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To say she was frustrated was an understatement. She liked Aubrey. She really did. Ever since she met the blonde at the bonding trip Chloe had set up for the Bellas, she felt butterflies in her stomach. At first, she thought she had eaten something that didn't settle well with her stomach, but after talking to Jessica (or Ashley, she wasn’t really sure who was who), they told her that that’s how you feel when you like someone. And to be honest, what was not to like? Aubrey was gorgeous and radiant. A little bit scary, but when Aubrey looked at her with those blue eyes and the brightest smile she had ever seen, Emily almost forgot her name.
Then the Worlds came, and Aubrey was always right by her side. Emily found herself more than once in hers and Chloe’s room, talking about everything and anything. At these late nights, Emily saw a different Aubrey. An Aubrey that wasn’t afraid of what Emily would think if she gave up control for once. An Aubrey that was laughing at her silly jokes. An Aubrey that Emily was falling for bit by bit each day.
After her graduation, Beca invited her to New York, where she lived with Chloe for the past four years. Being jobless and with nothing better to do, she accepted immediately.
The few days’ trip to New York turned into months. Beca had even found her a job as an intern in the music company she was working for and with their help, she also found a studio apartment just a few blocks away from them. They had dinner together every night and had become some sort of a family.
That’s how she found out from Beca that Aubrey was visiting New York for a few days. With her fiance. At the mention of the last part, all color drained from her face. She masked it quickly; The girls didn’t know. And there was nothing to know anyway. Emily was in love with someone that always considered her as a sister. Nothing more.
She found herself sleeping less and less as Aubrey’s arrival was approaching. Most nights, she would just lie on the bed, looking at the ceiling. Others, she would grab her trusted notepad and a pen, and she’d write some lyrics.
“What’s up Legacy? Why are you still awake?” Beca asked, startling the younger brunette. After another late night at the Mitchell - Beale household, Emily decided to just crash there for the night.
“God, Beca you scared me!” Emily hissed, as she clutched her chest, the notepad dropping to the floor. They looked at each other for a brief second before both tried to catch the notepad. Beca was quicker, giving a winning smile to the other woman, as she plopped herself next to Emily. She perused the piece of paper for a few moments before looking at Emily.
“You wrote this?” She asked with a raised eyebrow. Emily nodded without looking at Beca.
“Em, this is amazing!”
“No, it’s stupid.” The other girl mumbled, her eyes never leaving the TV.
“Hey, look at me.” Emily did as she was told. Even though Beca was much shorter than her, she was intimidating.
“This is so good! And, I’m not saying this because you’re basically my kid. But this...I wanna record this.” Beca said in a serious tone.
“I don’t know, Bec. It’s nothing. Just rambling.”
“Okay...we can wait a bit before sending it to my boss. But, we can sing it at Jesse’s bar opening night. He was looking for new artists to perform that night, but you can do it! You can sing this song.”
“I'm not sure, Beca. I haven’t performed in so long, and I don’t think I can sing such an intimate song in front of a crowd.”
“Okay. I’m not gonna push you. But think about it.” She pressed a soft kiss on Emily’s head before getting up.
“Oh, and by the way, since the person this song’s about, will be there, I figured it would help you muster the courage and tell her.” Beca winked before disappearing into her and Chloe’s bedroom.
Beca was right. Some way, somehow, she had to tell Aubrey. Was it wrong? Of course, it was; Aubrey was engaged. Would she feel better? Probably not. Would Aubrey realize the song is for her? Also unlikely. But it was something that she owned herself to do.
And thus, here she was, with Beca and Chloe at Jesse’s opening night. Beca, a few days ago, had already written a melody for the song and they had some time to rehearse it. Chloe had loved it. She knew; of course, she knew. Chloe somehow always knew how Emily felt. It was unnerving, but she was glad that someone got her without having to say it.
“She’s here,” Beca said as three pairs of eyes looked at the bar’s entrance. Aubrey was alone and dressed in a lovely black mini dress. Emily forgot how to breathe for a second.
“Beca, I can’t do it.” Emily felt as if she was ready to pass out.
“No, you can dude, we rehearsed it.”
