Chapter Text
“Hi.” Silence. The little red-haired girl stared at the dark-haired one sitting under the slide. “Can I come next to you?” Silence. The redhead plopped on the ground and scooted beneath the slide. “I’m Chloe.” Silence. “I’m six years old, you know. My family moved here last week. This is my first time at the park. Do you play here a lot?” Silence.
“Beca!” A woman called from a nearby bench. “Beca, it’s time to go home now.”
The brunette girl climbed from beneath the slide and dusted off her jeans before running to her mom. Chloe called after her. “Nice to meet you, Beca! I can’t wait to play again soon.”
As they walked toward the car, Beca hooked her hand with her mom. “I see you made a new friend, Beca. That’s great.” Silence.
Beca started her new kindergarten the next day. She hadn’t had many friends at her last school, but then again, she’d only been there two months. She shyly sat next to her mother, idly swinging her legs as her mom finished enrolling her. Soon, the counselor was crouched in front of her.
“Hi, Beca. I’m Mrs. Stevens. You are in luck. You aren’t the only new student we have today. I’ve arranged for you to be in the same class. How does that sound?” Silence.
Mrs. Stevens led Beca to the office foyer where sat none other than Chloe. The redhead jumped off her chair and hugged the brunette girl tightly. “Beca,” she squealed.
“Oh, I see you two already know each other.”
Chloe grabbed Beca’s hand and stated, “Mrs. Stevens put us in the same class. I can tell we are going to be fast friends.”
Notes:
Just a short blurb I've had on my phone a while. I have since been convinced to expand it.
Chapter 2: Leaving on a Jet Plane
Summary:
Two childhood friends stop talking after high school until they find themselves on the same international flight many years later. What conversations unfold over the next twelve hours, and do they keep in touch or go their separate ways forever?
Notes:
This was the original prompt which seemed to fit. Flashbacks to their childhood are in italics.
Chapter Text
Thirteen Years Later
“Oh em aca-gee!” A high-pitched voice squealed, waking Beca from her half-sleep. “Do my eyes deceive me, or is that Beca Mitchell in the seat next to me?”
Beca groaned and pulled the airline blanket over her face, trying to block out the voice she thought she had left behind a decade ago. She had just gotten comfortable and now… this. She lowered the blanket and gently eased up one side of the eyemask. Beca looked toward the cheery voice that had boomed down, interrupting her relaxation. Seeing the curly red locks on the woman who had her arms folded on the divider wall of the suite confirmed her worst nightmare, so she dropped the mask back over her eyes, turned her back to the inner wall of the business class suite and pulled the blanket over her.
“It IS you! Beca, you know I’m not going away. This is a twelve-hour flight, and you know I can be quite persistent. You might as well sit up and talk to me.” The voice was just a chipper and insistent as Beca remembered.
The brunette grumbled as she ripped off her eyemask and put her seat in an upright position. “Chloe, we haven’t communicated in over a decade. Heck, we even managed to avoid each other for four years going to the same university. What makes you think I want to talk to you now?”
Chloe’s eyebrows furrowed together as her lower lip protruded. “Because it’s been ten years? Come on, Becs. Surely we’ve both grown up a lot since high school.”
Beca scoffed and muttered something under her breath.
“Fine,” Chloe huffed. She crossed her arms and threw herself back in her seat. “If you can’t take us being randomly assigned seats next to each other on an international flight to Berlin as a sign from the universe we should at least try talking, that’s your problem.” She reached for the airline-provided noise-canceling headphones, slipping them over her ears as she furiously punched at the entertainment screen in front of her.
Beca closed her eyes and rubbed the back of her head. She could feel a headache coming on so got up to search for a flight attendant who might have some pain reliever. When she returned, Chloe was still sitting in full pout mode. Beca shook her head and chuckled. Maybe they had grown up in some ways, but some things could never change.
She sat on her knees and reached over the divider to pull one side of Chloe’s headphones down. The redhead glared at her, and Beca threw her hands up in mock surrender. “You’re right. Fate has brought us together. I’m willing to talk if you are.”
Chloe excitedly squealed and clapped her hands, tossing the headset aside. “So what happened to you after you graduated from Barden U? You did graduate, didn’t you?” Her eyes widened at the thought that Beca may have dropped out of college. “ I know you fought your dad fiercely about college, but you went. After that…” Chloe then shrugged.
Beca had always found talking about herself difficult. When Chloe gave her an opening to speak, she kept her explanation short, saying that she had indeed graduated with a major in music production and a minor in business. “I was fortunate to get an internship at Barden, which led to a job right after graduation. I moved from Georgia to Los Angeles and jumped in feet first to learn what university classes couldn’t teach me about the music industry. What about you?”
Chloe told Beca that after earning an undergraduate degree in Biology, she’d been accepted into veterinary school. “Graduation was a few weeks ago, and this,” she motioned around her, “ is a vacation courtesy of my parents before I have to start adulting.”
“A vet, eh? So, do I have to call you Dr. Beale?” Beca teased.
“That would require you calling me first, Mitchell,” Chloe teased back.
“Touche.” Despite not keeping in touch with Chloe for so long, talking with her now didn’t feel as awkward as Beca had expected. She let her mind float back to middle school.
Seventh Grade
Beca broke the popsicle stick in frustration. “Why won’t these fuckers stay glued?”
Chloe patted her friend on the knee, reached over and pulled the box of sticks towards her. “Gimme,” she said as she reached for the glue. The redhead deftly secured the remaining sticks to complete the hamster maze.
Falling back dramatically, Beca whined. “Chloooooooooooe, we’re supposed to be partners in this project. I haven’t been able to do anything.”
“How about you time the hamster and record how long it takes him to get through the maze?” Chloe’s bright optimism always seemed to make sense and ease Beca’s tortured soul.
“Beca? Where’d you go?”
The brunette shook her head, clearing out the thought and turning her attention back to Chloe. “Nowhere,” she mumbled, not wishing to share the memory. She realized the attendants where coming down the aisles with hot cloths. She took one and thanked the woman as Chloe did the same. Beca used the cloth to wash her face then carefully washed both hands.
Chloe watched her and then mimicked what she saw Beca doing. Beca explained that dinner was about to be served, and this was much better than little packets of wet wipes. Chloe admitted that her dad had obtained her a ticket in coach with his frequent flier miles, but apparently, she’d scored a last-minute upgrade because of the status attached to the ticket. “I’ve never flown overseas before, but this certainly seems the way to go,” she chirped.
“I convinced the label that splurging on a business seat would help me arrive in Berlin more rested. That and I could work along the way.” Beca shrugged, realizing that since fate sat Chloe Beale next to her meant that rest and work would be in short supply on the flight.
After their meals were served, the two continued their casual conversation. Beca asked about Chloe’s parents and brother, and the redhead brought her up to date on all of her sibling’s antics. “He actually got married a few years ago.” She passed over her phone, proudly showing Beca a picture of her niece, a two-year-old whose headful of curly red locks like her father’s and aunt’s.
“How’s your mom doing, Beca?” Chloe caught the momentary pause and looked over the divider.
Beca’s eyes were closed as she took a few deep breaths. “She passed two years ago,” Beca finally admitted.
Chloe gasped as she clapped her hands over her mouth. “Oh, Beca. I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”
Before Beca knew what was happening, Chloe had launched her torso over the divider and wrapped Beca in a tremendous hug. Beca instinctively stiffened, then eventually relaxed and leaned into the comfort of human touch.
When Chloe finally retreated, both their eyes were a bit misty. “You’ve never been one for respecting personal space, Beale,” Beca managed to get out jokingly to try to quell the discomfort hanging in the air.
The redhead chuckled. “Do you remember when we first met?”
“At the playground or the next day at school,” Beca asked, distinctly remembering when she met Chloe Beale. “You gave me a full-body hug when we saw each other at the counselor’s office. Like I said, you’ve never had any qualms about invading anyone’s space, mine in particular.”
“Those were the days,” Chloe said wistfully.
“Yeah, those were the days.”
After a few moments of silence, Chloe began to speak again, hell-bent on keeping the conversation going. “So you know I’m headed to Germany for vacation. You mentioned work. What type of work takes you to Berlin?”
Beca explained that when she started at the label, her mentor saw the capacity for great talent in her and wanted to make sure she had a taste of the many different aspects that went into making a hit song. Beca was exposed to A&R, studio tech, and engineering. “If there’s a facet of running a label or producing a record, she made sure I experienced it. I busted my ass, gave four years of tireless dedication to anything asked of me. I now have the vague title of Associate Producer.”
She explained was now being sent on a solo mission to Berlin. Her goal was to locate an artist who would absolutely explode in the United States and return to the States with the said artist under contract. Then Beca would handle everything pertaining to that artist becoming a superstar.
“That sounds like a lot of pressure, Becs. But I’m proud of you. Why Berlin?”
Beca chuckled. “Well, for one, Berlin has a booming indie music scene. Secondly, I’m fluent in German. But that’s a story for another day. You said you were going on vacation?”
“I almost didn’t make it, to be honest,” Chloe laughed. “Aubrey was so angry with me since I caused us to be late getting to the airport.”
Earlier that day
Chloe kissed Aubrey on the cheek and thanked her for the ride. “Sorry to run; I’m going to be late.”
The blonde chuckled as Chloe was rarely on time for anything. She watched as her friend tugged her suitcase over the curb and headed into the airport.
The redhead rushed to the Delta Sky Priority line to check her bag. As a frequent flyer, her father had used miles to purchase the airline ticket for Chloe’s graduation present; therefore she was able to reap the benefits of his Medallion status. The veterinarian was escorted through expedited security and rushed to her gate on an electric cart. She profusely thanked her attendant, who refused to accept the proffered tip.
Chloe was one of the last to board and quickly found her seat, breathing heavily as if she had run to catch her flight. One of the flight attendants soon approached her. “Dr. Beale?”
She warily nodded as she was still not used to the recently earned prestigious title.
“Our flight has not checked in full; would you like a complimentary upgrade?”
Being fresh out of veterinarian school, Chloe was never one to turn down something free. She quickly retrieved her carry-on from beneath the seat and followed the attendant to the business class seats.
Once seated, Chloe immediately began exploring everything in her immediate area—the amenities kit, noise-canceling headphones, pillow—all the things she’d never had on a flight before. She must have reclined her seat half a dozen times before the attendant responsible for that section offered her a glass of champagne.
Beca laughed after Chloe told her story. “You crack me up, Beale. You’ve never been on time in your life. You still keep in touch with Aubrey then.”
“Of course. We were roommates all through undergraduate. When I went to vet school, she went to law school but stayed in Barden after she graduated. Recently, she moved to Los Angeles to be an associate attorney at her family’s law firm.”
The former friends discovered that they’d both be in Berlin for about a week. Then Beca would fly back to the States ,and Chloe would continue to Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Switzerland. She would finish her vacation in France. “I wanted to see a bit more of Eastern Europe. Some of the countries people don’t always visit.”
“Since my job was already lined up, I went right to work after graduation. No fancy vacation for me! But that’s cool. I’m doing my dream job and can’t complain.” Beca grinned.
“Now, aren’t you glad you got that degree,” Chloe teasingly goaded. “I remember the day you got the acceptance letter. You were so excited.”
Senior Year of High School
Life was going well for Beca during high school. It was her senior year, and she’d been dating Jesse steady since the end of the prior year. And she’d begun to map out her plans after receiving her diploma. Throughout high school, Beca had grand plans to head to Los Angeles after graduation to learn the ins and outs of the music industry. Since a young age, Beca had been interested in music - singing, playing instruments, making mix-ups, anything. She aimed to become a music producer and help artists realize their dreams.
Then calamity struck when her father announced that he expected Beca to go to college as soon as she graduated, which went against the brunette’s plans to head for Los Angeles immediately to start making a name for herself. Her father was adamant that a degree would be more beneficial than entry-level experience and DJing at underground clubs. Additionally, since he was a professor at Barden University, she could attend free of charge.
