Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A month and a half until the Worlds.

And Beca still didn’t have a mix made.

Between the heavy pressure of winning Worlds and the need to prove herself at her internship, for the sake of showing her boss that she was more than an a capella singer who sang covers and did mashups of songs, Beca was stressed.                                                    

It was the type of stress that sometimes left her lying on the bed, unable to accomplish anything. She would switch between fusing different songs together – that would hopefully produce the perfect mix – for Worlds and helplessly trying to create something original to present to her boss, but the one thing that remained constant was the aggressive pouncing on her computer with each click.

And Beca loved music. She loved it more than anything. 

But balancing her role as captain of an a capella group that depended on her, while interning at a studio that Beca practically saw as a threshold measuring her capabilities as a music producer, it left her feeling overwhelmed. 

If that wasn’t enough - apparently - she now had a Legacy to tend to and look after. 

Beca didn’t even know that was a thing.

This feeling was new to her because ever since attending Barden, she wanted nothing more than to step out of it and make music.

It wasn’t so much that she was entirely full of herself to think she could just go out there and be praised for being the best, but her ego did break a little when she was now swimming in a pond with many other interns equally as good - or, if not, better - than her.

And now she found herself staring at her laptop, blinking meticulously as if waiting for the screen to magically come up with something life-changing, disappointment hitting her in the face and leaving her even more stuck than when she started.

Nothing.

She really felt like a piece of shit—one that couldn’t even mix songs together, wasn’t good enough to be a music producer, and couldn’t save the demoralized image of the Bellas. They were going to be crushed alive by DSM.

Beca’s furtive attempts to cover her own negligence regarding the Worlds gradually wilted with each practice. 

So when the Bellas spent countless rehearsals doing nothing but cardio and finding their sound, the Legacy had grown restless of the lack of actual music they were doing (which, really, she had every reason to be).

Since she was a child, Emily dreamed of finally becoming a part of the sisterhood. This was not the Barden Bellas her mom spoke so highly about. 

And this was certainly not the Barden Bellas she had fantasized about her whole life.

____________

“Okay, guys. That’s it for today,” Chloe announced in her usual bubbly voice. For a captain that was also on the brink of falling apart, it baffled Beca how Chloe still managed to maintain that aura of hers.

All the other Bellas nodded compliantly, but Emily seemed to have other thoughts on her mind, looking uneasy.

She glanced at the two captains, biting her lip as she approached them. She hesitated for a bit, thinking over whether she should continue on. “Hey. So um… I hope this doesn’t come across the wrong way because you know, I’m new here and I really don’t have the right to demand or anything–”

“Just say it, Legacy.” Beca was tired and she had nothing else left in her to endure any more beating around the bush for something that could easily be said straight to her face.

For someone that could barely get anything done, Beca looked exhausted, eyes bleary and languid.

“Uh, okay. When are we going to start rehearsing for the Worlds? I mean, don’t get me wrong. It’s cool what we’re doing. But shouldn’t we be getting started on something by now?” 

Frankly, Beca wanted to scream. Yes. I know that we should've started rehearsing months ago. We are so behind and it’s my fault.

But Beca knew she was right. Emily had every right to question an a capella group that barely did any a capella, much more rehearse for a world championship that would be the defining factor of where the Barden Bellas stood. There was no reason to argue over her own shortcomings when it was her responsibility to keep them on track.

Beca regained her composure, firming herself before everything else became too much that she would start breaking down. In front of a freshman. “Yeah, no. You’re totally right. I’m the one handling the mix and I’m still working on that, so once that’s finished, Chloe here will start on choreo. Don’t worry though, we’ll have something done in time.”

The legacy looked content enough with her response and gave an assuring nod. “Sounds great. Alright, I’m gonna go now. Today was pretty fun,” Emily said with a slight wave as she turned around to leave. 

The two captains were the only ones left in the gymnasium, getting ready to leave as well.

