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Chloe emerges from the bathroom, relieved after again satisfying herself to images of Beca.
The redhead, having cleaned herself and slipped into her night shorts, dramatically flops onto the bed she once shared with her forever love.
She rolls her eyes after seeing the numerous Instagram and Twitter notifications on her iPhone desktop.
The redhead killed time scanning more social media, beginning with Bella’s chats and posts.
Her eyes drift to the empty side of the bed. Beca had only been gone for a few months. A few months on the physical calendar, that is. Felt more like a few lifetimes in Chloe’s universe.
*************** You Know Where To Find Me ***************
Beca caught sight of herself in a mirror coming downstairs. She smiled, though it was an empty one. “I’m so stupid…to ever leave where she was” the tiny brunette finally stammered into the silence. She sighed, continuing down the stairs.
Promoted to producer, an incredible bump in salary and exposure to stars was the chance of a lifetime. Misery was now Beca's roommate, living a life without Chloe there every day. She was so sure the redhead would be there, with her. They'd never be apart.
The brunette did not network. Rarely talked to anyone outside of work. Didn’t do much of anything, other than sit around her house missing Chloe.
*************** You Know Where To Find Me ***************
The redhead spends another 15 minutes coming up with rational, plausible excuses why she hadn’t received her daily text from Beca, trying desperately to convince herself it wasn’t because she forgot. Or even worse, the brunette was with someone.
The sad reality was that the daily messages hadn’t been arriving daily for several weeks.
Chloe knew full well she could get mad at her secret crush…staying angry was not possible.
Exhaling slowly, the ginger opened Messages and pulled up the thread with ‘Bec’.
Chloe – hey stranger, surely you didn’t forget about me
After what felt like a lifetime, her phone buzzed. Chloe could breathe.
Beca – never! What are you talking about?
Chloe – nothing, just being crazy Chloe again. But it does feel like I hear less and less from you these days.
Beca – knock it off, Beale. You’re not crazy. And I’ve apologized for being distant. Things here still have me a little overwhelmed.
Chloe – I know, Bec. I’m sorry. You know I just miss you and want to help.
Beca – I know you do, Chlo. I know you do.
The conversation carried on for another 30 minutes. The overall spirit of the discourse being Chloe missed Beca. In true Beca fashion, the brunette never let on to how desperately she longed to be reunited with her secret love.
It was odd, the things each of them missed. The redhead ‘dragging’ Beca out for karaoke nights and dancing. Nights spent cuddled on the tiny couch, watching reality shows Chloe loved and Beca loved to bitch about (for effect only).
Chloe – well, I don’t want to keep the star up past her bedtime. Better let you go.
Beca – Chlo, it’s three hours earlier here.
Chloe – don’t be an ass, Mitchell. I was trying to be nice. You’re not very talkative tonight.
Beca – my bad. Rough week.
Chloe – K. Get some rest. Call me ANY time you need to talk. I miss you, Bec.
Beca – you know where to find me.
The redhead furiously tossed her phone down on the bed. “You know where to find me?! What the fuck does that mean?!”
Chloe’s angry. Furious.
“I’m done!” the ginger screams to no one. “She’s impossible! ‘ You know where to find me.!’”
“Bitch”
“I’m just tired. I need to go to bed and settle down” The redhead murmured to herself. “You're losing it, Chloe…talking to yourself”
Before turning the final light in the apartment off, , Chloe catches a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She lowers her gaze, despondently returning to bed, tugging the covers tight to her chin.
She turns to her side, her arm falling to the other side of the bed. It’s empty, yet it's still habit for the lonely redhead. Her fingers run along the pillow. The indention of it’s owner no longer present. Somehow it’s still soothing to Chloe. Or maybe it’s just a routine she longs to have in her life again.
She tried to sleep.
Really tried.
An hour later, the ginger’s eyes remain wide open. Tossing aside the covers, Chloe reaches for her laptop. Fury and longing stir inside her, “I need answers. I’m going to get answers.”
Thirty minutes later, Chloe is locking the door behind her before rushing downstairs to catch her Uber.
**************** You Know Where To Find Me ****************
(11 AM the following morning)
Beca leans against her kitchen island, enjoying coffee from the wifi coffee maker and espresso machine she seldom uses. ‘ You need to be a fucking NASA engineer just to make coffee…fuck that.’
The producer sips from her cup and set it back down on the counter. Beca stared at the cup even though it was now empty, lost in her thoughts of a yellow plastic cup.