Despite Beca’s parents’ divorce several years ago, Ben convinced Beca’s mother that college would be the wisest choice for their daughter. Beca would have fought her father tooth and nail against anything he suggested, but she could never say no to her mother. Since she wanted Beca to go to college, she applied and was immediately accepted into Barden’s music production program.
Beca scanned the courtyard until she saw Jesse sitting at a table under a tree. She quickly closed the distance, dropped her tray beside his, and climbed onto the bench. After kissing her boyfriend on the cheek, she said, “Close your eyes.”
“Beca,” he chuckled. “You know I hate that shit.”
“Dude, just do it.” Her voice had a teasing tone.
Jesse sighed and closed his eyes. Beca pushed back his tray to place a thick envelope in front of him. “Okay, you can open them.”
“What’s this?” Beca motioned for him to open the envelope. “You got into Barden! Congrats, Beca. That’s great! I mean, I know you didn’t want to go to college, but I’m glad you are, especially since it’s Barden. We’ll have another four years together!” He pulled Beca’s face close to his and kissed her softly.
Their moment was interrupted by a chipper voice as another person slid onto the bench across from them. “Hi, guys. Don’t you two love birds look cozy?”
“Hey, Chlo.” Beca pulled away from Jesse, a flush rising on her face. “Look!” She tossed the envelope and its contents to her best friend. “This came in the mail yesterday.”
After reading the acceptance letter, Chloe excitedly shrieked as she bounced around to Beca’s side of the table and wrapped her arms around her friend. “You got in! I told you that you were a shoo-in. Congrats! I’m so excited. Okay, this calls for a celebration. How about we all go out to that new tapas place on Friday? I’ll invite Aubrey. My treat.” She began enthusiastically clapping. “I’m so proud of you! The dynamic duo will take Barden by storm.” Chloe raised her arms in victory.
Jesse began to mock pout. “What am I? Chopped liver?”
“You and Aubrey can be our sidekicks.” Beca playfully squeezed her boyfriend’s cheeks.
“Yeah, I suppose sometimes listening to our parents is a wise thing,” Beca admitted.
“You think?” After a few moments of silence, Chloe spoke again. “Hey, I’ve missed having you in my life. I’m glad I ran into you, well, got seated next to you.”
Beca shifted uncomfortably in her seat but didn’t respond.
“Maybe…,” Chloe tentatively started, “we can get together in Berlin. Coffee maybe. Or,” her voice gained more confidence. “You said Berlin had a great music scene. Maybe we can go clubbing one night. I know you are here for work, but what could it hurt?”
Beca glanced over and saw that Chloe was looking at her hopefully, with the fear of rejection sitting right beneath the surface of her facade. She thought briefly, then dug out her phone to pass over the divider. “Put in your number. My schedule isn’t set, so I can’t promise anything. But at the least, we can do coffee.”
Chloe’s eyes brightened as she took Beca’s phone and keyed in her number. “I can’t text myself your number since we are in the air, so I trust you’ll use this,” she said, giving Beca a side-eye. Beca chuckled and assured her she’d contact her.
Beca’s yawn was wide, and then she glanced at her watch. “It’s eleven pm in Berlin. You might want to try to get some sleep. Get your body on European time.” She then told Chloe that when they landed, she should do everything she could to stay up until a regular bedtime. “Avoid napping. It will adjust more quickly if you force your body to stay up. Trust me.”
As much as Chloe wanted to continue talking to Beca, she could tell her childhood friend was adamant about napping. So she didn’t protest when Beca put her seat back, put on her eye mask, and pulled the blanket over her shoulders. Chloe did the same but found she couldn’t sleep. Her mind was racing a million miles an hour, filled with memories of Beca and the time they spent growing up.
Chapter 3: Conversations Continue
Summary:
Chloe and Beca continue their conversations as we get more glimpses into their past.
Chapter Text
Kindergarten and First Grade
Keeping hold of Beca’s hand, Chloe followed the counselor to their classroom, leading her new friend to their desks conveniently placed side by side. “Hi, I’m Chloe,” she proudly announced to the class. “And this is my best friend, Beca.” She gave the girl beside her a side hug as if to seal the announcement.
Chloe quickly put her school supplies away and immediately began to help Beca neatly arrange hers in her desk. When they were done, Beca looked at her and quietly whispered, “Thanks.”
“That’s what friends are for,” Chloe replied, smiling and patting Beca’s hand.
From that day forward, the two friends were virtually inseparable. While Beca was a quiet, shy, introverted child, Chloe was the opposite. She had enough voice to speak for both of them, and she always seemed to know exactly what Beca was thinking without being overbearing.
The more time the two girls spent together, the more outgoing Beca became. Chloe was always the more bubbly, extroverted one, but Beca slowly came out of her shell with people she trusted like her teachers and her and Chloe’s small friend group. She participated in class and even had playdates with select classmates.
However, regardless of Beca’s willingness to step out of her comfort zone, Chloe was always her safety blanket. Her parents discovered this the hard way when they were placed in different first-grade classes. Without her friend, their daughter completely shut down. She reverted back to how she’d been the year before meeting Chloe. She wouldn’t talk, refused to participate in class, and wouldn’t play with any of her classmates.
After a discussion with the principal and counselor, all parties involved decided it would be in Beca’s best interest to be placed in a class with Chloe. The redhead immediately took Beca under her wing and introduced her as her sister to the class. Beca immediately flourished, and her interest in social activities returned. Toward the end of the year, she even went to a slumber party with several of her classmates which was something more than her and Chloe’s sleepovers.
Beca seemed to thrive under Chloe’s wing. They had a small, tight-knit friend group, but one would hardly ever find Beca far from Chloe. Chloe and Beca’s friendship remained intertwined throughout elementary and middle school. By middle school, Beca had developed a bit more confidence to where she could function without being in all the same elective courses as Chloe, but they did share most academic classes. However, when they got to high school, some of their interests led them in different directions. Their friend group remained close, but Chloe and Beca were inseparable outside school.
Chloe finally decided that sleep was futile and began flipping through the seat-back entertainment center. She found a movie to watch and pulled on the airline-provided headphones. The next thing Chloe realized was a gentle hand on her shoulder, shaking her awake. “Breakfast will be served in a bit, ma’am. I thought you might want to freshen up,” the stewardess motioned towards the restrooms.
Chloe stretched out her body, feeling the kinks of falling asleep awkwardly. She looked to her right and saw Beca’s seat was empty. Grabbing her amenities kit and a small bag from her carry-on, Chloe headed toward the lavatory. Using a washcloth from home, she cleaned her face, then folded the cloth and put it in one of the baggies she’d brought. She brushed her teeth and ran her fingers through her hair. Feeling a bit more alive, she packed her belongings and returned to her seat.
“Morning, sunshine,” Beca said as Chloe took her seat. “Rest well?”
“Fell asleep halfway through my movie,” Chloe admitted. “But other than sleeping a bit crooked, yes. You?”
Beca nodded. “Yup.”
Chloe continued to talk throughout breakfast. She wanted to hear more about Beca’s job. Beca resisted, claiming that music had always been her thing. Chloe’s thing was animals. She didn’t want to bore the redhead with the minutia of her job. “Beca Mitchell, you know that I love music as much as you. Granted, in a different way but still.”
Beca raised her eyebrows as if to challenge Chloe to prove her music aficionado.
“Did you know I was a Barden Bella?”
Having just taken a drink, Beca sputtered and coughed as she laughed. “Damn, Beale, warn a girl. That’s not funny.” She looked over at Chloe who had her arms crossed, frowning. “Oh. You’re serious. I guess acapella was a thing there.”
“We made it to the ICCA Finals… twice. Acapella is serious music, Beca. We sing covers of songs but without any instruments. It’s all from our mouths.”
“Yikes.” Beca was trying to keep from laughing.
Ignoring her friend, Chloe continued. “One time, we sang backup for Prince. His butt is so tiny, I can hold it with, like, one hand.” She giggled.
Since Chloe seemed genuinely interested in her work, Beca booted up her laptop and loaded one of the projects she’d worked on in college. “This is from my last year at Barden.” She handed the computer over to Chloe and showed her how to play the music. Beca couldn’t help but smile as she watched Chloe dance and move in her seat. Chloe had always been so easy to be around. Truth be told, she missed being around her, too.
When the song was finished, Chloe took off the headphones. “That was really good. Who was singing?” Beca blushed but didn’t respond. “That was you?” Chloe’s eyes opened wide.
“Don’t act like you have the market on singing, Beale. Other people have chops, too.”
Chloe insisted on listening to one more piece then they had to stow everything in preparation for landing. Once the doors to the plane opened, the two got separated as the passengers disembarked and filed their way to immigration. After Beca had her passport stamped and found the luggage carousel, she saw a familiar shock of red hair who was glancing around at the other passengers waiting for their bags.
“Looking for someone?” Beca said as she shoulder-checked Chloe.
“Oh! Hi,” Chloe replied, broadly grinning. “I was hoping I’d get to say a proper goodbye. Beca, I’m truly glad we ran into each other.”
“Me, too, Beale.” Beca grabbed her suitcase off the conveyor. “This is mine so guess this is goodbye.”
“For now,” Chloe said shyly. “Is it okay if I hug you again?”
Beca laughed. “Since when do you ask?” Beca opened her arms, accepting the inevitable squeal and hug from her childhood friend.
“I’ll be waiting for that coffee,” Chloe said in her ear before letting go.
Beca gave her a thumbs up. “Later, Beale.” She then turned and headed toward customs.
Chloe watched as Beca passed through customs and disappeared into the crowd. She could only wonder if Beca would call her this week. Beca had once disappeared from her life with no warning, so Chloe knew she had no control over the situation just like she hadn’t in high school. She only hoped Beca would stay true to her word and contact her.
Chloe turned her attention back to finding her luggage. Once she retrieved her bag, she made her way to the rideshare section of the airport. She planned on using public transportation for most of her stay. But the U-Bahn would take three times as long as an Uber, and she was ready to get to her hotel after such a long flight.
She quickly obtained a ride and settled in for the half-hour trip to her hotel. Luckily her room was ready when she arrived, so she was able to get settled in as soon as she arrived. Chloe’s first order of business after unpacking was a long, hot shower to wash off the grime of traveling. She put on her hotel robe and was about to climb into bed before remembering Beca’s advice to try to stay up without taking a nap.
Chloe connected her phone to the hotel’s wi-fi so she could text her parents that she’d safely arrived. Her next text was to her best friend.
[ To Aubrey: Saludos desde Berlin]
[ To Aubrey: Surprise. I made it!]
[ To Aubrey: You’ll never guess in a million years who I sat next to on the plane]
A few minutes late, Chloe’s FaceTime rang.
“I presume you have an international SIM card for your trip,” Aubrey asked.
“Hello to you, too.” Chloe laughed. Aubrey had always been business first. “And yes, I’m good on that front. I just wanted to let you know I got here okay.”
“How was the flight?” Aubrey had propped her phone up and was kicked back in her office chair.
“Fabulous, actually.” She told Aubrey about being escorted through security, right to the gate. “Good thing, too, because I was the one of the last to board. Then guess what?”
Aubrey waved her hand as in ‘go ahead.’
“I got upgraded. Like to business class.” Chloe excitedly explained about the laydown seats, the amenities and all the features. “But that’s not the most interesting part. Guess who I sat next to?”
Aubrey gave a small smile, seeing how excited her friend was. She thought it probably was some vaguely famous person Aubrey had no interest in. “Adam Levine?”
“Noooooooo!” Chloe giggled. “Beca Mitchell.”
Aubrey dropped her pen. “Say who now?”
“Beca Mitchell. You remember her from high school?”
Aubrey immediately leaned toward the phone. “Chloe, yes I remember Beca Mitchell. From high school. From all of school. I remember how she was your best friend, how we all were friends - until Beca decided that we weren’t good enough for her anymore. She wrote us off and never looked back. She’s bad news, Chloe.” The look on Aubrey’s face was one of fury.
Chloe immediately teared up and opened her mouth to defend Beca before closing it again. “That was a long time ago, Aubrey.”