Beca stayed lost in thought as she remained standing, until her entire vision went blurry and she could only see Chloe. The sight of the redhead broke her out of her muse. She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Chlo. I know I’m in charge of mixing and you’re in charge of choreo, and without the mix, we can’t even do anything. I’m the captain that can’t even lead and just… nothing’s coming together. God, I’m a mess and I–”

Chloe stopped her frantic rambling in time by placing a hand on Beca’s shoulder. It was always a tendency of hers for words to spew out when she was nervous.

“Hey. It’s okay. We’re okay. Take a breath,” Chloe reassured her, slowly bringing her back to normal. She gently took Beca’s wrist and led her to sit on the platform by the stage.

Beca knew it wasn’t okay, but her co-captain was so good at soothing everything that all her negligence and incompetence left her mind for a moment.

She knew she didn’t deserve this level of comfort right now, and she had to get her shit together, yet Beca couldn’t help but welcome it so openly because she really needed this.

She really needed Chloe.

“Look, Becs. Legacy is right—we really need to start rehearsing for Worlds, but I’m also worried about you. With the internship, the Worlds, and Emily, you’re not yourself. And I know you won’t be able to create a mix you’d be proud of when you’re like this. But I also know you love making music and you’re going to keep pushing through, right?”

Something about Chloe’s words spoke like a litany to her. 

Chloe always had a way of reaching deep into Beca’s innermost walls, healing parts of her that she didn’t even know she’d buried.

Maybe it was the mesmerizing look of cerulean eyes staring back at her.

Or maybe it was the way her voice sang like a sweet lullaby lulling her to pure bliss, wiping away the darkness that towered over her.

Maybe Chloe was just Chloe.

Beca was not one for crying; she hated any form of vulnerability. The idea of it was almost foreign to her. But at this point, she could feel tiny teardrops cascading down her eyes, unshakeable emotions taking over.

“Jesus, Beale. Where would I be without you?” Beca bantered with a light laugh, visibly failing her attempt to hide her now completely vulnerable state. 

“Now you’re glad that I failed Russian Lit thrice,” Chloe teased with a playful wink.

Chloe’s witty remark was returned with a soft smile. Anyone could easily see that all the weight has been lifted off the brunette’s shoulders.

As much as Beca found the idea of deliberately failing a class (thrice, for that matter) nonsensical and truthfully, absurd, she couldn’t possibly imagine leading the Bellas with anyone else other than Chloe. In the same peculiar way she was glad the redhead had barged into her shower, she sometimes smiled at the thought that Chloe chose to stay.

And that Chloe was still here. With her.

Beca rested her head on Chloe’s shoulder, basking in her warmth. She almost wanted to freeze this moment and still the picture, because everything about it felt right to her.

They sat in silence, filling the gymnasium with a kind of quiet that didn’t want to be broken.

Beca never really felt at ease when there was dead air surrounding her, but this one felt comfortable and safe.

Thud.

The moment didn’t last long, however, when they heard a clearly audible crash, followed by a fall on the ground.

Legacy.

Immediately she stood up, holding on to the chair she just tripped over for dear life. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin your moment, which was totally sweet by the way. I know I said I was about to leave, but then I realized I left my notebook, for you know, notes and pointers and stuff. But then I saw you guys and I didn’t want to interrupt, but then I did. Anyways, here’s my notebook. I’m going to leave now. Yeah.” 

Without a halt, Emily scurried off to leave in full embarrassment, facepalming herself several times.

“A notebook?” That was all Beca could say.

Chloe couldn’t contain her laughter. “She talks just like you when you’re nervous.”

Chapter Text

Christmas songs.

After three hours of abstractedly sitting on an uncomfortable chair at Residual Heat trying to come up with a Christmas song – suffice to say – Beca was glad to finally be back home at the Bellas House.

She peeked curiously inside before entering, expecting the usual – and typical – chaos that awaited her. When she couldn’t see anyone, Beca rummaged through her bag and looked for the house keys, finally opening the front door only for her to be met with… nothing. It was silent and empty, she wasn’t used to this. 