A furious pounding startles the producer from her haze..
“Who the fuck is about to break down my door…” She cautiously approaches her front door.
Opening said door, the producer is met by a pissed-off redhead, hands firmly attached to her hips.
“Chlo” the tiny brunette smiles. “Wow, it's really you.”
Beca extends her arms to hug (yes Beca hugs...well...certain redheads) Chloe, only to be met by a fierce denial from the determined ginger.
Chloe pushes the perplexed brunette back into the living room, closing the door behind her.
“What did you mean, Beca?!”
“I can’t believe you’re here, Chlo” she responds and smiles. “But what are you talking about?”
Beca racked her brain, trying to figure out what she could have possibly done to upset her best friend and secret crush between last night and this morning.
Chloe produces her phone, calling up the text from the previous night. The redhead thrusts the phone directly into Beca’s line of sight.
An iPhone measures approximately 6” x 3”. At this moment, it felt more like a roadside billboard to Beca.
The brunette remains still, her face racked with indecision. Her eyes slowly close.
Chloe was a charging bull. “I tell you all night how much I miss you and how miserable I am without you…and all you can say is ‘you know where to find me! Fuck, Beca, what the hell is that supposed to mean?!”
The brunette was certain she witnessed smoke puff from her friend’s ears. “Could you stop that…please.”
“Stop what?” Chloe looks skyward, wiping a few stray tears from her cheeks.
“Cursing at me and calling me Beca. You never curse at me…and you 'really' never call me Beca” the producer considers running away, as she’s certain she hears Chloe growl.
“It’s your name, isn’t it!”
Beca’s eyes go wide, taking in a look she hasn’t seen since their argument at the Lodge. And that day she ended up ensnared in a bear trap. A far far better result than the one before her now.
The redhead’s eyes are so intense. “Don’t look down, Beca. Don’t look around the room. Don’t scratch the back of your neck. Tell. Me. What. You. Meant!”
“I meant I’m in love with you!” the brunette snaps. “I meant I miss you and I want us to be together! And not just as friends…” the brunette was pretty sure she had stopped breathing.
Chloe remains still, stunned. “Did I just hear you right…? You..lo-…you love me?” her voice coming out barely above a whisper.
Beca shook her head, unsure of her next move. She had spent the last month being sarcastic, distant, and harsh to Chloe in a vain attempt to hide her feelings, but also to protect her crush. “Well…duh."
The redhead willed herself from her haze. Her hands return firmly to her hips, “Don’t be a smartass, Beca.”
After a pregnant silence, the producer speaks softly. “Sorry, Chlo” Beca adorably fidgets with her fingers. “I fuck everything else up…I might as well fuck this up too.”
“You haven’t fucked anything up, Bec” Chloe offers a reassuring chuckle. “You mean it...? You love me?”
"Yeah...yeah...so much."
Chloe, unknowingly moving closer, managed to form words. "What if I told you I feel the same..."
Beca’s eyes dart left to right, up then down. “What are you saying, Chlo…?”
“Well…duh!” the redhead swats Beca lightheartedly on her shoulder.
The ends of the brunette’s lips curl up, “Chlo…if I can’t be a smartass…”
Chloe tilts her head, “Sorry…not funny.” she laughs softly.
The redhead squares her shoulders, knowing the weight of her words before she says them. “I love you, Beca Mitchell. For longer than I can remember.”
Beca’s eyes meet Chloe, realizing those eyes could devour her whole heart. Spur of the moment improvisation is not her forte. “So you want to be with me too?”
“Ever since you invited me into your shower”
The brunette manages to focus, “I…invited ‘you’ into my shower…?”
Chloe’s face breaks out into the biggest smile, “Who’s telling this story, dork.”
Beca smiles, the kind of smile that reaches her eyes and makes her piercing steel blue eyes shine. The kind of smile that makes the redhead’s heart ache in the best of ways.
Chloe visibly swallows, “Now would be when you kiss me, Bec.”
You could almost hear the beating of the brunette’s proverbial heart. “I’m waiting for my moment, Chlo.”
The person who had always caused her heart to skip a beat was now inflicting pain upon it as she remained still.
Chloe dropped Beca’s hands, dejectedly. “Well…isn't now that moment…huh”
Chloe wants and wants.
But Beca doesn’t say anything.
So. Neither does Chloe.
“Maybe this isn't the moment. I guess I'll go now, Beca…”
Beca takes her love’s cheeks in her hands, “I’ve been waiting for my moment…because…when I kiss you, there’s no going back for me.”