“Don’t tell me you talked to her.” Aubrey’s voice was sharp, cutting.
“Aubrey Posen! We were just kids. In high school! People change. You are a lawyer now. Hell, I’m a doctor. Yes, I talked to her, and yes, we had a great conversation. From what I could tell, she has a fabulous job and is doing well for herself. She’s not the same Beca she was back then.”
Aubrey’s face softened. “Hummpht. I remember how badly she hurt you, Chloe. She flaked on me, too, remember? Friends don’t just disappear.”
“Well, I gave her my number. She probably won’t even call. Then you can really say I told you so, Bree.” Chloe’s eyebrows knitted together in a frown.
“It’s not that, Chloe.” Aubrey’s tone softened a bit. “You just have such a kind and gentle soul. I don’t want her to trounce on it again. That’s all.”
“I’m a big girl, Aubrey. But thank you.” Not wanting Aubrey to know she’d stomped on Chloe’s good mood, Chloe ended the conversation. “Anyway, I’m starving. I need to order room service and get some fuel in me before I run out of steam. Love you lots.”
“Love you, too.”
“Thanks for looking out for me. Bye.”
Chloe disconnected the call and made her order for dinner to be delivered to her room. Then she sat on the edge of her bed, thinking about what Aubrey had said about Beca. She definitely remembered the day Beca cut her out of her life like it was yesterday. She’d gone over it a million times in her mind trying to figure what she’d done wrong.
Senior Year - Chloe
Chloe and Jesse were walking towards the baseball field when Jesse stopped and turned to face her. “Chloe, I’ve been hearing rumors.”
“Rumors? What kind of rumors?” Chloe tilted her head to the side innocently.
“About you and Beca. That you’re more than friends.”
Her eyebrows furrowed together. “That’s ridiculous, Jesse. Beca’s been my best friend since we were five. She’s like my sister.”
“I don’t believe you for a second, Chloe. Everyone sees it. If you don’t have a thing for my girlfriend, then why don’t you have a boyfriend?”
Chloe stepped back in shock. “I don’t think that’s any of your business, Jesse Swanson. Beca and I being friends has nothing to do with whether or not I’m dating anyone.”
“Word is you’re queer. Queer for Beca.” Jesse said with a sneer, taking a step into Chloe’s space. Chloe stumbled back a step. “If you’re not a lesbo, prove it.” Jesse moved forward again, catching her face with both hands and pressing his lips against hers.
Chloe planted both her hands against his chest and pushed him away as hard as she could. “You bastard.” She slapped Jesse as hard as she could before rushing past him.
Chloe needed to find Beca to tell her what Jesse had said, what Jesse had done. Since Beca’s car was gone from the parking lot, Chloe decided to drive to her house. This wasn’t something that she could discuss over the phone or by text. Thankfully, Beca’s car was in the driveway. Chloe rang the doorbell several times. When nobody answered, she used her key to get in, only to find that the security chain was in place, preventing entry. She banged on the door to no avail.
Chloe tried calling her friend and could only get her voicemail. She left a tearful message in hopes that Beca would call her back. Something inside her told her something was incredibly wrong. Perhaps Jesse had already spread the rumor about her and Beca and that Beca didn’t want anything to do with her. Chloe didn’t know what was going on, only that she needed to talk to Beca.
Chloe was unable to reach Beca the entire weekend. Beca’s mom was out of town, and she wasn’t speaking to her dad, so Chloe couldn’t persuade anyone to let her inside. Beca changed her patterns the next week at school, completely avoiding Chloe. Their mutual friends assured her that they had heard no rumors about the two and didn’t know what was going on with Beca. Apparently, she’d cut off anyone who was a mutual friend as well, and nobody knew why. Beca was back to being an enigma.
Beca took a taxi to her hotel and got settled into her room. After a quick shower, she decided to get a bite to eat in the restaurant downstairs. Getting out of her room was the only way to avoid the temptation of taking a nap. After ordering a beer, she checked her email. When the server brought her drink, she ordered “ein burger und pommes, bitte.”
Her secretary had sent her a possible schedule of venues playing live music along with contacts. Beca also wanted to check out some local DJs to get a feel for that scene. After looking over the information provided by the label, Beca found a local club, Cassiopeia, that had the American equivalent of an open mic that night. She decided to stop by and see what unmined jewels she could possibly uncover.
Back in her room, she opened her phone and scrolled to the contact most recently entered. Chloe Beale. Her thumb hovered over the contact as she considered her options. She had enjoyed visiting with Chloe during the flight.
Beca had often thought about Chloe over the years but had always had trouble getting past what had happened between them. Then again, high school had been a long time ago, and everyone deserved a second chance. Plus, Chloe had been the most important person in her life for many years. Her mom used to tease her that she couldn’t tell where Beca ended and Chloe began. Giving in to any concerns she had, Beca pressed the message button.
[ To Chloe: Hey, it’s me, Beca. Here I am fulfilling my promise.]
[ To Chloe: I’m headed to an open mic at Cassiopeia tonight. Starts at 8.]
[ To Chloe: Message if you want to come with. Or just show. Either way, I’d love … Beca looked at her message. She backspaced over the last four words and pressed send.
The producer dressed appropriately for the weather and the scene then determined the best way to get to Cassiopeia in time to get a decent seat before the sets began. After checking the venue’s location, the hotel concierge confirmed that the walk would take less than ten minutes and the area was sufficiently safe, “even for a foreigner.”
Typically, Beca would sit at the bar because the stools gave her a higher view; however, in hopes that Chloe would show, she chose a table that was close to the stage. She finished a full pint of beer and was halfway through another when the first act came on. Beca found herself not fully focused on the artists but divided her attention between the stage and her phone.
When she realized Chloe probably wasn’t coming, she pocketed her phone and promised herself to not take it out again unless she needed to make a note about an artist. At the end of the night, she’d heard a few promising voices. Because she wasn’t well versed in German music, Beca had no way of knowing if the artists were singing original music or covers. So she caught those she was interested in before they left and gave them her card, explaining who she was and asking for them to submit any original work they possibly had.
Feeling as though the evening was a success, Beca walked back to the hotel in the early hours of the morning. When she got back to her room, exhaustion hit her like a ton of bricks. She quickly washed her face, brushed her teeth, and stripped down before falling into bed.
Chloe woke up to dawn breaking over the horizon. She groaned and rolled over to check the time on her phone. Six am. “Fuck,” she said out loud. She also noticed that she had three missed text messages. Beca! “Fuck, fuck, fuck.” She must have really been out of it to have missed the texts.
The last thing she remembered was room service coming around 6:00. Beca’s texts came in around 7:00, so she must have fallen asleep before then. She’d been out of it for eleven hours. Chloe pulled back the covers and realized she was fully dressed except for her shoes. She hated sleeping in her clothes, so all things put together told her how exhausted she must have been.
Climbing out of bed, she padded to the window and looked out over the city. The best thing about sleeping for so long was now she felt fully refreshed. Chloe returned Beca’s texts, letting her know that she’d fallen asleep and that maybe they could try again tonight. She then put on her workout gear and went for a long run.
Beca groaned as she woke up to her phone’s alarm blaring. “Damn it! Fuck. Hell!” She crawled out of bed and went to the bathroom counter across the room where she’d left her phone and shut off the alarm. She’d gotten into this habit when on work trips because Beca knew if she kept it by her bed, she’d shut her alarm off and just go back to sleep. If she made herself get out of bed, the chances of her going back to sleep went down.
She grumbled as she stumbled over to the curtains and removed the hangers that she used to clip them completely closed. Hotel blackout curtains always seemed to leave a sliver of light peeking through which the hangers fixed. Beca screwed her eyes shut and then ripped the curtains open, filling the room with light. She hated to admit that her well developed process of waking up worked. Another step of Beca’s waking up process included her prepping her in-room coffee pot before she went to bed, so she only had to turn it on in the morning. Soon, the rich, acrid smell of coffee filled the air.
After pouring a cup of coffee, Beca sat at one of the chairs by the window and checked her phone. She smiled when she saw that she had a few texts from Chloe. Apparently, the vet had fallen asleep early and slept through the night, which meant she’d taken Beca’s advice on how to acclimate one’s body to a drastic change in time zones.
While Chloe wanted to try to get together that night, Beca wasn’t too sure the venue she planned on visiting would be as enjoyable as the night before. She was seeing two different artists at a different club and had no idea if they were any good. Beca messaged Chloe and asked if she’d like a late lunch or coffee in a few hours. Chloe immediately texted back with the address of a coffee bar she’d passed on her run that morning, and they agreed to meet around four.
After checking the time, Beca ordered room service for lunch and then jumped in the shower so she could start her day.
Beca easily found the coffee shop. When she walked in, Chloe was picking up her own order and said she’d find a table outside. Beca soon joined her with her own drink. The afternoon was bright, but the weather was pleasant. Chloe wanted to hear all about the open mic, so Beca told her there were some artists with promising voices.
“I wish I had been awake for that,” the redhead pouted. “Sounds like you heard some great acts.”
“They all sang in German,” Beca chuckled. “But their voices were good.”
Chloe showed Beca the list of things she wanted to do while visiting the city. Since she’d been there before, Beca added a few more things that Chloe hadn’t considered. “I wish you had time off during the day. Sightseeing would be so much more fun with someone else.”
Beca grinned and told Chloe to keep Friday and Saturday nights open. “I’m hitting a few clubs you might enjoy. Meeting with artists in the afternoon and listening to DJs at night. Hard life, eh?”
The conversation between the pair was going quite smoothly, and then Chloe got a serious look on her face. She took a deep breath before speaking as if working up her nerves. She finally blurted out the question that had been on her mind since she saw Beca on the plane. “Becs, what happened with us? You were always my best friend, my ride-or-die. Then, you totally ghosted me with no reason, cut me out of your life as if I were a cancerous spot.”
Beca froze at the abrupt change of topic. She looked at Chloe incredulously. “You really don’t know, do you?”
Chapter 4: Truth Be Told
Summary:
Beca and Chloe get everything out in the open. Now, where do they go?
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Senior Year of High School - Beca
Beca had her head down, thumbing through playlists on her phone when she turned the corner of the building. She glanced up and stopped in her tracks. Jesse was standing there, hands on Chloe’s face with his lips pressed solidly against hers. Beca felt her throat tighten as tears welled up in her eyes. She quietly backtracked her steps and rushed to the parking lot. After she blindly found her car and managed to get in, she sat for quite some time, letting the tears stream down her face as she sobbed.
She banged her head back against the headrest and began screaming in frustration. She was heartbroken, not so much that Jesse was kissing Chloe but that Chloe was kissing Jesse. Yeah, Jesse was her boyfriend, but they hadn’t even been dating for a year. Chloe had been her best friend for as long as she could remember, almost their entire lives. She’d been more than a friend; Chloe was her sister. Beca couldn’t remember her life without Chloe.
The betrayal ripped a wide hole in Beca’s chest, one she felt could never be repaired. A lifetime of trust was lost in that second. From that moment forward, Beca vowed to never speak to Chloe again. She didn’t want anything to do with the redhead. No chance for excuses or explanations. Beca was cutting off anything to do with Chloe. Once her decision was made, she didn’t turn back. She blocked Chloe’s number from her phone and blocked her from all her social media. Not even Beca’s mother could convince her to talk to Chloe. As far as Beca Mitchell was concerned, Chloe Beale didn’t exist.
Beca was glad for the bright sunlight of the Berlin afternoon, allowing her to keep her shades on and protect passersby from seeing tears in her eyes. Reliving the betrayal from so long ago ripped a new, somehow larger hole in Beca’s chest. Hurt soon turned to anger as she glanced up to see Chloe sitting across from her, looking shell-shocked. “This was a mistake.” The producer quickly stood to leave, catching the table with her thigh, almost knocking it over.
Chloe’s hand shot out and caught the producer’s forearm. “Beca,” her gentle, calming voice worked through Beca’s anger. “Sit back down. Please?” Keeping her hand on Beca’s arm, Chloe changed chairs to sit next to Beca and put her other hand on Beca’s leg. “Don’t run out on me again.”