“I can’t.”
“Emily, you wrote a song, and we won the Worlds. If you could do that, you can do this too. I believe in you….We believe in you.” To make her point, she and Chloe enveloped her in a tight hug.
“Okay, but if I’m gonna do it, you’re coming with me? I can’t sing it alone. And you’re the only one that knows this song.”
“Uhm, pretty sure Chloe knows it too.” Beca pointed out.
“Beca, please.” Emily gave the best puppy eyes she could muster.
“Ugh, fine. Let’s do this.” She pecked Chloe’s lips as she put her hands on Emily’s shoulders and led her to the stage.
Beca took a guitar before both sitting on the stools in front of the microphones.
“Hello, guys! First of all, we’d like to wish Jesse the best and thank him for giving us this opportunity to sing this song tonight. It’s an original song that my dear friend, Emily wrote a few nights back, and I bullied her to turn it into a song. Thank you, Em.” She looked at the taller brunette with a soft smile.
“Anything you’d like to add, Legacy?”
Emily looked at Beca, before bringing her face closer to the microphone.
“This song is for a certain someone.”
Beca smirked as she started playing the first notes of the song.
“You know just what to say, things that scare me
I should just walk away, but I can't move my feet
The more that I know you, the more that I want to
Something inside me's changed
I was so much younger yesterday”
She locked eyes with Aubrey, who looked at her with a soft smile. She almost choked on her words, but she quickly recovered.
“I didn't know that I was starving till I tasted you
Don't need no butterflies when you give me the whole damn zoo
By the way, right away, you do things to my body
I didn't know that I was starving till I tasted you”
Once the song ended, she left a breath she didn’t know she was holding. Everyone cheered, and Beca was immediately by her side hugging her tightly.
“Dude, it was awesome. I’m so proud of you.” Beca smiled reassuringly. She noticed with the corner of her eye, Chloe coming to them.
“Em, this was amazing, I’m proud of both of you.” To make her point Chloe kissed both women on their forehead before planting an extra kiss on Beca’s lips.
“Aubrey broke up with her fiance,” Chloe informed.
“Wh-what? Really?” Emily asked, hope sparking once again inside her.
“Yes. They broke up a week ago. From what she told me, they weren’t happy for a long time. This trip was just one last effort to save their relationship. But things went downhill...and they called it off.”
Chloe noticed how Emily was silent this whole time, the gears in her mind turning.
“Now, I’m not saying you should make a move right away. But Aubrey is gonna stay for a little longer than intended here. And she’s gonna need a friend.” Chloe suggested with a smirk.
Their moment was interrupted by Aubrey, who came to congratulate them.
“I’m still amazed by how much talent you have,” Aubrey said as she hugged Emily. The girl tried to brush it off, but Aubrey had none of it.
“Nope, before you say anything, the song was amazing. Ever since I met you, I knew your true potential, and this, seeing you singing one of your songs made me so damn proud.” Aubrey revealed.
“I helped write the song.” Beca interrupted. “Well, not exactly write, but I did produce and composed the song. But yeah, Emily wrote these amazing lyrics, whatever.” Beca teased, earning an eye roll from both Aubrey and Chloe.
“My talented producer.” Chloe kissed Beca. “I’ll show you later how much proud I’m of you.” She winked suggestively as she and Beca went towards the bar for a much-needed drink, leaving the two women alone.
“Gross.” Emily scrunched her nose, earning a laugh from the blonde.
“Yeah, they can be sometimes. Anyway, Emily, I was serious. I loved the song. I can’t wait to hear more from you..since I’ll be here some time.”
“You can stay at my place,” Emily said. “I mean, I know that you’ll be staying at a hotel, duh, but you don’t have to waste so much money. I could use the company, to be honest.”
“I don’t want to intrude.”
“You won’t. I’d love to share my apartment with you. Not forever. Just as long as you want. I mean forever would be cool too but….I’ll just shut up.” She mumbled, watching Aubrey’s amused face.
“Fine. I’ll come to stay with you...Not forever.” She winked.
“Not...forever,” Emily repeated causing both women to laugh. It was a start, Emily thought.