The redhead hadn’t prepared herself for the events unfolding before her.
“When I kiss you…I’m not going to kiss anyone else for the rest of my life” Beca paused, licking her now dry lips. “I’m not gonna love anyone else for the rest of my life. I’m not gonna really care about anything else for the rest of my life…”
Chloe needed to breathe, but that task seemed insurmountable.
“It’s going to be the most important moment of my life” The brunette moved her lips impossibly close to Chloe’s. “And I just want to make sure I get it right.”
The redhead’s insides turned to jello, relying on Beca to hold her upright.
The kiss was soft, tender. Beca’s lips were easy to get lost in…too easy.
A whimper escaped the brunette’s lips. This kiss slow, yet charged with passion.
Not wanting this moment to end, Chloe failed to recognize Beca ending the kiss and pulling away.
The redhead opened her eyes to find herself standing before a smiling brunette. “Uh…you got it right…” Chloe fanned herself slowly.
The pair simply stared at each other. “Yeah…umm...you too” Beca inhaled deep. “You’re a really good kisser, Chlo.”
“That was even better than I ever…what do they call it…dreamed...dreamt...you know what I mean” the redhead chastised herself internally, certain she’d forgotten how to talk.
“Don't tell me Chloe Beale is nervous…” the brunette smirked, hooking her forefingers into the belt loops of Chloe’s skin-tight jeans. The redhead tracked the movement of Beca’s fingers with her eyes.
“Of course not” Chloe finally remembered she needed to reply.
“Well…since you’re obviously not nervous…” Beca moved impossibly closer. “What do we do now? I know you 'like to keep it strictly oral'”
The redhead raised an eyebrow and bit her bottom lip. “Really, Bec? Already…?”
Beca’s insides shivered like blades of grass being buffered about by the wind. “No…” the producer exhaled nervously. “I'm still not believing I survived kissing you. I can't handle anything more…yet.”
Chloe moved her face closer, smiling. Their noses almost touching, she cupped her love’s cheeks. “You’re such a dork” she whispered before pressing their lips together again.
This kiss was not as soft or tender as their first, the redhead’s right hand moving to cup the back of Beca’s neck.
The brunette felt Chloe pull away, slowly, as if she too did not want this moment to end.
They stared at each other for a few moments. Beca licked her lips, faintly tasting the cherry of Chloe’s lip gloss.
“You know what I totes want to do? Well, besides more kissing.” Chloe said suddenly.
“Eat…I’m starving” Chloe giggled. "Didn't eat a thing on the plane. Too nervous."
The pair laughed at one another, the brunette managing to pull herself from that magical world where Chloe's lips were pressed against her own once again.
Beca blinked slowly, her hands finding home on the redhead’s hips. “Sure, let me take my new girlfriend to lunch. The four of us can catch up.”
Chloe, unable to resist, casually kissed Beca again. Breaking the kiss, the redhead’s smile grew. “New girlfriend...? Moving a little fast there Mitchell…”
Chloe’s brows furrowed, “Wait, did you say the ‘four’ of us could catch up…?”
“Chloe, dear” the redhead heard behind her. “You look beautiful as ever! It is so good to see you again.”
Her head whipped around faster than shot through a gun. “Sheila…?” Chloe managed to get out.
“What is the reason for all this tumult?” a male voice bellowed.
The redhead hesitantly unwrapped her arms from around Beca.
“Professor Mitchell…” Chloe fought desperately to keep herself upright.
**************** You Know Where To Find Me ***************
“How are you, sir” Chloe said, fighting the lump in her throat.
Chloe turned to Beca, gripping her hand with the strength of a longshoreman. “You didn’t tell me they were here, Bec.”
“Hmph…could have sworn I did” Beca wiggled her fingers out of the redhead’s grasp, shaking her hand dramatically.
Chloe stood tall next to her new girlfriend. “So…you’ve been here the whole time?”
“The whole time…” Beca’s dad responded slowly.
“The whole time…” Chloe’s eyes went wide. “The whole time” the redhead repeated to Beca through gritted teeth, squeezing her hand.
The brunette’s cheeks burned, feeling Chloe’s glare. “Dad and Sheila are taking a cruise. They stopped in for a day to see the place and…catch up.”
“I'm glad we did. Am I to understand you have feelings for my daughter, Chloe?” Warren asked.