“I can’t do this here,” Beca said through gritted teeth.
“Then we can go back to my hotel room for privacy. It’s only two blocks away.” Chloe took over and pulled Beca to her feet, ensuring they both had coffee. The redhead looped their elbows together in case Beca tried to make a break for freedom. She wisely said nothing until they were safely in Chloe’s hotel room. Chloe sat Beca in one of the chairs and opened a water bottle for her.
“Take off your shades. I need to see your eyes when we talk.” Chloe gently reached over and removed Beca’s sunglasses. The brunette’s face was splotchy, as she had undoubtedly cried throughout the short walk. “Okay, this is a safe space, Beca. It’s been long enough; we need to talk this through.”
She took Beca’s hands in hers. “I’m so sorry you were hurt our senior year - to the point where you cut me and all our friends out of your life. You were… are incredibly important to me, and I would have never wished that on you in a million years.”
Beca rubbed her eyes with her fists. “It’s stupid that I’m still so upset after all these years. I mean over what - my best friend kissing my boyfriend. That’s ridiculous, especially since I’m gay.”
Chloe decided to let that last bit of information slide for the time being and focused on the root issue. “Will you give me a chance to talk, Becs?” She wanted to make sure Beca was out of crisis mode so she could actually listen to what Chloe was saying. “Why don’t you splash some water on your face? Cool down a bit.”
When Beca returned from the restroom, her face was a bit less red, but she seemed ready to talk. “It’s okay, you know. I should be over it by now. I just felt so betrayed. Stupid for me to be like this. I’m thirty years old. Who cares what happened half a lifetime ago?”
“You, apparently. If you are willing to listen, I want to tell you my side of that day. However, I’ll respect whatever decision you make.” Chloe carefully watched Beca’s face for signs she might bolt for the door. Seeing none, Chloe continued. “I never got to explain to you what happened. Honestly, I didn’t even realize you saw Jesse kiss me. I had no idea why you were angry with me. Nobody did.”
She went on to tell Beca that Jesse had threatened her with a rumor about them. “He insinuated that you and I were gay.”
Beca scoffed. “Well, he was half right, that’s for sure.” She sniffled and blew her nose on the tissue Chloe had brought. “But I saw you kiss him.”
“No, Beca,” Chloe replied softly. “You saw him kiss me . And you must have only stayed a second because I immediately shoved him away and slapped him. After that, I immediately drove to your house to tell you what happened, but you’d locked me out. I couldn’t get in touch with you or anything. You ghosted me and all our friends. Nobody knew why.”
Chloe kept a hand on Beca’s arm to ground her. “You quit talking to everyone. Eventually, we gave up and hoped you would come around when you were ready. But as we both know, that never happened.”
The silence between the two was heavy as Beca contemplated this new information. Processing that perhaps she’d been too quick to judge her best friend was a lot. Granted, she’d been young, but that mistake had cost her a decade of a friendship integral throughout her formative years. Her tears started again, and Beca buried her face in her hands. “Fuck, fuck, fuck! What did I do?” Beca wrapped her hands in her hair. “Fuck; I really messed up.”
Chloe perched herself on the arm of Beca’s chair and wrapped her arms around her friend’s shoulders, pulling her in tight. “It’s going to be okay, Becs. I’m right here,” she whispered. Beca clung to the redhead like a lifeline off a sinking ship.
“I don’t know how to begin to say I’m sorry, Chlo. What I saw tore me up so much that I really let it get into my head. You must hate me,” she sniffled as she looked up at the woman holding her.
Chuckling, Chloe shook her head. “No, silly. If I hated you, I wouldn’t have said hi on the plane and made such an effort to continue to talk to you. I’m so sorry that you were hurt so badly in all this.”
“Chlo, you don’t owe me an apology. I…”
Chloe interrupted her. “How about we both stop? Now that we know what happened, we can clear the air and maybe move on. Start over?” She phrased the last as a question, hoping that Beca would want to be part of her life again.
Beca pulled her arms from Chloe’s and wrapped them around her friend’s torso. “I’d like that.” Beca then excused herself and returned to the restroom to splash more water on her face and pull herself together. She looked much better when she returned. “I’m glad we got that in the open, Chloe. I’ve truly missed you. I didn’t realize how much until, you know, ‘fate.’”
The two visited for a bit more, long enough to reassure the other that they would be okay. Then, Beca announced that she needed to return to her hotel to get ready for her night out. “Plus, I think I still have some things to process. Tomorrow’s Friday, so how about we plan a night out? Maybe dinner, and then you can catch a few clubs with me. There are a few DJs I was planning on checking out.”
“I’d like that,” Chloe said, leaning over and kissing Beca’s cheek. “I’ve missed you, too, Becs. I’m glad we’ve been given a chance to reconnect, even if it took ten years and traveling halfway around the world.”
“I’ll text you the details.”
After Beca left, Chloe threw herself on her bed, emotionally drained. While she was delighted that she and Beca were able to clear the air, the entire situation left her frustrated. If Beca had only talked to her back then, Chloe could have explained the situation. And who knew where their friendship would be now? She rolled over and checked the time in Los Angeles. It was a bit after nine in the morning there, and Aubrey would be at work.
[ To Aubrey: Can you talk?]
[ To Chloe: Give me 5]
A few minutes later, Chloe answered an incoming FaceTime call with her best friend. “Hey! How’s Berlin?”
“Fabulous. I got a good run this morning to get my bearings and laid out a plan of attack for all the things I want to see in town.” Chloe was nervous about telling Aubrey about her conversation with Beca since she knew how her friend felt about the situation. She shared the attractions she was planning to visit. “Oh, and tomorrow, Beca and I are going to a few clubs so she can check out the DJs.” Chloe scrutinized Aubrey’s expression.
Her friend rolled her eyes. “I hope you know what you are getting into. She really hurt you when she disappeared from your life our senior year. From everyone’s life, actually. Vanished.” Aubrey snapped her fingers for emphasis.
“Actually, that’s why I was calling. We talked about that.” Chloe’s eyes dropped to her lap, waiting for her best friend to come unglued. When that didn’t happen, she ventured to look up. Aubrey was simply watching her as if waiting for an explanation. “It was all a big misunderstanding, Bree.”
“She trashed a friendship she’d had since she was five over a misunderstanding. And you believe this?” Aubrey’s tone was snarky.
Chloe sighed. “Remember when Jesse cornered me behind the gym and told me about those nasty rumors about me and Beca?”
“Yeah, but there were no rumors. You know that. How could Beca have been upset about that?”
“Apparently, she saw Jesse kissing me and thought I was kissing him and didn’t stay around for the after-show when I slapped him.”
Aubrey narrowed her eyebrows. “So Beca cut all of us off because she thought you kissed her boyfriend.”
“Beca has always had trust issues.” Chloe nervously twirled her hair around her forefinger. “You know I have a memory like an elephant, right? Plus, Mom used to tell me stories about when we were little all the time so that I wouldn’t give up on Beca talking to me again. Remember I told you how long it was before she would talk to anyone besides me when we first met?” Aubrey nodded.
“By the end of kindergarten, she was coming out of her shell. Then, when they put us in separate classes the next year, Beca reverted back to not talking. She completely shut down. They had to put us back in the same class and keep us together throughout elementary school. By middle school, she was better, but still.”
“She trusted us, our friend group,” Aubrey scoffed, not believing this was a trust issue.
“Beca only trusted the people I trusted. I was her safe haven. She rarely engaged with someone unless I was around. The older we got, the more she functioned independently. Still, she never really had any close friends unless I was friends with them first.”
After thinking for a bit, Aubrey nodded her head. “Okay, that’s plausible.”
“Maybe she saw my kissing Jesse was deception in its highest form. Only I didn’t kiss him. He kissed me, but she didn’t know that. It crushed her. And judging by her reaction this afternoon, she’s still torn up about it.”
Chloe told Aubrey about Beca’s visceral reaction to reliving what happened. She could tell that Aubrey was still wary of the entire situation. “Can you please withhold any more harsh judgment? At least until tomorrow? I have to start rebuilding her trust, and I don’t think I can do it if I don’t have your support.”
Aubrey said that all she wanted was for Chloe to be happy, and if reconnecting with Beca did that, she’d support her.
After hanging up with Aubrey, Chloe checked the time. According to her calculations, if she left the hotel immediately, she’d be right on time for her sunset photo tour. She grabbed her camera bag and headed for the Academy of Arts, where she met her guide. She was surprised that nobody else had signed up for the excursion, yet the local photographer did not cancel.
Her host went through her camera and settings to make sure she knew its features and how to shoot out of automatic mode. He talked to Chloe about the different styles of architecture they’d be photographing during the blue hour, when the sun was ideally situated in the sky, allowing for fantastic shots.
“Berlin is a city rich in history, which is evident in the different styles of architecture we’ll see tonight.”
The buildings in the Government District allowed them to capture stunning shots of minimalist architecture. The pair then headed to the Reichstag, a historic legislative building. This historical landmark combined ancient and modern architecture and made for a spectacular sight.
As the sun dipped further down the horizon, Chloe and her host made their way to the Brandenburg Gate, a twelve-column neo-classical monument, the most meaningful and dramatic way to enter the Bitte district or the central part of the city, following the steps of Napoleon. The crowds had long cleared out, and Chloe could capture perfect photographs of the gate with no people.
The two finished their photography tour at Potsdamer Platz. Chloe learned to use her tripod and long exposure to capture light-trail shots from passing vehicles and boats on the river below. Her host graciously walked Chloe back to her hotel to ensure her safety. The veterinarian ensured she generously tipped him for his private tour of the city’s historical spots and private photography lessons.
Beca sat on the bed, staring at the clothes she’d picked for the evening. She didn’t remember much about the walk back to her hotel and was still in a daze. Chloe’s words kept reverberating in her mind. How could she have been so wrong about what she’d seen many years ago? Moreover, what had caused Beca to react this afternoon, much like how she had the afternoon in question?
Today, more than ever, she wished her mother was still alive. She would love some maternal advice about now. Then again, Beca didn’t listen to her mother back then but chalked it up to her being young and stupid. Knowing she needed to shake it off and dress for the club, Beca pushed her feelings down and compartmentalized them as best she could. She’d come to Berlin for a reason and needed to prove to her mentor that she could get the job done. Beca quickly changed clothes and made her way to the club.
The music tonight was mediocre. Beca listened to the first singer and stayed halfway through the second singer’s set. She wasn’t impressed by either of them, so she didn’t make contact. There was no reason to get their hopes up for a chance that would never work out. Beca was disappointed that the talent at the amateur open mic was better than paid performers at this club. She hoped the DJs would be better for Chloe’s sake the next night.
Chloe. She’d snuck back into Beca’s thoughts without her even realizing. She remembered that she’d invited Chloe to dinner and to the clubs she’d planned to visit on Friday. What seemed like a good idea at the time suddenly made Beca nervous.
By the time she’d returned to her hotel, her stomach was flipping. The concierge was gone for the evening, but the front desk gave her a few brochures and some recommendations for Friday evening dinner. Beca booted up her computer and used Open Table to make a reservation at Schnitzelei Mitte at 7:00. When in Germany, one couldn’t go wrong with schnitzel. Plus, the restaurant had vegetarian and vegan options. Beca didn’t recall Chloe eating a specialty meal on the plane. Then again, her upgrade had been at the last minute, and she probably didn’t get to order her food in advance.
Beca took another shower to wash the smoke off her body and out of her hair, then propped herself up in bed to go through her emails and complete her daily reports on her findings. She was surprised to discover one of the women singers from the open mic had already sent her a rough demo of two original songs. Beca hadn’t expected anyone to have something ready to go. Still, this girl was apparently serious about her craft and had been trying to break through for some time.