It wasn’t uncommon for it not to be a full house during the days they didn’t have practice, but for everyone to be out was odd.

Making her way through the halls, she caught the scent of something burning wafting through the air. “What the hell?” she muttered. Cautiously stepping foot into the kitchen, her eyes were set on two loaves of bread – which now resembled the color of charcoal – on the toaster.

“I got it, I got it!” Emily shrieked, running straight from the bathroom to the two pieces of bread she’d abandoned. 

“Legacy?”

Breaking out of her distress, Emily instantly turned around and was now face to face with her captain. “Oh my god. Beca, hi! I am so sorry you had to walk in on this – I just wanted to make some toast and now I think I’ve invented a new form of charcoal,” she went on, jabbering through her words.

Beca smiled amusingly at how Emily spoke so frantically about the situation at hand. "Breathe, Legacy. It happens to the best of us,” she assured. “Where’s the others?” 

Thankful for the conversation shift, Emily’s stance relaxed. “Amy said Chloe sent them on a grocery run. To stock up for Worlds, I think. They all seemed excited until Audrey– was that her name?”

“Aubrey,” Beca corrected, walking over to the cupboard to grab a coffee cup that had the word Badass imprinted on it.

Emily nodded. “Right. They all seemed pretty thrilled to go out until Aubrey sent them a list.”

“Oh, I pity those people,” Beca said sarcastically. “If they’re lucky, they’ll be back home tomorrow.” She slowly started to pour water and place the coffee grounds into the kettle.

Emily laughed at her quick-witted remarks as Beca kept a close eye on the brew, not wanting a repeat of earlier’s little mishap.

Pouring the now brewed black coffee into her cup, Emily eyed her carefully. “Coffee at three in the afternoon?”

“I need this so I don’t die, Legacy,” Beca said bluntly as she took a sip, but she meant it in the best way possible. It had become second nature for her to consume caffeine at least twice a day so she could function like a normal person.

“Gotcha.” Emily peered around the room before she remembered what she wanted to say. “Oh, um… I’m sorry about what happened yesterday.” There was still shame and embarrassment in her voice from the mini interruption she’d caused at the gymnasium.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s all good – apart from the fact that you’re probably the second person to ever see me cry.” Beca said it so matter-of-factly that Emily wasn’t sure if she was joking or not.

“Not even your parents?” The tall brunette asked with genuine concern.

She shook her head. “Nope.”

She was dead serious.

Emily gave an understanding nod and looked at her with sympathy, which she certainly didn’t need. Beca always winced at the idea of people pitying her just because she didn’t have the most congenial relationship with her parents.

Beca let out a quiet, almost inaudible sigh. “I’m sorry I haven’t really been the best captain… and you had to see me break down like that. My mind is messed up and the crushing weight of things is… wow. I don’t even know why I’m telling you this. But that’s not an excuse and I’m really glad you auditioned because the Bellas are pretty cool and we’re like a sisterhood, is that what you call it?” Beca was rambling again. “Sorry, I’m not good at this stuff. I just like to call us awesome nerds.”

“No, it’s all good. I’m actually glad to be having this conversation right now, eases the nerves a little bit. Makes things more real, you know?” 

“Chloe told me about your mom and this is definitely not what you expected it to be like. But yeah, I should’ve been more welcoming – and don’t ever hesitate to ask if you need advice or whatever. I can’t guarantee you good advice but I’ll do what I can. You’re doing great, though.”

“Thanks.” Beca’s words seemed to greatly strike Emily because there was so much sincerity in her tone.

Emily took her up on her offer almost instantly after, her nervousness dissipating. “What was it like when you first joined the Bellas?”