Looking back, startled, the redhead’s mouth dropped open. "Uh…" she stalled gracefully, wetting her lips as she blinked out of her shock-induced stupor. "Yes…I do…sir. Very much."
Warren looked to Sheila before again addressing Chloe. “How do you know?”
“Dad…what are you doing?” Beca protested, rolling her eyes fondly.
“It’s a simple question, Beca” the brunette’s father countered.
“How do you know, dear?”
Chloe looks at Beca and her worries slowly disappear when she sees the brunette smile. “Because nothing makes sense without her. Because I’m not me without her.”
The redhead turns to Beca, cradling her hand. “In France, they don’t say ‘I miss you’, they say ‘tu me manques’, which means ‘you are missing from me.”
The brunette melts from Chloe’s smile, her glistening eyes.
Beca’s dad and Sheila look on, smiling, “They’re so adorable” Sheila whispers in his ear.
Warren clears his throat, “That was lovely, don’t you think so, Beca?”
She nods softly at Chloe, “I do…”
“And do you return her feelings, Beca” her dad regards her with a questioning glance. “After all, you always said you didn’t believe in love.”
Beca ponders the time when she used to feel this way. She looks deep in the redhead’s eyes. “I used to think love was just something idiots thought they felt. But this woman has a hold on my heart that I couldn’t break if I wanted to. And there have been times I wanted to.”
Chloe’s face is now filled with confusion and worry...
“It has been overwhelming, even painful sometimes. But I couldn’t stop loving her any more than I could stop breathing. I am hopelessly, irretrievably in love with her” The brunette moves a little closer. “More than she knows…”
Chloe’s heart feels as though it’s going to explode, slowly kissing Beca. “Very smooth, Mitchell.”
Sheila brings her hands together, “Oh, we’re so happy for you two.”
“Yes we are, ladies” Beca’s dad adds. “Now Chloe…we are way past ‘Sir’, or ‘Professor Mitchell…okay.”
Chloe manages a tiny but warm smile.
“Please call me ‘Warren’ if you like” he looks up, contemplating. “I prefer ‘Dad’, if you’re comfortable with that. Also, someday soon I would love to be referred to as ‘Grandpa’.”
“Oh…” Chloe gasps, then covers her mouth.
“Geez, dad…” Beca closes her eyes, slapping her forehead. “We just got together.”
“Don’t you ‘Geez, dad’ me, young lady” Warren jokes. “Get used to it…someone has to be here to ‘urge’ you two along. I mean, they built the Great Pyramids in less time than it’s taken you two to ‘get together’” he finishes with air quotes.
“You’ll have to excuse him, girls” Sheila playfully shakes her head. “Ever since he’s discovered the Instagram and the TikTok, he’s watches these comedians constantly. Now he thinks he’s hilarious. But he’s right about the Pyramids thing.”
“Oh my gosh, that reminds me…” Sheila utters, hurrying out of the room.
“That reminds her…?” Beca glares at her father. “Of what!”
Sheila quickly strolls back into the room, handing Warren a $100 bill.
Beca and Chloe share stunned glances.
“Don’t tell me you bet on our love life…” Beca crosses her arms.
Sheila waves a hand at the brunette, “Your father called this your Freshman year, Beca. He told me ‘Those two girls are head over heels for each other’.”
Sheila leans into Beca’s father, kissing his cheek. “He also said you had so much junk floating around in your heads, you couldn’t get out of your own way.”
Warren smiles, “It wasn’t much of a bet. I knew at some point your minds would clear. We both have always been rooting for you two.”
“My rental is parked right out front” Chloe spoke, an awkward grin spreading over her face. “Maybe I’ll just meet you all at the restaurant.”
Beca squeezed her girlfriend's hand, "You're not going anywhere...without me."
Quietly laughing, Warren nodded to Sheila. “You know, we can have the wedding ceremony in our backyard at Barden”
‘Dad!” The brunette exhaled, bending over.
“No…really Beca. Sheila has several incredible flower gardens in the backyard.”
“That would be spectacular, girls” Sheila gushed. “Warren, you could finally take those tools I bought you out of the box…build them a wedding altar.”
“Oh, what we’ve started” the redhead hugs Beca and sways. “Thank you…”
“For what?” Beca pushes back.
“For pissing me off” Chloe’s eyes glisten with happy tears.
“Anytime” the brunette rolls her eyes. “It’s kinda my thing.”
