safe, Becs. I know it's a lot, I've been there, I'm still there, to be honest.."
"Safe? Chloe, I don't give a fuck if some of them get angry or something, I can handle that. But it's mentally exhausting. And I know you've been there, but you know that it was part of the job description. You knew this would happen."
"So! Do you think it made it easier? I was having panic attacks for years, Beca! Contrary to what you might believe, I wasn't just born with the ability to handle a pap and know how to avoid them. I've been on that road."
"Yeah, Chloe, but you're famous. They have a reason to follow you everywhere you go, they ask you about your career and stuff. The only reason I'm being hunted down is because they care about the person I'm sleeping with!" Beca said, her tone slightly raised.
"I didn't know that was how you perceived me and our relationship, just as someone you're sleeping with."
"Fuck, Chloe that was not what I meant, like at all! Don't put words in my mouth!"
"And don't you act like my whole life was always rainbows and sunshine.
"This is getting nowhere..." Beca whispered. She was tired. This was the exact opposite of how she imagined her afternoon would go.
"You should have told me sooner, Beca. You should have called, and I'd be here in an instant, you know that." Chloe said.
"Suppose I did that. What would I tell you? That I want to break up with you?" Chloe was taken aback.
"Is...is that what you want to do?" Chloe whispered, not trusting her own voice.
"I honestly have no idea. I don't think what I'm feeling is going to fade. I love you, Chloe, but I think we need some time to just....cool off." Beca admitted. Chloe chuckled, earning a confused look from the other woman.
"Of all the times you could have said it, you had to tell me you love me now." She said amused.
“Me and my impeccable timing, right?" Beca chuckled back.
"Is this really what you want?" Chloe tried once again, hoping against all odds that Beca didn't mean it, that she just said because she was being frustrated.
"I'm sure as hell I'm gonna regret it the moment you walk out that door but yeah... I need to do this...for both of us."
"Don't." Chloe's voice was harsher. "This is your choice, not mine. I would have never even considered this." She tried to fight the tears away, but she was close to her breaking point, not that she cared anyway.
"I know, and I'm sorry." Beca was the first to break, though. Tears started streaming down her face. Chloe made tentative steps towards her and wrapped her hands around Beca's waist. She was relieved when Beca put her own hand on Chloe's shoulders, hugging her tightly.
"I mean what I said. I'll always be there for you." Chloe said while kissing Beca's shoulder.
"I know. And I'll always have your back. No matter what." They hesitantly parted ways. Chloe held onto Beca's hand for a little longer before letting it go completely. She went back to Beca's room to retrieve her things.
“Beca...." Chloe said, catching the brunette's attention. Chloe was at the front door. Beca raised her head, baby blue eyes meeting with navy ones.
"I love you too. Goodbye Becs." She threw one last look at Beca before closing the door behind her.
"Goodbye, my Chloe."
*
She was right. The moment Chloe stepped out of the apartment, Beca wanted to take everything back and somehow found a way to fix this. Chloe would take her back, right? Yet, something (probably her dignity) kept her glued to her spot. She hated herself. Hating for doing this to Chloe, to their relationship. But she knew, if she kept doing this, it wouldn't end that well. She just wished Chloe would forgive her eventually and somehow find a way to keep in touch. Being back together was wishful thinking at this point. Days would come and go, and Beca was feeling like she was stuck in a loop. She would go to work, pretend to work for her sanity's sake, come back to her apartment, eat, maybe banter a bit with Jesse and then go to bed. Jesse had been a sweetheart and hadn't pressured her to talk about that day or whatever led her to that decision. She knew it was eating him alive, not being able to help, to put a smile back on her face, but he was respecting her boundaries. The only thing that was going well was the fact that the paparazzi had stopped harassing her. She hadn't seen one for the last couple of weeks, the same amount of time they haven't been dating. Beca didn't know if Chloe had paid them off or they got bored of her, but she was thankful for whatever had happened. She was not in the mood to relieve her breakup with a bunch of strangers. Regarding Chloe, she hadn't heard from the other woman since that night. And for once in her life, the universe had been helpful with that. No billboards, no news about her, no magazines with Chloe's face as a cover, nothing. Whether this brought relief or not, she hasn't decided yet.
"Okay, what about this? How does that sound?" Jesse asked. They have been locked in the studio since that morning, putting some finishing touches to their new song. Beca couldn't concentrate, though. This song was reminding her of a certain redhead. Well, mostly, because Chloe had helped them write the lyrics, but still. She just wished Jesse would finish this on his own and let her wallow by herself. In her office. Preferably with all the lights off so no one could disturb her. She sighed and rolled her chair around to face Jesse.
"I don't know Jesse, it doesn't sound the same," Beca cried. It was Chloe's voice they had used for the demo, and Beca couldn't think of anyone else who could replace her. It was her song.
"I know, and we could still ask her, you know. She owns like half the song." Jesse pointed out.
"We can't...we shouldn't. I don't want to put her hopes up. And I don't think I can survive a second round of Chloe's puppy eyes. Or her wrath. Whichever she decides to use on me..." It was the first time Beca had used her name within the last weeks. It felt weird.
"Chloe isn't like that. If she wanted to fight for you or get revenge on you or whatever, she would have already done it one way or another. I'm not saying it won't be weird when you see each other again after your breakup, but I don't think she'd want to make you uncomfortable," Jesse reasoned.
"You're probably right. Maybe I'm the problem. Maybe the moment I see her, I'll cave."
"And why is that wrong?" Jesse asked, confused.
"Because...we broke up for a reason. Which is still pretty valid."
"I know...and I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you."
"It's okay Jess. Anyway since I'm not being helpful here, I think I'll head home. Don't tell my boss." Beca teased.
"Don't worry, I'm pretty sure he likes you." He kissed the top of her head. "Go, and I'll finish this up. I'll see you later"
She was alone at home. Once upon a time, this would have been her happy place. But now, it suffocated her. She couldn't wait for Jesse to come home. Her thoughts were making her restless, and she tried many things to stay occupied. Yet none of them worked. She shot a quick text to Jesse with the excuse of what to make for dinner. Thankfully he caught her silent request for some company and informed her that he'd be home soon. She relaxed and decided to watch some TV. Barely any time had passed when she heard a knock on the door. She furrowed her brows in confusion which was followed by an eye roll. Jesse must have forgotten his keys. Again. She stood up and made her way to the door.
"What have I told you about your damn..." She didn't get to finish. There she was, standing on the other side of the door. Her breath caught in her throat. She was as beautiful as the last time she saw her. She had dyed her hair a brighter shade of red, but it still suited her.
"Hi, Beca," Chloe greeted, seeing how Beca hadn't said a word.
"Chloe? What are you doing here? Did something happen? Are you okay?" She fired the redhead with questions, fear, and anxiety rippling through her body.
"Yes. I'm fine. Everything's more than okay, actually. I needed to tell you something..." She admitted.
"What is it?" Beca demanded.
"I got a call this morning from the Waynes. They want to sign you, Beca."