After the USO Tour was over, Beca had packed up her stuff rather quickly and was moving into her new place in LA, but a week later.
The sooner, the better, sheâd thought. She didnât want to drag out long goodbyes with Amy, and especially not Chloe. Itâs not like she wouldnât see either of them again. Amy was now a millionaire and would no doubt be showing her face in LA, under the pretence of not knowing how to do her laundry, and therefore end up crashing at Becaâs for a few weeks, turned months. Not that Beca would be complaining. Sheâll admit that it is strange to come âhomeâ to an empty apartment, after living with the Bellaâs and then moving in with Amy and Chloe, the brunette had gotten used to having people around, her friends around⊠Chloe around.
She winced as she thought of the redhead, remembering her goodbyes to her former roommates, whilst a chauffeur from DJ Khaled waited outside for her. Amy had all but promised sheâd see Beca within the next few weeks, claiming that maybe LA needs a bit of Fat Amy Winehouse, to which Beca rolled her eyes fondly and hugged her crazy, best friend.
Then there was Chloe, the redhead looking anywhere but at Beca, arms wrapped around herself, as if to keep herself from falling apart. The brunetteâs chest ached heavily and her eyes began to sting as she wordlessly drew Chloe in for the briefest hug imaginable. It physically pained her to let go, place a chaste kiss to Chloeâs temple, then swiftly exit the apartment. No words were shared, not even an optimistic âsee you soonâ.
So here she was, in her new apartment in LA after a long day at the studio. She didnât have the energy to cook, so she ordered pizza and collapsed onto the couch with an exasperated sigh. Sheâd been keeping herself busy since she arrived in LA, in order to keep her mind off of the redhead that plagued her dreams. Beca knew why her stomach clenched uncomfortably when she thought of Chloe, no longer the butterflies she used to feel when sheâd see the redheadâs beaming smile or when Chloe would have a witty comeback and Beca would feel an odd sense of pride that the redhead understood Becaâs humour as well as she did.
Beca knew that if she lay there on the couch long enough, eyes closed yet still stinging, that sheâd cry. She could feel a sob building in her chest, and a twinge of anger shoot through her, as the memory of seeing Chloe kiss Chicago, after Becaâs big opening performance, replayed in her mindâs eye.
The way sheâd tugged him by his tie, the way heâd dipped her, the way her leg wrapped around his ever-so-slightly. Beca tasted iron and realised sheâd bit the inside of her cheek too hard, drawing blood.
A tidal wave of self-loathing crashed over her, for a multitude of reasons, each one stronger than the next. Firstly, Chloe is her best friend, she should be happy for her, but sheâs not. Then, thereâs a small part of her, no matter how tiny, that still wonders if sheâd been better off with her walls up, armour on, never having joined the Bellaâs in the first place. Despite joining being probably the best thing thatâs ever happened to her. But the real reason, the biggest reason, is that she fell in love with her best friend, she doesnât know when, doesnât know how, but it happened. She has a feeling that Chloe, at some stage, maybe had feelings for her too, and the possibility of that even being true, is what breaks her heart the most. The reality that Beca had been too late, too stupid, too scared to act on her own feelings, even though there was the slightest chance theyâd be reciprocated.
The first tear sliding down her cheek, brings with it a heart wrenching sob, that the brunetteâs powerless to contain. She doesnât know how long sheâd been on the couch wallowing, when a knock on the front door sounded. Suddenly Beca wasnât hungry, the thought of food making her nauseous, and she briefly wondered if she should just let the delivery guy keep knocking until heâd give up and leave. But sheâd feel bad for them having driven all the way here to deliver the pizza, damn Chloe and her stupid niceness for rubbing off on her.
Answering the door, looking like a mess, Beca thanked the guy, paid him and tossed the pizza onto the kitchen counter. Sheâd have it tomorrow maybe. It was her day off and she had no idea how she was going to keep herself occupied, to keep her mind off of Chloe.
ââââââââââââââââââââââ-
Beca was woken up by the harsh sound of her alarm on her bedside table. Sheâd forgotten to turn it off the night before, to allow herself to lay in and wake up later than usual, but sheâd been preoccupied with trying to get Chloe out of her head, that sheâd just crawled into bed and cried⊠well, until she passed out basically.