The question shocked Beca but she was more than happy to answer. “Oh, it was a ride. I was first called a bitch, though,” Beca said wryly. So much confusion was spilled all over Emily’s face, and Beca could tell she was resisting the urge to react, but she let her continue on with her story. “Aubrey – the captain before me, hated me, but Chloe…” her voice trailed off, thinking back to all the times Chloe had stayed by her side even when Aubrey constantly shut her down and would’ve easily removed her from the group without hesitation.

“I think Beca should take my solo.”

“Aubrey, maybe Beca has a point. Maybe we should try something new.”

“Aubrey, this stuff is pretty cool.”

A small, but visible smile grew on Beca’s face over the thought of it.

She smiled at the thought of Chloe.

Beca didn’t need to finish her sentence for Emily to understand what she meant, the tender look on her face conveying everything all at once.

Like a switch that’s been easily flipped, Beca prodded herself to shift back to the question once she realized her mind was wandering somewhere else.

But if she really thought about it, Chloe was the sole reason she was a Bella in the first place. So really, it was natural that the redhead had left a prominent mark in her memory of when she was in Emily’s place as a new recruit. It was hard to forget how welcoming she’d been as co-captain. And here Beca was – three years later, leading the Bellas hand in hand with Chloe.

She looked down at the cup in her hands before continuing her train of thought. “You know, I was never really going to join the Bellas. Had no interest in it. In fact, I even called it lame.” Her confession – emphasis on the word lame – was returned with a big gasp. “But you’ve seen Chloe. I don’t even know how she convinced me to, but here I am.” She moved a hand upward and waved it slightly, distinctly similar to Chloe’s mannerisms.

“Can I ask you a question?” Emily asked straightly.

“Hit me.”

“What’s up with you and Chloe?”

Beca almost choked on her coffee. “What?” she sputtered. 

“I’m sorry. Was that too much? I just thought–”

“No, it’s fine. It was just unexpected. Um… what do you mean ‘what’s up’ with us?” 

Emily chose her words thoroughly. “I mean – don’t get me wrong. I know the Bellas are like a close knit group of ladies or something along those lines. But I’ve seen you guys. And it’s different.”

“Different?” Beca’s eyes were growing wide and she couldn’t fight the fascination in her voice, the question leaving her lips before she could even be fully aware.

“Yeah, uh – I’m probably not the best person at reading these things. And maybe I haven’t been here long enough. But the way you guys look at each other, act around each other – it just feels like more than a sisterhood. Not that friends can’t do what you guys do.” Emily once came home to the Bellas House late at night, and she was welcomed with the sight of her two captains curled up on the couch as they slept soundly in the presence of each other. The movie was still playing on the screen – she figured they were watching a movie, but fell asleep in the process. She couldn’t help but notice how tightly they clung onto each other, almost like they were each other’s lifeline.

“Just let them stay like that. If they could, they’d forever be clinging onto each other like koalas. Chloe’s the koala, Beca’s the tree,” Fat Amy remarked, capturing the moment with a picture on her phone.

Her curiosity faltered and immediately transitioned to defensiveness. “Okay, woah there, Legacy.” How the conversation had jumped to this and passed onto her – she had no idea. “Just because Chloe and I seem like we do things a little more does not mean there’s something going on. How did you even come to that conclusion?” Beca tried to find the words to rebut, but only after speaking did she hear how defensive she sounded, like she was concealing a truth she didn’t even know of.

“Your eyes lit up when you talked about Chloe. And you pretty much talked about Chloe the entire time I asked a question about you,” Emily pointed out as if it were of utmost clarity. Beca conceded quietly, she had no counterargument to what Emily had to say.

It was simple.

Chloe was an open book.

Beca was a closed one – but Chloe had entered her life and started to fill in the empty pages, adding color to her black and white world. A dull and soulless narrative turned into a tale she sometimes couldn't believe she was living as her reality. It wasn’t clear yet to Beca what Chloe was to her, but what she knew was that Chloe was someone important to her – she had always been a constant in each page.

And without meaning to, she’d found so much familiarity in Chloe’s warm and bubbly nature, her sunny disposition never losing its radiance.