The songs definitely needed polishing but were surprisingly good. She was a songwriter, singer, and musician, which was impressive. Beca emailed the artist back to inquire about setting up a meeting on Monday. She planned to check out DJs on Friday and Saturday and wasn’t sure if asking the woman to meet on Sunday would be appropriate.
She closed her laptop, put it on the nightstand, and picked up her phone. Even though it was late, she decided to text Chloe about their reservations the next day.
[ To Chloe: Hey, hope you had a great evening}
[ To Chloe: Glad you didn’t go with. Artists sucked]
[ To Chloe: Anyway, dinner tomorrow at 7. Reservations at Schnitzelei Mitte.]
A response came almost immediately.
[ To Beca: Ooh, la, la. Reservations! Should I dress up?]
[ To Chloe : I don’t think it’s that kind of place. Just popular.]
[ To Chloe : Sorry to disappoint]
[ To Beca : Not disappointed]
[ To Beca : I can’t wait to show you the pictures I took tonight]
The pair messaged back and forth a bit longer so Chloe could tell Beca about the sights she saw on her photography tour. Chloe told Beca that she was headed to the zoo the next day. One of the animals she was most excited about was the Giant Pandas. She tried explaining that China had pulled all the pandas from the United States due to strained relations between the two countries.
[ To Chloe : Seriously? That’s messed up. But I’m glad you’ll get to see the pandas.]
Despite wanting to talk all night, eventually, the two said their goodnights.
Notes:
Note: China is starting to send some pandas back to the US as a goodwill gesture. Personally, I think they missed our $$ since the annual fee is $1 million USD.
_______________________________
Can Beca get past her intense feelings from the past and reconcile with Chloe? Or is Berlin a chance passing of two ships in the night? Tell me your thoughts.
Chapter 5: Food and Music
Notes:
Wow! It's been a minute. Work and other life responsibilities have sucked my creativity! My apologies. If you are still reading this, thanks!!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Beca laughed as she put her phone on the pad to charge. Of course, Chloe would go to the zoo. She'd loved animals for as long as Beca could remember. Her mind drifted back to when Chloe first showed her soft spot for animals when they were little.
Age Six
Beca saw Chloe walking extremely slowly , carefully carrying a shoebox. She skipped over to her redheaded friend. "Whatcha got?" Beca peered into the box.
" Shhhh ," Chloe whispered. "It's a baby squirrel. Her fell outta tree." Chloe crouched and rested the box on her bent knees to pull back the fluffy towel. Nestled amongst straw and strips of torn blanket was a tiny creature. " Hers name is Sammi."
When Beca reached forward to pet Sammi, Chloe swatted her hand away. "No touch. Hers sleeping."
No amount of convincing by Chloe's parents would get her to give up that baby squirrel. She insisted on using a kitten bottle to feed it until its eyes opened, then transitioned it to whatever foods baby squirrels eat. Sammi lived in Chloe's room for several months.
One day Chloe and Beca took Sammi outside to "enjoy the sunlight." The moment Chloe uncovered the squirrel, she took off like a flash and made a beeline to the nearest tree, scampering up it like the squirrel she was. Beca waited for Chloe to get upset but she never did. However, the redhead left water and food on the porch for several weeks in case Sammi couldn't find any on her own .
Beca smiled at the memory. She remembered not being surprised on the plane when Chloe told her she'd become an animal doctor—that fit right in with her personality.
She thought about what Chloe had told her about the day her world went up in flames when she saw Jesse and Chloe kiss. Beca realized that she'd definitely jumped to the only conclusion that her mind would allow, and she fixated on it so much that she refused to let Chloe explain. That day, Beca had lost more than just Chloe since she'd also cut all their mutual friends out of her life. Seventeen-year-old Beca felt that would be easier than listening to people tell her she needed to talk to Chloe.
Thirty-year-old Beca lay back on the pillows piled on the bed and imagined what her life would have been like had she and Chloe remained friends all this time. Her heart was full of regret. However, knowing that somebody couldn't change the past, the pair could only move forward; Beca would do everything she could to make the best of her second chance with her former best friend.
Before she went to bed, Beca pulled up her schedule again and reworked a few things to open up some time. Guilt was gnawing at her gut, and she wanted to show Chloe that she was willing to try to make up for being such a dick in high school. She remembered that Chloe had mentioned that sightseeing would be more enjoyable with another person. Perhaps she could make that happen.
Chloe rolled over in her bed and tossed her phone on the nightstand. She had been looking forward to this vacation ever since her parents asked her if she'd be interested in accepting the trip as her graduation present. Now Chloe had so much more to look forward to - reconnecting with Beca was something she never imagined would come from the experience.
She remembered how broken-hearted she'd been when Beca had ghosted her during their senior year of high school. Chloe had been confused and frustrated since she didn't know what had happened. Looking back, she felt she should have known it had something to do with Jesse despite the rumors he had talked about being false. But as is often said, hindsight is 20-20. Chloe could only do her best to earn back Beca's trust.
Chloe got up and checked her schedule for the zoo. She had decided to take another photography class at the zoo to shore up the photography skills she'd be using throughout her vacation. She needed to be at the rhino statue in front of Africa Land at 9:30 a.m. for the beginning of the tour, so she decided that getting some sleep would be a good idea.
The following day seemed to zip by for Chloe. The photography workshop was amazing, not only providing information on how to capture fabulous shots of the animals but also of the stupendous architecture of the world-famous zoo. The Allied bombs decimated the zoo in World War II, leaving less than a hundred of the over two thousand animals in residence alive. When West Germans began to rebuild, painstaking efforts were made to preserve the 19th-century look.
The tour taught her more than just wildlife photography; it also taught her more about architectural photography and German history during the Second World War. The small group was also given exclusive access to parts of many exhibits that are restricted from the general public, such as behind the scenes of the animal enclosures while animals were still being fed and those not on exhibit.
Of course, Chloe fell in love with all the animals, declaring the next was her favorite as soon as she laid eyes on it. However, one animal in particular finally won her heart. As the red and black creature exited his enclosure, he spotted a fairly large rock, which must have startled him because he immediately reared back on his hind legs and raised his arms above his head in an attempt to make himself look larger. After the group's laughter died down, the zookeeper explained that the red panda was \not closely related to the large, clumsy Giant Panda whatsoever. The word panda actually meant bamboo eater.
After the tour, Chloe explained that she was a veterinarian in the States, and the zookeeper was kind enough to take her to the zoo's hospital area. Surprisingly, the zoo had a full-time veterinarian, staff, and specialists who came in as needed. She had completed a large animal rotation in school but had never worked with exotics.
The staff was kind enough to allow Chloe to observe as they sedated a jaguar so that he could get a dental cleaning and tooth extraction. She was amazed at how similar the procedures were to those for a domestic cat, simply on a larger scale, and was grateful at the opportunity to have the experience.
The redhead was back at her hotel by three and decided to do a photo dump of her pictures thus far. While she had plenty of memory cards, Chloe wanted to ensure all her pictures were backed up. She also wanted to upload some to Instagram so her friends and family back in the States could follow along with her trip.
Before she realized it, her alarm went off, signaling Chloe needed to start getting ready for dinner and clubbing with Beca. After going through her clothing, she chided herself for not shopping and picking out a new cute outfit. However, sensibility set in that she had packed plenty of clothes and the extra space in her luggage was for souvenirs and gifts to take home.
Chloe was ready with time to spare, so she decided to take the bus to Schnitzelei Mitte rather than an Uber as she had initially planned. The hotel concierge told her where to pick up the correct bus and what stop to get off.
On Friday, Beca woke up a bit earlier than usual to visit some of the studios that had possible artists she wanted to scout. She met with some agents who gave her demos from those artists that the agents thought might be a good fit. Beca returned to her hotel and spent the rest of the afternoon listening to music. A few had the sound she thought she might be looking for, so she set up meetings with them the following week. She had initially planned on trying to schedule meetings on Sunday but scrapped that plan.
She arrived at the restaurant early and was seated at a table on the patio since the weather was nice. Beca spotted Chloe exiting a bus across the street. She stood and waved so the redhead could find where she was seated. Chloe's eyes lit up when she saw Beca, and she returned the wave.
"Hi, you," Chloe chirped as she approached the table. Beca stood, accepting the warm hug she knew was inevitably coming from her friend. She'd all but forgotten how comforting Chloe's hugs were and missed her touch when they both sat down.
"Hey. Would you like beer, or are you a wine kind of gal?"
Chloe grinned. "Let's have beer. We're in Germany, after all." She looked around the restaurant. "This place is hopping. I'm glad you got reservations." She opened the menu. Beca laughed as a puzzled look crossed Chloe's face. "It's in German."
"What'd you think? Don't tell me you are one of those Americans who expects foreign countries to cater to them." Beca reached over the table. "Here, hand me your phone." Beca searched for an app. "What? No Google translate?" She made a tsking noise with her tongue as she downloaded the app to her friend's phone. "This is going to be a life changer wherever you go." She scooted to sit next to Chloe and launched the app.
"You can do written or oral translation, but for menus and signs, this is what you need." She pointed to the camera icon, pointed the phone to the menu and took a picture. The app instantly translated the German menu to English. Beca handed the phone back. "After you decide, you can just point to the item on the menu. Or," she said with a mischievous smile, "you can ask for a menu in English." She slid her menu across to Chloe, trying to avoid the playful slap on her arm. "Seriously, not all places cater to Americans, so you need to be prepared."
"Thanks, Becs. I didn't even consider things like this.
"The more you know…"
The pair ordered a few tapas to share and two different types of schnitzel. After ensuring Chloe had developed no dietary restrictions since they were in high school, Beca ordered for them, choosing things she thought Chloe would enjoy or, at the very least, needed to experience while in Germany.
While waiting for their food, Chloe told Beca all about her two photo excursions. "I took tons of pictures. You should follow my Instagram to see the highlights. That way, when you go back to the States, you can see the rest of my adventures. Of course, I want you to see all the pictures, but Instagram will be the easiest way for you to see what I post."
Beca handed over her phone so Chloe could follow her on Beca's Instagram, and she immediately followed her back. "Done. So tell me about your day. Didn't you have a meeting with a few agents?" Beca told her she had picked up some demos and would try to set up meetings with the artists on Monday.
"I also already got a demo from one of the artists from the open mic. She's good, and she's hungry. I think I can work with that. I need to call her to see if she has time to meet next week, too."
Once their food arrived, the friends slipped into casual conversation—mostly about Chloe's plans after she returned from her vacation. "I have a job offer from clinics in Atlanta and Augusta. Those would be the simplest since I'm already licensed in Georgia." She paused and didn't add any additional information.
Beca tilted her head sideways and eyed her friend. "So why do I get the feeling there's something else stirring in that head of yours?" She stabbed a piece of sausage with her fork and popped it into her mouth.
Chloe carefully considered her words before responding. "None of my friends are still in Georgia. I mean, my vet school buddies are there, but my real friends… they aren't." Beca waved her fork at Chloe for her to continue. "Like Aubrey, her father's law firm is in California."
"You said she'd moved to Los Angeles to work there."
"You remembered that?" Chloe's eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"I listen to you, Chloe. I always have. So are you thinking about moving to California?" Beca's heart started pounding, and she refused to make eye contact with Chloe.
"I wasn't… but maybe I should. I'd have Aubrey there. And…” Chloe watched Beca for her reaction. "And you'd be there. You live in Los Angeles right?" Beca didn't respond. Chloe panicked that she'd said too much, too soon. "But it was just a thought. And maybe I'm presuming too much that you'd even want to stay in touch with me. I mean it's been over a decade since we've seen each other, and how can I expect you'd want to be my friends after only a few days together after a chance meeting on an airplane to a whole 'nother country."
"Whoa there, slow down." Beca chortled as she reached over and patted Chloe's hand. "Ease up there. Breathe. It's okay." Once she was sure Chloe wasn't on the edge of a full blown panic attack, Beca spoke. "Yes, I do live in Los Angeles. And if you moved there, yes, I'd like for us to try to be friends again. If I'm being honest, I'd like to try being friends again wherever you end up hanging your hat. I've missed you, Beale. I've missed my friend."