Her phone chimed on the bedside table and Beca groaned. She wasnât in the mood for weird texts from Theo that he assured were âbanterâ but she didnât really understand British humour, or the guys accent really if she was being honest. It chimed again and the brunette gave up any attempt at falling back to sleep, now in a shit mood that she was certain was foreshadowing the day ahead of her. With nothing to do but think of a certain redhead and overanalyse every single detail of every single interaction theyâve ever had since that damned activities fair back at Barden.
Reaching over, she grabbed her phone to find 27 missed calls, 18 unanswered text messages and 5 voicemails. She wasnât in the mood to respond to any, seeing Theoâs name a few times, Amyâs, Stacieâs, CRâs, Aubreyâs and⊠she threw her phone so fast across the room, as if itâd burned her. Luckily it landed on something soft because she wasnât planning to leave the apartment at all today, least of all to go and get a new phone.
Suddenly a loud banging on her front door echoed throughout the apartment. Beca scrubbed a hand over her face and sighed tiredly, feeling infinitely more drained than she did when she first woke up. Glancing at the alarm clock beside her, she wondered who in the fuck would be knocking on her door at 5:45am on a Saturday?
Not even bothering to check what she looked like in the mirror, she threw on a hoodie and sauntered towards the front door. The knocking having never ceased, not even for a second.
Losing what little patience she already had, Becaâs mind was conjuring up how to kill whoever was currently banging on her door, and wondering where she could hide the body, when she threw open the door and she froze.
ââââââââââââââââââââââ-
Staring back at her was Chloe Beale. Both the last person and the very person she wanted to see.
Chloeâs hand was raised mid-air, as if to knock on the door again, her breath hitching slightly as she took in the sight of her best friend. Beca had slight bags under her eyes, hair up in a messy bun, wearing a familiar looking hoodie and sweats that⊠also looked familiar.
Beca heard as the redheadâs breath catch audibly, and yet she couldnât move, couldnât speak, just stood there dumbly staring at the woman she just couldnât get out of her head.
âHiâ Chloe breathed, her tense shoulders instantly relaxing as her eyes laid on her best friend. Sheâd been worried sick when she hadnât received a text from Beca to let her know her plane had landed and that she was safely in LA. Sheâd asked the rest of the girls in the Bellaâs Group Chat, and apparently Beca hadnât reached out to anyone to let them know she was okay.
Chloe had been furious. Whenever any of the girlâs travel, they always text Chloe to let her know that theyâd gotten wherever it is they were going, okay. She knew that Beca knew how badly she worries, and yet, whilst a part of her was still fuming at Beca, for not having checked in with her to let her know she was alright, seeing her now in all her bedhead glory with her signature pre-morning-coffee frown, she couldnât help but feel relieved.
âWhat are you doing here?â Beca asked, her tone more confused than happy to see Chloe, which made the redhead tense up again.
âYou werenât answering your phone.â the redhead answered, her tone somewhat accusing.
âSo you flew all the way to LA?â Becaâs brows raised, pure and utter confusion taking hold of her now.
âNo one could get ahold of you. You didnât let anyone know you got here safely and you know how I worry!â Chloe could feel herself getting worked up, her eyes starting to sting.
Beca rest her forehead on the door for a second to take a deep, steadying breath, before pushing the door wider and motioning for Chloe to come in.
The redhead hesitantly stepped into the apartment, her gaze never straying from the brunetteâs face. She noticed Beca looked tired. Not just tired, exhausted. She wondered if Beca also had trouble sleeping alone, after sharing a bed for so long.
âItâs still early. Iâll take the couch and you can take my bed.â Beca said, moving to walk past the redhead.
She was stopped by a hand on her wrist, and then toned arms were wrapping themselves around her, Chloe burrowing into the crook of the brunetteâs neck. Becaâs arms lay limp by her sides, she was at war with herself. She wanted nothing more than to hug Chloe back, to hold her and never let go, but she would eventually have to let go, and thatâs what hurt the most.
Beca didnât have the strength in her, mainly due to the fact she was beyond exhausted, to resist a hug from Chloe Beale. She awkwardly led Chloe backwards towards her bedroom, stumbling a few times along the way, not that that had made any difference, the redheadâs grip was still unrelenting.
Sitting down on the mattress, meant Chloe went with her, not that either of them cared at this point. Chloe was doing a very impressive koala impression, clinging to Beca like a lifeline, whilst Beca made sure they both lay comfortably before dragging the covers up, over them both.