She frequently pushed the thought away, but the truth was Beca didn’t want this chapter to end. 

Because she wasn’t so sure if Chloe would still be in the next one.

It wasn’t like Chloe would fully disappear from her life after they graduate – but there was now this underlying sense of normality deeply rooted within her subconscious in having Chloe around. Of course, she felt the same way about all the Bellas. Beca would never admit it out loud but she’d also grown so fond of them that there was already an attachment formed, and she’ll miss each and every one of those awesome nerds once they move on to the next chapter in their lives.

But Chloe was different.

She was the only person who could lean into her bounded space so openly without any reservations, the inherent desire to drive her away for getting too close becoming non-existent. She was the only one who could fully get past her closed off attitude, tearing down her walls little by little. She was different in a sense that if the world went black and white, she’d find Chloe in a split second because she never lost her color.

It was only then that Beca started to piece together what Emily had said. 

Before she could even think of a response, Beca’s thoughts were disrupted when she heard the front door unlock, startling her from her muse. “I’m home!” Chloe chirped.

She’d recognize that voice anywhere.

“Becs!” Her voice somehow managed to sound even livelier after catching sight of the brunette. “Hey, Em,” Chloe greeted her once she saw Beca wasn’t alone in the house.

“Hey, Chloe,” Emily chimed.

Chloe moved closer to where Beca was sitting and intuitively gave a – friendly – kiss on her forehead. It was something normal between them; Chloe always greeted her with a kiss out of pure inclination and she never thought too much about it, because Chloe was Chloe.

Emily sneaked a look at Beca with an “I told you so” expression, as if everything she had told her just a few moments ago proved itself to be correct right at this very second.

The Legacy’s words pierced through Beca’s mind, a little clearer this time. The way you guys look at each other, act around each other.

Huh. 

Chloe didn’t kiss any of the girls. Just her.

Chloe only kissed Beca.

“Empty house? Where’s the others?” Chloe asked.

“Grocery run,” Beca answered simply.

“I did send them, yeah. But that was hours ago, they should be back by now.”

“Apparently, Aubrey sent them an additional list. That’s going to take them more than a day,” Beca stated.

Chloe nodded with a hum. She looked back and forth between Beca and Emily, as if sensing the tension before she arrived. “So what did you guys do here home alone?”

Beca cleared her throat. “Not much. I just told Legacy that the Bellas are awesome people and she can always come for advice and stuff.” The last time she lied to Chloe was about her internship, but she couldn’t possibly tell her that she took up more than half of their entire conversation while everyone else was away. And technically, it wasn't a lie.

“Yeah, I’m really glad to be a Bella and having you guys as captains is so cool,” Emily countered. 

Chloe smiled at that. 

Emily’s phone lit up with a ping as a text message popped up. “Oh, shoot.”

“What’s wrong, Legacy?” Beca asked with concern.

Emily sighed and closed her eyes momentarily until she let out a squeal that made Beca cover her ears. “I can’t believe I forgot but I agreed to meet with Benji at the movies.” She paused and looked at the time on her phone, the realization dawning on her. “I have a date.”

“You’re really lucky Aubrey isn’t your captain right now, or else you’d be kicked out of the Bellas,” Beca uttered playfully, remembering the farcical oath they were forced to recite back then.

“Hey,” Chloe elbowed her gently. “Don’t mind her. Have fun with your date, Em.”

“Thanks.” Emily returned with a smile as she grabbed her purse on the kitchen counter and headed towards the front door. “I’ll see you guys tonight.”

“Make good choices. I know you will, though,” Beca said encouragingly as the door closed before them. Once Emily was out of sight, Chloe gaped at her with a grin.

“What?” 

The look of amusement still hadn’t left the redhead’s face. “You said the same thing to me at Initiation Night,” Chloe quipped. 

“Yeah, well, you were worth worrying about,” Beca shot back with a wink. “Legacy? Not so much. She’ll be back home in one piece.”