Chloe blinked rapidly in an attempt to keep tears from falling. "Really?"
Beca nodded. "Ride-or-die. That's what you said, right?" She squeezed Chloe's hand. "It's going to be okay, Beale. We are going to be okay."
After dinner, the pair took off to the first club of the evening. During the ride, Beca explained she was visiting the two clubs tonight to listen to specific DJs. "This is how a lot of people get started in the industry. That was my plan until my dad made me go to college. A good DJ can become a Creative Director, Music Tech, or Social Media Manager. The creativity, not to mention concentration, required to mix music on the fly in a club can show a person's versatility."
The first club they visited was Maxxim. The bass could be felt as they approached the door. Upon entry, they were hit with a blast of music that was almost so loud they couldn't talk. Beca pointed to the bar and motioned like she was drinking. Chloe nodded, so they headed towards the closest bartender.
Beca's eyes were closed so she could listen to the DJ as they waited in line, trusting that Chloe would move them up as needed. Before they placed their orders, Beca shook her head at Chloe and pulled her out of the bar. Once they'd gotten to a distance where they could talk, Beca said, "No. Just no. That wasn't who I came here to hear, but he changed songs like every thirty seconds. No way we're listening to that on the off chance the next guy will be better."
With that, they were off to the second club, Hafenbar. Their experience was much better there, but Beca was still not impressed with the quality of the DJing. They stayed about an hour before calling it quits.
"I'm so sorry I dragged you out tonight," Beca said while riding back to Chloe's hotel. "I know you were looking for a good time."
Chloe smiled. "Honestly, I just wanted to spend time with you, Beca. Look on the bright side. Now, you don't have an excuse not to hang out in my hotel room and look at pictures tonight."
The two stopped at a small grocery store on the corner so Beca could grab a six-pack of German beer. They then headed up to Chloe's hotel room and got comfortable for the evening. Chloe showed Beca her pictures, and Beca enjoyed just being in Chloe's company.
Long after the beers were gone and Beca had looked at all the pictures, the brunette gave a ginormous yawn. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry. That was rude." She leaned forward, rubbing her eyes.
"Does little Miss Associate Producer need to go to bed to prepare for her big day tomorrow?" Chloe teased in a sing-songy voice.
Stretching her arms above her, Beca said, "I don't know. What's the plan?"
"I'm headed to the Berlin Wall. There's a lot of cool stuff to see and a few smaller museums close to the wall on both sides. Checkpoint Charlie, the Holocaust museum, just random things."
"Sounds great. When do we leave?"
Chloe's head popped up from where it had been resting on the back of the couch. "Are you coming with me?" She tried to contain her excitement that she might get to spend the day with Beca.
"Sightseeing is much more fun when you aren't alone, right? Isn't that what you said?" Beca clapped her hands over her ears as Chloe squealed.
"Yay! Is nine too early? I'll buy you breakfast."
Beca grinned. "Nine is fine. We want to make sure we get a full day of touristing in. Touristing, is that even a word?"
Chloe clapped her hands. "You have no idea how happy this makes me."
The two solidified their plan, and then Beca headed to her hotel to rest.
Notes:
Note: I have corrected a plot hole in Chapter 2. At the beginning, I wrote "25 years later" when it should have been 13.
Chapter 6: Coming Out
Chapter Text
Beca’s hotel was not overly far, so she decided to walk, using the cool, crisp night air to clear her head and sort through her thoughts. Chloe's unexpected revelation about considering a move to California to practice veterinary medicine stirred a mix of emotions in Beca. The news brought back memories of their past, including a significant mistake Beca made as a teenager. She had always considered their reunion a stroke of luck, but now, she was forced to confront the possibility that her past actions might have a lasting impact on their relationship.
As Beca walked, the possibility of Chloe moving to the same city began to weigh on her. She had been content with the idea of reconnecting with Chloe, of making up for lost time. But now, this potential change opened up a floodgate of emotions. Beca had dated several women since losing touch with Chloe, but the relationships never seemed to stick. Something always seemed missing. Could she have been looking for Chloe in those women? Searching for the type of bond she’d had with her childhood friend and coming up short?
Beca shook her head, trying to clear the confusion. She had no reason to think that Chloe might be gay, so was that really what was holding her back all those years in her failed relationships? And exactly why was she so excited about Chloe maybe moving to L.A.? How would she feel if Chloe decided against that when she returned to the States? Perhaps she should not bother getting her hopes up until Chloe came home and took the California licensure exam. These thoughts swirled in her mind, leaving her feeling more uncertain than ever.
Chloe quickly got ready for bed after Beca left. She propped herself up on a mound of pillows and began looking through pictures on her phone. She scrolled several months back to find the ones she was searching for. Chloe had already cleared her Instagram of these pictures and didn’t know why she kept them on her phone.
The woman in the pictures sported a jet-black bob and had hazel eyes. Some photos were just of her, while others were of her and Chloe. Chloe paused on one where the woman had her arm haphazardly thrown over Chloe’s shoulder, grinning at the camera as Chloe pressed her lips against the woman’s cheek. Chloe thought momentarily, smiling at the memory of the day the photo was taken. She then selected all the images with the woman and pressed the trash can. After that, she went to her recently deleted and permanently deleted the pictures.
Chloe knew she probably had copies somewhere at home but wanted a fresh, clean start for now. Besides, Beca had pretty much come out to her when they talked about why she’d ghosted Chloe. Now Chloe had to figure out the best way to tell Beca that Jesse had been more than half right. He’d been all the way right - about everything.
She scrolled back to the last few pictures taken this evening. One was of her and Beca at the restaurant, taken by their server and a few more silly selfies throughout the night. She picked one to make her lock screen. About the time she turned off the light, a text message came through.
[From Beca: I got back safely. Glad we got to spend some time together tonight.]
[From Beca: Looking forward to tomorrow]
[From Chloe: Thanks for letting me know. See you soon!]
Chloe texted the pictures from the evening to Beca and snuggled deep under the comforter to go to bed.
The following day, Chloe woke up bright and early so she could run before getting ready for sightseeing with Beca. Running always helped clear her head, and today, it gave her time to try to figure out how to come out to Beca. It wasn’t so much the coming out that was a big deal; she just felt obligated to tell Beca that Jesse had probably been more astute than she’d given him credit for in high school.
Chloe’s Freshman Year at University
“Hi.” A woman sat across from Chloe who was studying at a picnic table under the shade of trees outside her dorm. “Mind if I join you?”
Chloe looked up. The woman was wearing a Seahawks t-shirt and a pair of green soccer shorts. Her hair, bleached blonde by the sun, not long enough to be pulled into a ponytail, was pushed to one side of her face, out of her hair. She shrugged and went back to her notes.
“I’m Valerie.” She reached across with her hand towards Chloe.
“Chloe.”
Valerie pushed up the shades she was wearing. She pulled over the two books Chloe had out and read the spine. “Comp, Bio I… Freshman?” Chloe nodded. “Let me guess.” She put her hand on her chin as if she was studying Chloe. “English major.”
Chloe chortled. “As if… pre-med.”
“Ohhhh, I stand corrected. I’m sitting among greatness, a future doctor.”
“Veterinarian, to be exact. I’ve always wanted to be one for as long as I can remember.”
Valerie dropped her shades back down. “Well, Dr. Chloe, I won’t keep you from your studies.” She stood, winked, then went to leave. “Maybe I’ll see you around.”
“Bye.” Chloe thought the entire interaction was strange as she watched the woman walk away. She reached over and pulled her texts back toward her. As she did, Chloe noticed a card sticking between the pages. When she saw what it was, Chloe chuckled. Valerie had slyly slipped her name and number into her book where Chloe was sure she’d see it.
She smiled at the memory. Chloe had waited a few days before she called Valerie. Nervous, she wasn’t quite sure what to expect. She’d never dated much in high school because things didn’t feel right. Chloe filled her time with her classes, extra-curriculars, and activities with her friends. However, Valerie was a kind soul and let things progress at a pace Chloe was comfortable. She was Chloe’s first serious relationship. They dated for over two years before parting amicably. Chloe was in the midst of discovering who she was, and Valerie knew that. The two remained friends until Chloe’s graduation when she left for the University of Georgia for vet school. Chloe then lost track of her.
Chloe dated a bit off and on after Valerie but only had one other serious relationship - Susan - whose pictures had been deleted the night before. Their breakup had been a bit harder on Chloe. Chloe and Susan dated almost the entire time Chloe had been in vet school. However, Susan had been increasingly demanding of Chloe’s time and attention when the student was in the most critical phases of completing her veterinarian degree. Finally, Chloe chose her schooling over her relationship with Susan and broke things off.
Susan had begged Chloe to take her back, promising to be more accommodating to Chloe’s needs and schedule. But after a long come-to-Jesus talk with Aubrey, Chloe was convinced she’d made the right decision to part ways. Eventually, Susan gave up, and they both moved on.
As she dried her hair after her shower, Chloe heard a knock at her door. “Room service,” a familiar voice called out. Confused, Chloe pulled on a robe and went to let Beca in. “Good morning!” Beca rolled a trolley filled with room service breakfast choices into the room and shut the door.
“I thought we were meeting downstairs at nine. I was supposed to buy you breakfast.” Chloe was stunned as it seemed Beca had ordered the entire menu. “And how did you get a room service cart?”
Beca shrugged. “I thought you might like a bit of pampering.” Chloe giggled. “And I just hung out by the elevator and tipped the server when he came out with the food.”
“Beca, you didn’t have to! I told you I’d buy you breakfast.”
“So, buy our lunch. Now, shoo,” Beca said, moving her hands towards the bathroom. “Get dressed so we can eat. We’ve got a busy day ahead of us and need fuel.”
“Okay, bossy.”
When Chloe re-emerged with clothes on, Beca had unloaded most of the cart onto the room’s table. “I moved your laptop and travel books. Hope that’s okay.” She poured Chloe some coffee and topped off her own. She then announced each dish as she removed the cloche and set it aside. “Dig in.”
As they ate, Chloe caught herself watching Beca more closely than she probably should have. At one point, Beca asked her why she was staring. Chloe shook her head and said nothing.
“Come on, Beale. Spill it.”
Chloe shook her head, not ready to open up just yet. She wanted to enjoy the day sightseeing with Beca and see how things went between them from there. She knew she was probably being irrational since Beca had sort of already come out to her. But regardless, coming out to anyone is hard. There’s always that underlying fear of how they will react.
The pair spent the entire morning exploring the areas around the Berlin Wall. They visited parts of the 90+ mile-long wall that separated East and West Berlin during the Cold War and the Checkpoint Charlie museum, which held a plethora of information about the Cold War and life for people in both East and West Berlin.
Chloe took fantastic photos of the random graffiti and some famous murals painted on the concrete structure. Despite Chloe’s protests, Beca commandeered the camera occasionally to take pictures of Chloe because “what’s a vacation if you don’t have pictures of yourself?”
Eventually, the pair agreed they needed to take a lunch break. “Okay Ms. I Know Fluent German But Won’t Say Why. What’s on the menu? What else do I need to eat while I’m here?”
“How do you feel about curry? In general?” Chloe said she liked it on occasion. “Then let’s find some currywurst. We can get it off a stand, but let’s find a restaurant to sit and rest a bit.” As they walked in search of a place to eat, Beca explained the fast-food dish with its boiled then fried sausage slices smothered in curry ketchup and other yummy sauces.
Chloe tugged on Beca’s arm and pointed to a food truck. “Let’s see if they have it. We can take it to the park and eat in the shade.”
As they ate, the two planned what to do in the afternoon. Beca suggested a tour of Sachsenhausen, a nearby concentration camp museum. Chloe told her of her plans to visit Krakow. “I am already scheduled to visit Auschwitz when I go to Poland. I know the history here is rich and important. I just don’t think I can handle two concentration camps. But there is a place I’d like to go here that’s interesting for historical purposes and would make for some good photography.” She told Beca where she wanted to go.
“Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe? There’s actually a place called that? Damn! I guess that’s really what happened. You know, only luck allowed us to be born when and where we were. There but for the grace of God go I.”
The rest of the day went well. Chloe and Beca had visited several vital historical places and learned much more about World War II and the Cold War than they’d realized they would. Before they knew it, the sun dipped below the horizon, and the day’s light grew dim. They decided to call it a night of sightseeing and return to Chloe’s hotel.
When their Uber dropped them off, Chloe looked at Beca and started to speak, not realizing that Beca was also about to talk. “Oops, go ahead.”
Beca blushed. “No, you go.”
Chloe reached for Beca’s hands and grasped them in hers. “I’ve had such a good time today, Becs. I’m not ready for today to be over.” Beca looked down with a sheepish grin.
“Who said it had to? Hungry for dinner?”
Chloe giggled and said that a hamburger sounded great. “Hamburg is German, right?”
“Nice try, Chlo. I’ll ask the concierge where we can get a good burger.” A quick conversation later, and Beca and Chloe made the short walk to a place that was supposed to have ‘a burger better than even in America’ if the concierge was to be believed.
As the two visited while waiting for their food, Chloe contemplated how to bring up her sexuality with Beca. She kicked herself for deleting every single picture of Susan from her phone. Suddenly, Chloe thought of another picture she could use to open the conversation. “Excuse me,” she said as she unlocked her phone. “I know it’s insulting to use your phone while visiting, but I want to talk to you about something. Let me find it.” She opened up Facebook and scrolled through her countless albums of numerous pictures until she found the one she sought. She then laid her phone face down.
Beca watched, humored by the intenseness of Chloe’s search. “What’s up, Beale?”
“I have something we need to talk about. Well, that I need to talk to you about. And I’m not quite sure how to do it. And they say a picture is worth a thousand words, right?”
“Since when were you short on your words, Chlo?”
“Ummm… well, anyway.” Realizing what she was about to do caused Chloe to get a bit nervous. She took a drink of water to try to calm her nerves. “Remember when we talked about why you disappeared?”
“Do I have to? I’d rather just forget that ever happened…”
“No. Jesse said there were rumors that I was ‘queer.’” Chloe held up quotes with her fingers. “Queer for you. When I told you that Jesse insinuated that we were gay, you replied that he was half right.”
Beca was perplexed at where this conversation was going.
Chloe unlocked her phone and showed Beca the picture she’d found of a woman with short, messy, bleach blonde hair holding Chloe in a graduation gown bridal style. They were both grinning at the camera, and Chloe had her mortar cap in her hand like she was about to toss it in the air.
“Who’s this?” Beca took the phone and looked at the picture, waiting for an explanation.
“Valerie, my ex. We’d broken up a few years before I graduated but stayed friends. We’ve fallen out of touch since then, but probably because our lives went in separate directions.”
After a few moments, realization crossed Beca’s face. “Wait. Your ex? As in ex-girlfriend?” She looked up to Chloe for confirmation. Chloe nodded.
“So, Jesse didn’t get it half right. He got it completely right. And if I’m being honest with myself, I probably had a crush on you growing up, too, which is why I took your cutting-off contact so hard.
“You’re telling me you’re gay?” Beca was still shocked.
“Don’t tell me you think you’ve got the corner market on queerness, Mitchell. I’m about as gay as they come.” Chloe took a drink of water.
“Does Aubrey know?”
Chloe spewed her water out as she laughed. “Of course, Aubrey knows. She’s my best friend. Why do you think she tried to warn me off when I told her I was seated next to you on the plane? She’s afraid you’ll break my heart again.”
“I’ll be damned. Chloe Beale is a lesbian.” Beca chuckled. “At least I know I’m in good company.” She raised her beer. “Here’s to queerness and making up for lost time.”
Beca only had two more days in Berlin which were filled with artists interviews. She also arranged for a few hours of studio time with the young woman from the open mic to re-record one of her original songs that Beca thought had potential. She wanted to ensure she had all the right tracks to mix it to her liking when she returned home. Beca told the artist to continue to work on any original songs she had in progress and polish the ones she had finished, even if she thought they were perfect.
The whirlwind of activity around making sure she’d met with everyone she needed and collected all the tracks she required was exhausting. One night, she had to beg off dinner with Chloe, which was painful since their time together was so short. But Beca was so tired she could barely string together two coherent sentences. However, she made sure to finish early on her final full day in Berlin to spend some time with Chloe.
This time, Chloe came to Beca’s hotel to keep her company while she organized and packed everything. “It sucks that you have to go home when we just found each other again.”
“You have your whole vacation ahead of you, Chlo. You should be excited! Prague, Krakow, Vienna, Zurich, Bern, Paris. Come on. A dream trip!” Beca plopped on the bed beside Chloe, sitting with her arms wrapped around her knees.
“But what if I never see you again?”
“Don’t be silly. I won’t let that happen. I’ll arm wrestle Aubrey to pick you up at the airport if I must.” That thought made Chloe giggle. “Look, have the time of your life. You can see all the amazing sights, eat incredible food, and be exposed to diverse cultures. Then when you come home, you can decide what you want to do, which job to take.”
“What if I want to move to Los Angeles and practice there?”
“Then I’ll get a puppy so I can take it to the cutest and bestest vet in the city. And Aubrey will get tired of seeing me because I’ll be around like all the time.”
“Promise?” Chloe held out her pinky, and Beca hooked it with hers.
“Promise.”
Chloe wrapped her arms around Beca and squeezed. “Don’t you dare disappear on me again, Beca Mitchell. I will hunt you down this time.”
Chapter 7: Hot Chocolate-Nectar of the Gods
Chapter Text
Beca’s flight left bright and early the following day. As she settled into her business class seat, she mournfully looked at the seat next to her where Chloe was during the last flight. An older gentleman was getting comfortable. Beca snuck a picture and sent it to Chloe.
[To Chloe: I’d rather have you as a seat mate]
[To Chloe: Have fun. Don’t miss me too much]
A response came almost immediately.
[To Beca: Awww he’s cute]
[To Beca: Not as cute as me though]
[To Beca: Have a good flight. Let me know when you get home]
Beca switched her phone into airplane mode and stretched out while waiting for the rest of the passengers to board. Now that she’d had some downtime from work in Berlin, her mind was going a million miles an hour. Reconnecting with Chloe was something totally unexpected. She felt that her life was about to be turned upside down.
When she’d come out to Beca, Chloe had admitted that she might have had a crush on her growing up. Had Beca had feelings for Chloe growing up? Had she been looking for Chloe in all the women she’d dated since they lost touch? What did all this mean, and where would it take the two as they rekindled their friendship?
After realizing how much she’d lost from a poor decision made as a stupid teenager, Beca wanted to make sure she made solid choices where Chloe was concerned. She now knew that Chloe was considering moving to Los Angeles when she returned from her month-long vacation. So that gave Beca about four weeks to sort her shit out to figure out where Chloe fit into her life. If that’s something Chloe even wanted.
She’d wrangled Aubrey’s phone number under the guise of arranging a time to get together after Chloe’s return. In truth, however, Beca wanted to talk to Aubrey and apologize to her before Chloe got home. She knew that Aubrey was the most important person in Chloe’s life after her family, and Beca wanted to try to make things right to earn Aubrey’s trust.
As the plane took off, Beca opened the picture app on her phone and scrolled through her countless photos from this trip to Berlin. There were so many of her and Chloe, as well as the places they visited the day they went sightseeing together. She found one of Chloe at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews. The photo was of Chloe’s back as she stood between the rows, her fire-red hair juxtaposed against the gray concrete slabs. This picture struck Beca for some unknown reason. She saved it as her lock screen to remind her of a bit of brightness among the bleakness.
Soon, Beca’s mind grew weary of trying to make sense of her feelings. Exhausted, she reclined her chair, closed the privacy panels and slept.
Chloe had a few more days in Berlin. After Beca left, she spent the rest of the day on the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus tour. These were always a good way to tour a city with the onboard commentary, and she could disembark at any spot to explore the area at her own pace. With a two-day ticket, she was also able to decide where she wanted to return the following day to spend more time.
Beca had also piqued her interest in the German food scene, so Chloe found an English-speaking walking food tour through East Berlin. The tour allowed visitors to sample ethnic eats and traditional German staples. Visitors browsed everything from galleries and communist-designed boulevards to kebab shops and boutique bakeries.
As they sampled the food, Chloe took pictures of the cards or tiny menus to remember the morsel and write about it when she returned to the hotel. Too often, she looked over her shoulder to call out for Beca to come to taste the next best thing she’d put in her mouth. Then she’d remember that Beca had gone back to L.A.
She mentally kicked herself for becoming so attached to Beca in such a short amount of time. Then Chloe reminded herself that she and Beca had quite a history growing up. Now that they’d found each other again, who knows where their journey would go? Aubrey still wasn’t convinced that Beca wouldn’t up and disappear on Chloe again, so Chloe stopped sharing all her feelings with her best friend and decided to simply take things one day at a time.
When Beca arrived back in the States, she gave herself some time to unpack and get acclimated back to the Pacific time zone. She knew she’d be buried elbows deep in work once she returned to the studio. Beca allowed herself to enjoy herself a bit more than usual, following Chloe’s vacation on Instagram and messaging with the redhead to hear about her adventures. They even took advantage of Chloe’s last evening in Berlin, when they knew she’d have excellent Wi-Fi at the hotel and had a video call.
“Hey there,” Beca said when she saw Chloe’s face pop up on the screen. Noticing the open suitcase on the bed behind Chloe, she said, “I see you’ve started the dreadful job of packing!”
Chloe groaned. “I hate it already. I found one of those drop-off laundry places yesterday and left most of my clothes. I kept my pajamas and underwear and did a load of those in the hotel tonight. Couldn’t stand the thought of some stranger washing my undies.”
Beca chortled. “You could have found a laundromat and done them all yourself, you know.”
Chloe shrugged and admitted that she was lazy and hadn’t wanted to fool with it. “Anyway, have you gotten used to being back home?”
“Meh, I suppose. I will head back to the studio tomorrow. I’ll going to work on these tracks I brought home and see what I can have ready for my boss in a few days.”
The two talked for a while about two of the singers that Beca thought had promise. Then the conversation shifted to Chloe’s sightseeing. “I’ve been following your journey. You’ve been a busy girl!”
“Still would have been more fun with you along, of course.” Chloe stuck her lip out in a mock pout.
“Yeah, well, some of us have to work for a living.” Beca winked to let her know she was joking. “Besides, it’s not like we won’t keep talking, and I’ll be here when you get back. When do you leave tomorrow? Prague, right?”
“Yeah, a little after one in the afternoon, I think. It’s around a four-hour train ride.”
“Youch! Why didn’t you fly?”
“By the time I get to the airport, through security, flight delays, etc., it would probably take the same time. Besides, this way I can see more of the countryside. I’m not flying any this trip except overseas. Some of the legs will be a bit longer than others. I considered taking at least one overnight train just for the experience… We’ll see.”
After talking a while more, Chloe said she needed to finish packing to get to bed at a decent hour. “I have to make sure I packed well in case I have to stow my suitcase somewhere I can’t get to while on the train.”
“Let me know when you get there.” Beca grinned.
Chloe flashed a smile back at her friend. “Of course, and before then, probably. You are going to get so tired of hearing from me!”
“Don’t count on it, Beale. Night.”
Apparently, Chloe was quite cognizant of the time difference between the two and didn’t message Beca when she got on the train. When Beca rolled out of bed in the morning, she sent a text:
[To Chloe: Good morning to me, afternoon to you, I guess]
[To Chloe: How’s the train ride?]
Chloe quickly responded.
[To Beca: Bumpy! And sway-y - is that a word? The cars sway a lot.]
[To Beca: That’s okay. The view is nice, and the Wi-Fi is decent.]
[To Chloe: What are you doing online?]
[To Beca: Nunya]
Beca chuckled and decided to not push the subject. It truly was none of her business what Chloe was doing on the internet.
[To Chloe: I’m off to start my day. Have a good one.]
