Chapter Text
To say that Chloe was like a little child around the holidays was a complete understatement that Beca could easily attest to. The younger girl found out pretty early on that the redhead would easily rip into presents before Christmas morning if they were put out or even hidden somewhere. Yes, that means that Beca has caught Chloe mid unwrapping a present that was hidden in the basement one year and yes she was mad. And it only got worse as their relationship progressed. So now that they’ve been dating for just over 3 years Chloe has gotten more and more excited around the holidays thus more likely to try to snoop out every last present in the house.
Beca had pretty much given up on hiding spots so she just had everything wrapped one day and put them all under the tree a week before Christmas with a kind warning of “Chloe if you even think about opening these before Christmas so help me you’re going to regret it”. Of course Beca had planned on this going awry. She just knew that the redhead couldn’t hold out for the life of her so that’s why she had the backup plan. Which is why she spent a little bit more time surfing the internet before she wrapped all of the presents and may or may not have rigged the most appealing ones to either set off a ridiculous alarm or to throw confetti in her face. Almost every other present was, yes, booby trapped and Beca was damn proud of her improvisation and preventative methods this year. Albeit the confetti one is going to prove to be a little messier than Beca was willing she thought that the humor of it would probably make up for the mess it would make.
To make it even better every single night Beca made sure to have her camera recording in just the right place so that 1. Chloe wouldn’t see it or think anything of it and 2. to capture all the goodness that would be busting one Chloe Beale opening presents early. She had to admit that she was pretty proud of herself for thinking this whole thing through and that maybe she was a little too proud. Too proud meaning she kept goading Chloe on about how great the presents were in attempts of getting her to open them sooner. This proved to be effective the night before Christmas Eve when Beca was still out late finishing up a project so that she could take a week off and not feel guilty about leaving a project partially done.
Chlo (6:42 pm): So when will you be home again?
Beca (7:01 pm): Around 9. Why?
Chlo (7:03 pm): No reason
Beca (7:05 pm): I don’t believe that for a second, Beale
Chlo (7:07 pm): Sheesh I just wanted to know when to make dinner dork
Beca (7:16 pm): Uh huh
Beca didn’t believe the redhead when she said it was so she knew when to make dinner. She didn’t believe it for a second but she wasn’t exactly going to call her out on it either because quite frankly it would be far more entertaining to walk in a little early and find out what’s really going on. So when at 8:45 pm she walks through the front door to hear a string of cursing in the living room all she can do is laugh and walk towards the source.
“Beca,” Chloe yelps throwing a guilty look her way but unable to hide the current mess.
“Chloe,” Beca replies attempting to keep her voice even.
“What the hell is all this?” Chloe asks gesturing around to the confetti that had exploded only minutes prior and waggling around her hand that quite obviously has a finger stuck in a box. Beca figures it’s the box that was sealed shut in such a fashion that it could not be easily opened and that Chloe must have tried to stick her finger inside in attempts of separating it. Only to get stuck. It’s then that Beca loses it and doubles over in laughter. “You booby trapped the presents? Are you kidding me?”
Instead of replying Beca just laughs until Chloe starts halfheartedly yanking at the box stuck on her finger. Once she sets her finger free she chucks the box at the other girl who just continues to laugh at her. Chloe deflates on the ground and looks at the mess around her.
“Did you seriously booby trap Christmas presents?” Chloe asks once Beca starts to settle down.
“Yes,” Beca replies simply.
“That’s just wrong,” Chloe deflates.
“Yes I booby trapped the presents because you do this every fucking year, Chlo. Every. Single. Year,” Beca punctuates each word with a glare. It’s playful but serious at the same time. Beca can’t keep her serious face on for all that long when Chloe looks at her like she is right now.
“I know,” Chloe mumbles looking down at the confetti scattered all over the floor and in her hair. “And now I’ve made a mess.”
“Yes, you have,” Beca chuckles while looking over the redhead whose hair is absolutely covered with little specks of the rainbow. “And while you clean that up I’m going to download this footage.”
“What footage?” Chloe perks up looking over at Beca.
“I set up the camera to record your ridiculous shenanigans,” Beca replies skipping over to where the camera was hidden and picking it up. She pointed it at Chloe and scanned the mess she had made with the camera. “Chloe Beale. Miss I can’t wait until Christmas to get my presents for my life so this is what happens.”
“Dork,” Chloe quips sticking her tongue out for the camera. “I’m assuming you’re going to put this online for all to see.”
“You guessed right, my dear,” Beca jokes with a smile. Chloe smirks and it only takes a second for her to realize she’s planning something.
“Gimme that,” Chloe squeals jumping for Beca and the camera.
“No, no,” Beca shouts jumping away from the redhead. “This is mine.”
“C’mere,” Chloe whines easily chasing after Beca as she runs for the kitchen.
“Never,” Beca calls back as she circles around the kitchen looking for an escape. Chloe stops for a moment with her arms crossed as she plans out her possible route. She jumps left throwing herself onto the kitchen counter and easily gets to the other girl before she can make an exit. She’s swift to wrap her legs around Beca to keep her place.
“Ha,” Chloe shouts in triumph holding the camera so that Beca is now in the frame. “So what do you say to the viewers?”
“Hit that thumbs up if you like it, subscribe for more of us dorks and uh,” Beca contemplates for a moment while biting her lip. “And if this video hits 10,000 likes maybe I’ll seal the deal.”
“Becs,” Chloe giggles swatting her arm. “That’ll never happen, you dork.”
“Hey, you never know,” Beca throws up her arms in defense. Chloe’s not exactly wrong they have maybe say just over 3,500 viewers. So getting to 10,000 likes is a bit of a long shot but a girl could hope. “So, all you dorks out there better share and like this. And Happy Holidays to all and to all a good night.”
“Such a dork,” Chloe laughs causing Beca to smile and her eyes to twinkle. The redhead cuts the recording there and hands the camera to the younger girl gently. “Well, someone better get to editing and posting that. And after that dinner.”
“It doesn’t even need much editing,” Beca decides. “Just let me go add a couple text slides into it to give a little backstory and it’ll be good to go.”
“Mhm,” Chloe mumbles in agreeance as she jumps off the counter. “In the meantime I’ll make dinner since someone came home a little early.”
“Don’t forget to clean up the confetti,” Beca calls from the top of the stairs obviously happy to have avoided the task of cleaning. Chloe chuckles to herself but just lets it go because after all she did make the mess herself.