âI canât sleep properly without you.â Chloe admitted into the crook of Becaâs neck. Her lips whispering against the patch of skin, just beneath the brunetteâs ear, causing a shiver to run down Becaâs spine.
âThereâs a lot of things I canât do properly without you.â Beca mumbled, already half asleep, unaware that the confession had caused a tear to slip from Chloeâs eye.
The last thing she felt before falling under, was Chloe snuggling closer and a whisper that sounded like, I love you.
ââââââââââââââââââââââ-
When Beca next woke up, the sun was streaming through the blinds. She stretched and felt her foot hit something smooth and warm. Looking to her left, she found Chloe Beale gazing down at her.
âWere you watching me sleep?â Beca asked between yawns.
Chloe nodded, reaching over to tuck a stray strand of Becaâs hair, back behind her ear.
âDidnât anyone ever tell you that itâs creepy to do that?â Beca grumbled, her eyes on the comforter rather than the redheadâs.
Chloe lifted Becaâs chin gently and waited patiently until she gained eye contact before speaking.
âYou talk in your sleep.â she said, her thumb caressing Becaâs cheek as she tried to read the brunette.
âWhat? No, I donât. If I did, youâd have told me years ago. Or at least Amy would have.â she crease between her brows deepening, as she wondered what she wouldâve said if she did talk in her sleep.
âAmy sleeps like the dead and snores like⊠I donât even know like what.â Chloe raised a brow as a small smile quirked her lips.
âAnd you?â Beca asked, waiting with baited breath.
âI donât snore!â Chloe poked Becaâs cheek and grinned when Beca rolled her eyes fondly.
âI know that! I meant why you havenât ever told me.â the brunette asked, her voice getting quiet all of a sudden.
âWell, I was waiting for you to tell me when you were awake⊠I have been for years now.â Chloe explained airily, smoothing the crease between the brunetteâs brows with the pad of her thumb gently.
âT-tell you what?â the brunette stuttered, a blush colouring her cheeks instantly as her gaze searched Chloeâs frantically.
âIâ Chloe trailed the tip of her index finger down the side of her face, watching as Becaâs eyes fluttered shut.
She drew a heart on the brunetteâs cheek with her finger, and heard Becaâs breath hitch. Chloe took that to mean that Beca knew what she meant.
âYouâ she whispered, now a hairsbreadth away from the lips sheâd craved for 7 years.
Beca blinked open her eyes, took a deep breath and spoke the words so softly, if the redhead hadnât been so close, sheâs not sure sheâd have heard it.
âI love you.â she breathed on a shaky exhale, her eyes flitting between Chloeâs own.
Chloe closed her eyes and rest her forehead against Becaâs, nudging her nose playfully.
âSay it againâŠâ she begged, âPlease.â she whimpered.
Beca brought her hands up to cup Chloeâs face tenderly.
âIâm so in love with you, Chloe Beale.â the words spoken causing a happy tear to fall down Chloeâs face.
âI love you too⊠so much. I always have.â Chloe grinned, before closing the already short distance, and bringing their lips together in a sweet kiss.
âWowâ Beca breathed. Chloeâs lips had been even softer than sheâd imagined⊠and she had imagined, multiple times over the years. Probably an unhealthy amount for your best friend.
âThatâs how I felt the first time I saw you.â Chloe admitted, now uncharacteristically shy. She bit her lip to stifle the beaming smile that was just bursting to break through.
Reaching up ever-so-slowly, Beca interlaced her fingers with Chloe and pressed a kiss to the back of each of her hands.
The gesture stirred something in the redhead, causing Chloe to capture Becaâs lips in a lingering kiss. The feel of the brunetteâs hand reaching up to tangle in her hair and hold her closer, rousing a low moan to come from Chloe.
When they parted, Beca was now laying on top of Chloe, pressing kisses all over her face.
âIâm sorry I took so long.â she whispered, resting their foreheads together.
âDarlingâ Chloe nudged her nose against Becaâs to gain the brunetteâs attention, as if the use of the new pet name wasnât enough to completely captivate her.
âYou are more than worth the wait.â the redhead promised her, lifting her head to place a chaste kiss to Becaâs forehead.
A shit-eating grin wormed itâs way onto the brunetteâs face, before she kissed Chloe once more. Both of them content to spend the rest of the day in bed, showing each other just how much they love the other.Â