Chloe rolled her eyes, far too used to Beca’s wit. “So what did you and Emily talk about?” she asked expectantly.

“I already told you – we talked about the Bellas and how she can ask when she needs advice.”

She droned, still not seeming convinced enough. “That’s all?” The thing about Chloe was that she could read people really well. She was about to ask the brunette further before Beca already beat her to it – she couldn’t believe she was doing this. God damn it, Legacy.

“Chlo, is there something up with us?” 

Chloe’s brows furrowed at the question, a confused expression splayed all over her face that silently encouraged her to continue. 

“I don’t know… do we act different or whatever?” Beca asked the question so reluctantly, clasping her hands together as she prepared herself for an answer. Chloe was always her grounding force, but this time she was desperate to have something else to keep her anchored.

What Emily said wasn't supposed to bother her, it wasn't supposed to mean anything. But it resided in her mind like it wasn't something foreign.

If she dug deeper into a place she desperately tried to escape from – her own mind, she’d be terrified of what she’d find. Feelings. Emotions. Facing these feelings and emotions would just cause her to repulse, and she’d be too scared that she’ll end up pushing Chloe away. Beca was like that – when things became too overwhelming, she’d rather shut everything out and deal with it on her own. If she welcomed these things and faced them head on, making sense out of all these feelings would be too much for her and she’ll mess things up. And she really didn’t want to ruin what she and Chloe had right now. They’d built an empire and with one little flick, it could go crumbling down in the blink of an eye.

If she did feel something for Chloe or ever thought of her as more than a friend, she’d already put out the light before it even sparked a flame – because if it grew too strong, she’d lose control and wouldn’t be able to stop it. It had taken so much for Beca to find control in things, which was why staying on the sidelines back then became her way of life. A sanctuary, almost. Because if she put up a wall between her and other people, she wouldn’t get hurt. 

Chloe would never hurt her, no. 

But she could hurt Chloe.

And she couldn’t let that happen. How could she hurt the person who was nothing but good to her – all because underneath that bulletproof exterior she displayed, she was scared, weak, and fragile?

She was once a little girl too; a little girl that longed for love and affection. But when the two people in her life that were supposed to protect her and care for her unconditionally showed Beca otherwise, well – at some point, she stopped looking for love as well. 

To continue looking for something that she couldn’t receive in her own home would just bring her disappointment. Just like the disappointment that tiny, innocent six-year-old Beca felt waiting all day for her dad to come home – and to kiss and hug him like dads and daughters do – only for him to burst through the door drunk at two in the morning, cursing her and her mother for being burdens in his life. The same disappointment that fourteen-year-old Beca (who was so badly lost in life) had gone through when she begged to be with her mom instead after she’d found out about the divorce – only for her to walk away because she couldn’t do it. She couldn’t be with her own child.

To know the feeling of being unwanted that young leaves a lifelong scar in you, Beca thought. But her shattered perception of love – Chloe picked up the pieces, pieced them together and turned it into something whole. Loving everyone was an intrinsic characteristic of Chloe’s, so just because she showed Beca the other side of hatred and spite – love – it didn’t mean that she was any different. 

Because that’s what friends were for, right? They teach you things, they make you better.

Chloe looked at Beca for a moment with an unreadable expression, almost as if the answer was obviously right in front of her and she should’ve had it figured out. “You are different, Becs.” She finally said after what Beca felt like hours of uncomfortable silence, her mellow tone almost powerful enough to shut off her racing mind in an instant. Chloe’s eyes twinkled with the simple – yet earthshaking – response, like stars illuminating the sky that made you stare at it longingly until you could fully take in the sight in front of you.  

“Oh.” There was a beat as the word left her like relief and shock. Her mind was now quiet, free from thought as the running thoughts vanished – but now she had to confront this. She could take the easy route and escape from this – No, she wasn’t going to run just because she was afraid. No, she wasn’t going to push Chloe away just because the feelings and emotions she’d buried for a really long time made their way up to the surface.