Beca’s dad shakes his head, “We’ve got a lot to discuss, Chloe. Beca, you should go get dressed” he points at Sheila. “Go help her…no jeans or tank tops. She needs to dress properly for her lovely girlfriend.”
“But I like it when she wears-“ Chloe is cut off by Beca’s dad.
“Chloe and I will be in the kitchen catching up.” Warren joyously casts his gaze at his daughter.
Warren offers his elbow to Chloe, who graciously accepts, turning to smile at Beca.
“Wait wait wait…” the producer protests. “Help me understand this. Chlo, you flew from New York City to LA ‘just’ to yell at me?”
The redhead’s calculating eyes suddenly resemble those of a dear in the headlights. “Well…yes and no.”
Her tongue poking her cheek out, Beca stepped forward. “It’s a ‘yes or no’ question, Chloe. “Not a ‘yes and no’ question.”
“Well…” the redhead stuttered as she scavenged for a response. “I already had plans to come to LA” Chloe licked her now dry lips. “Brey and Stacie are helping me with something.”
“And you weren’t coming to see me?!” the brunette waved her arms.
“Wait…what the fuck are they ‘helping’ you with?”
“Beca…” Warren chastised his daughter, lowering his chin.
“Sorry, Dad, but you already know I cuss like a sailor on leave” Beca shrugged. “Get over it.”
“Chlo…”
“They’re helping me find a place” the redhead nervously tucked hair behind her right ear.
“A place to do ‘what’, Chlo”
Swallowing at the dangerous lilt to that question, Chloe rushed to gather her thoughts and speak. “Live…I need a place to live.”
“Where…what…” the brunette’s heart sped faster. “What’s going on, Chlo?”
“Here…I need a place here.”
“Why do you need a place here…?” Beca moved noticeably closer, rubbing the base of her neck.
Chloe spoke slowly, “I may or may not have been accepted by UCLA…I’m going to get my Masters in Veterinary Medicine.”
“Chlo…” Beca sighed in an attempt to slow her heart. “That’s amazing! I’m so proud of you!” she finished just before launching herself into Chloe’s arms.
After a warm embrace, the brunette pulled back, slapping her girlfriend’s shoulder. “I can’t believe you kept this from me. And…why do you need to find a place?”
Beca raised her arms out to her sides. “Look at this place…I get lost going from one end to the other. The label has a driver designated to come find me and guide me out” the producer chuckles.
“Stay here…Chlo. Stay with me. We can be together.”
There was a good U-Hauling joke in there somewhere, the brunette was sure of it. That would have to wait.
The redhead felt the weight of the world on her shoulders. These were words she’d longed to hear long before Beca had moved to LA.
“I’m going to say no…for now” Chloe managed to get out.
Chloe’s words caught Beca off guard, her smile fading. “What…? I don’t understand, Chlo.”
The redhead moved closer, her hands sliding back and forth against Beca’s forearms. “I want to be romanced by you, Bec. I want to spend all day getting ready, checking myself in the mirror to make sure I look perfect for you. I want to feel my heart beat faster when I hear your knock at the door. I need to see your smile when I open the door and you’re there, holding flowers you brought me.”
Chloe lifted her girlfriend’s chin with a single finger, “And I expect flowers…regularly”
“Noted…I can do that.” A tint of red filled Beca’s cheeks.
“Ok…” Beca steeled herself, her heart pounding furiously. “We can give it a try. But only for a week or two…maybe three” The brunette giggled softly. “But you…have to act excited and surprised when I ask you to move in with me.”
“Noted…I can do that.” Chloe felt her face might just break from the width of her smile.
“Good” Warren stepped in. “Now that terms are agreed upon, daughter of mine. Go. Get. Dressed.”
“And you, young lady” again offering his elbow to Chloe. “Let me get you a cup of coffee while you fill me in your plans after getting your Masters.”
Chloe glanced over her shoulder at Beca. “I’ll just be in there with…dad. You just…well, ‘you know where to find me ’.”
The brunette was unable to resist giggling as she rolled her eyes. “Oh my god, she’s never gonna let me live that one down, is she.”
Sheila shook Beca’s shoulder, “No…and she shouldn’t. It’s part of your story now. Hold onto it, dear.”
Sheila paused, “Beca…what’s behind that smile?”
The brunette sighed softly, “Chloe and I have ‘a story’…I like that.”
Beca and Sheila watched as her father escorted the redhead into the kitchen, “Now tell me, Chloe…how long have you been showering with my daughter?”
“Oh yeah…about that…”