Chloe noticed Beca’s far-off gaze, her eyes searching Beca’s with gentle concern. “Beca…” she started, taking her hands carefully as she laced their fingers together and leaned in closer. “You’re different because I like you… in that way.” She said it so delicately, but unflinchingly enough so her words would fully register to Beca.

Beca felt a chill in the air. Her lips went pale and her entire body went stiff as she gave Chloe a piercing look, the words taking their time to occur to her. It was a mix of relief and terror, Chloe’s outward confession lingering in the room as they faced each other. Beca liked Chloe – who didn’t? But Chloe liked her in a way that went beyond a sisterhood and a close friendship. “Sorry, I uh – just… why me? Chlo, there’s so many other amazing people out there who want to be with someone amazing like you. And you’re here saying that you like me,” Chloe nodded as Beca slowly processed what the redhead had just admitted. “Like that.”  

“Uh huh.”

Beca tensely let go of Chloe’s tender and unrelenting hold on her. “Have you seen me? Do you not see how fucked up of a person I am? Chloe, I–”

Chloe didn’t want to hear the end of the sentence. Unswervingly, she took Beca’s hands again, her hold firmer now. She made sure that her eyes met Beca’s, the glint of cerulean waters locking with steel blue eyes. “Becs, I’ve seen you since day one. That edgy brunette with heavy eyeliner and grunge clothing at the activity fair? I loved that Beca from the start. I’ve always seen right through you and I love every part of it.”

Beca’s expression softened, Chloe’s words pulling her in like a gravitational force that couldn’t be resisted. If Chloe could love her for all her sharp edges, tangled up emotions, barricaded exterior – maybe she wasn’t as messed up as she thought. Maybe Beca could believe it too.

She’d sworn to herself back then that keeping a distance from everyone else was better, and that being content with solitude (which, admittedly, caused her loneliness at times) was more comfortable. And the Bellas turned that around – they gave her a sense of belonging, they gave her a family. 

But Chloe started to feel like her home; a home that accepted her, took her in, and welcomed her with open arms. Beca loved many things about Chloe but she really loved it when she told her stories about her childhood – she loved seeing the beaming look on her face as she recounted what a typical Beale family was like. Hearing those stories was like an entryway to bits and pieces of understanding how Chloe Beale turned out to be the person she is. 

On one of their many ordinary days – which usually consisted of practices for Worlds – Beca and Chloe went out to eat at a diner and when Chloe took a bite out of the pancakes she’d ordered, she told Beca how the scent of it reminded her of the ones her mother used to make during her childhood. Beca could still recall it so vividly, one out of the many moments they spent time alone together deeply carved inside her mind. “You know, Becs, my mom always made pancakes for my brothers and I. We would be outside playing and we’d come running back to the house because we would sense the faintest smell. And I don’t think anything will ever really taste as good as my mom’s, but when I’m sad I just eat these and I get reminded of home.”

That’s how Beca felt about Chloe. A semblance of a home – a quaint, cozy cottage that she was never able to step foot in or feel the warmth of, but looking at Chloe and really seeing her felt like that. She liked coming home to that everyday. 

The atmosphere changed – the weight of everything that kept her contemplating and pondering gradually dissolved into tiny particles of dust she couldn’t take hold of anymore. For the first time, Beca didn’t want to run away.

“Chloe.” It was soft and light, almost like Beca was talking to her own reflection.

“Hm?”

“I love you.”

“Yeah, Becs, I love you too,” she returned plainly, stating the obvious.

“No, I mean – I’m in love with you.” The sentence shocked Beca herself – she said it like it was the most certain thing, without a hint of hesitance or any second thought following after. Chloe wasn’t just her best friend, her co-captain. She was in love with Chloe Beale.

“Oh.” This time it was Chloe’s turn to say it, except now they were both on the same page as everything fell into place.

Chloe was going to be a part of her story until the very last page.