[To Beca: You, too]
Beca couldn’t help but enjoy the feeling she got when she talked with Chloe. But today was back to reality for her as she had to return to work. Fortunately, Beca loved her job. And she was good at it. She’d started learning slowly and paid her dues. She was about to see if she’d truly learned anything and if her ear was as good as she thought it was.
Chloe smiled as she put down her phone. She had about three hours left on this ride. Lifting the lid on her laptop, she went back to browsing the State of California Veterinarian Licensing Board website. While she had yet to make a decision about what she’d be doing when she returned home, she’d like to know her options.
Upon arrival in Prague, Chloe hailed an Uber ride to her hotel. Thankfully, some things were universal in all the countries she’d be visiting. With Uber, she could easily type in the address of where she needed to go and not have to struggle with the language barrier. Her driver was kind and tried to make conversation in his limited English during the short ride from the train station to her hotel.
They arrived at what appeared to be the back of a long row of buildings. After parking, he retrieved her suitcase and motioned for her to follow him as they walked around the corner of the building, which ended up being one side of a square. About halfway down the side, he opened the door he was searching for and let her enter. The woman behind the desk looked up as he rattled off some words in Czech and sat down her bags. The driver then grasped Chloe’s hand and pumped it up and down, thanking her profusely before leaving.
“Chloe Beale, yes?” The hotel clerk looked at her expectantly. Chloe nodded. “Passport, please.” While the woman’s English was quite good, her accent was thick and guttural. She pushed a registration card and a pen forward. Chloe handed over her passport and credit card before filling out the registration card.
By the time Chloe was registered, a young man stood ready to carry her bag up the narrow flight of stairs to her room. He showed Chloe the room before handing her the key. She held up a finger, asking him to wait and dug out a few Euros she had left from Germany. She hoped they would be okay. “I will have crowns next time, okay?” He nodded and grinned as she dropped the coins into his hand.
After plopping on the bed, Chloe opened the Uber app and left a healthy tip for her driver, who had been kind enough to lug her bag around the building. After resting a moment, she stood and looked out the window. Her view couldn’t have been more beautiful. Her small boutique hotel was in Old Town Square. She knew there was an art museum on one corner and several churches. Shops were scattered all around. The town’s famous medieval astrological clock was the feature piece of the Old Town Hall in the square.
Chloe had given herself about three days in each city before she moved to the next, except Berlin and Paris. She wanted to leave a bit more time for Paris, so she had to time things right with travel to ensure she had enough days to see everything she wanted. The train ride to Krakow was the longest, at around six hours. Perhaps she could make that trip overnight in a sleeper car, save a day and see what traveling in a sleeper car would be like. However, that wasn’t a decision for the moment. After unpacking, her first task would be to get some food.
As Chloe walked out of the hotel, she could tell that all the establishments on her side of the square were either hotels or restaurants. She opened the Google Translate app Beca had downloaded on her phone and switched to the camera mode so she could decipher menus before choosing what to eat. When she arrived at the corner, she saw what they had on display and burst out laughing. The maître d' at the door said something that Chloe couldn’t understand. She pointed at the meat, turning on a spit, then pointed at the menu, asking him what that dish was. When he showed her and she translated it with her phone, she was instantly sold - if nothing more than the humor of it.
The maître d' seated her, and a young woman quickly appeared at her tableside. When the language barrier became evident, the server made a drinking motion. Chloe used the app to translate beer. The server showed her a page with multiple beers. Chloe shrugged and pointed at the server, indicating she should just bring her one. The woman nodded and scurried off to get a beer that Chloe would hopefully like. When Chloe gave her a thumbs up, the server beamed.
Already knowing what she wanted, Chloe pointed at her selection. Prasečí koleno, pig knuckle. She had seen the knuckles on the rotisserie in the window and gotten a kick out of them. The meat was served quickly with an assortment of roasted root vegetables. Chloe took several pictures and made a note to take one of the menus before leaving, as she had forgotten before she ordered.
She sent a quick text to Beca.
[To Beca: Made it to the Czech Republic. Their food is… interesting.]
[To Beca: Check out this huge chuck of meat]
She attached a picture of the pig knuckle to the last text.
Chloe ate like she hadn’t seen food for days. She picked the pig knuckle clean of meat and polished off all the vegetables. That along with two beers satisfied her hunger quite well.
After dinner, Chloe meandered around Old Town Square, looking at the various street cart vendors and seeing what the museums had to offer. She found one pastry shop that smelled absolutely divine. When she entered, Chloe realized that the amazing chocolate she smelled was not from the pastries but from the hot chocolate. The line was long but well worth it when Chloe took her first sip. She could have never imagined hot chocolate to taste so good.
[To Chloe: Good morning to me, evening to you]
[To Chloe: How’s Prague?]
Beca hadn’t talked to Chloe since she left Berlin, which was only a few days prior. She hoped she wasn’t being too needy. Surely Chloe would say something if that were the case.
[To Beca: I was just thinking about you.]
[To Beca: Wanna call?]
Beca immediately initiated a FaceTime call. “Hey! How’s the world traveler?”
“Oh my god, Beca. I’m going to come back fifty pounds heavier. The food… is amazing here. And the hot chocolate. I think I have had at least two large cups a day.”
“Hot chocolate? Seriously?” Beca laughed. Surely, Chloe was exaggerating.
“Dixie chicks serious. It’s like liquid gold. You can’t imagine.”
“So you are enjoying the city?”
“Oh, Beca,” Chloe crooned. She held her hands out to her side. “It’s like I’m a Disney princess. All I have to do is raise my hands, and bluebirds flutter in and dress me for the day.” Her hands dropped back to her side. “Don’t laugh; it’s true.”
“I believe you, Beale. But only you could make that comparison. Glad to hear you’re having a good time.”
They talked about everything Chloe had done so far and her future plans while touring Eastern Europe. “I’m going to try to go on a food tour in every city. It’s a fabulous way to open yourself up to new experiences.”
“That it is.” Beca told Chloe how her work was going. “I’m about ready to present at least one of the tracks to my boss. And that gal from the open mic, the one I told you was a go-getter. She’s already sent me two more. I have a feeling we’ll be flying her to L.A. soon.”
“That’s a good thing, right?” Beca nodded. “I’m proud of you, Mitchell. You seem like you’ve done well for yourself.”
Beca gave a soft smile. Little did Chloe know that much of Beca’s happiness right now was because of her. She just hoped Chloe would stay happy to hear from her when she found out Beca’s plans for the weekend included calling Aubrey.
Chapter 8: Making Things Right with Aubrey
Chapter Text
“Aubrey Posen.” The blonde punched the speaker button on her phone and laid it down so she could finish making her breakfast. She’d had a great early morning run and was fueling up for a morning of cleaning around her house.
“Don’t hang up. Please. It’s Beca. Beca Mitchell. All I need is five minutes.”
Aubrey’s mouth dropped open. “How the hell did you get my number? Don’t tell me. Chloe put you up to calling me. I don’t want to talk to you, Beca. Not now, not ever.”
“Please, Aubrey. Chloe doesn’t know I’m calling. Just give me a few minutes. I’m calling because of Chloe. You don’t have to listen to what I have to say for me. But please, listen for her.”
“You have about four and a half minutes left. Get talking.” Aubrey smashed her bagel together a bit harder than usual, smooshing the cream cheese over the edges.
“I know I made a total dick move in high school. I was seventeen. I own that.”
Aubrey snorted. “And college. And after graduation.”
“Yeah, I know. Believe me. I’ve spent every waking moment since Chloe and I talked about what happened thinking about it. And had some restless nights about it, too.”
“Chloe adored you, Beca. You hung the moon and could do no wrong. Do you know how utterly bad you hurt her when you just up and disappeared?” Aubrey’s stern tone was disapproving.
“I know, Aubrey. Believe me, I know.”
“And you ghosted the rest of us, too. Nobody knows what any of us did wrong.”
Beca sighed but was willing to take the punches for what was indeed her fault. “None of you did anything wrong, especially Chloe. I take full responsibility for what happened. A screwed-up choice made by a screwed-up teenager.”
“So why are you calling me, Mitchell? The sooner you get to the point, the sooner I can hang up on you.”
“I didn’t spend a long time with Chloe in Berlin, but the time I did spend made me realize how royally I fucked up. She told me the truth about what happened. The whole truth. And if I’m being honest with myself, I think I had feelings for her, too.”
“You think?” Aubrey rolled her eyes.
“What I do know is that now that we’ve reconnected, I’m going to do everything I can to keep her in my life. And that means making amends with you. I know how important you are to her. So I figured I’d get a head start in apologizing and earning your trust back.”
“Why does it even bother what I think?” Aubrey’s frustration was getting to her.
“Because it matters to Chloe. And if it matters to Chloe, that’s what counts.” Beca could hear Aubrey sigh on the other end of the phone. “Look, how about we meet someplace neutral and talk? Catch up. I’ll buy you lunch tomorrow. Your choice.”
“Careful with your words there, Mitchell. I have pretty expensive tastes.”
“It’s lunch, Posen. So you’ll meet?”
Aubrey agreed and told her she’d text Beca where and what time later in the day. Beca hung up feeling somewhat accomplished.
Chloe had decided to take the sleeper train to Krakow until she checked the train schedule. The only overnight train left around six in the afternoon and arrived at midnight. That was worse than losing an entire day of travel. So she extended her stay in Prague by one night and booked a train that arrived early in the afternoon so she could check into her hotel as soon as she got there.
She was glad to have the extra afternoon and evening to take her time picking out her souvenirs. Before leaving home, Chloe had self-imposed a limit of one keepsake per destination plus one of those three-dimensional refrigerator magnets. Of course, she would get a gift for someone if it was something she absolutely couldn’t pass up. She’d even brought an extra suitcase for her extras.
In Berlin, Chloe had found a classic beer stein. In Prague, she had her eye on a woodworker’s shop that made the most delicate puppets, which would be quite the conversation piece. The shopkeeper assured her he’d pack them well to withstand the journey. He even showed her how to work the strings to make the puppet dance.
Chloe also selected a few postcards to send to her parents and Aubrey. Being the organizer she was, Aubrey had given her preprinted address labels so Chloe wouldn’t have to worry about writing the addresses. Just pick a gorgeous postcard, scribble a quick message, and give it to the hotel front desk for mailing.
She dropped off her purchase at the hotel and was meandering around the square, sipping on her third hot chocolate of the day, waiting for the astronomical clock to start its show, when one of the little kiosks on wheels caught her eye—rubber ducks. Beca had purchased about half a dozen Bavarian ducks holding beer steins in Berlin. When questioned, she told Chloe she drove a Jeep Gladiator. When Chloe was still puzzled, Beca told her it was a Jeep thing she wouldn’t understand. Having far too much internet time on the train, Chloe had researched the practice of ducking Jeeps. Knowing she wouldn’t have a ton of extra space, Chloe knew rubber ducks wouldn’t take much room and would be the perfect present for Beca.
Despite the idea being all hers, Beca couldn’t help but be nervous about meeting Aubrey for lunch the next day. The blonde had chosen an establishment on the higher end of moderate, which was fine with Beca. The meal could be brief, or they could have an extended conversation if the situation warranted. Beca only hoped she’d made the right decision to try to mend fences with Aubrey.
She arrived about fifteen minutes before their reservation and sat at the bar, where she could see the front door. The bartender dropped a napkin in front of her and soon a glass of white wine. She would have rather ordered a beer, but wine would probably be a safer bet with Posen. She barely took her first sip when she saw Aubrey enter the door. Still tall. Still blonde. And she still walked with a ramrod straight back.
Aubrey approached the maître d’ stand without looking around to see if Beca had arrived. The brunette rushed over and greeted Aubrey before quickly saying. “Mitchell, party of two.”
Aubrey’s eyebrows shot up when the maître d’ gathered two menus and motioned them to follow him. As he held Aubrey’s chair so she could sit, she quietly told him to cancel the reservation for Posen. Beca did her best to keep from grinning. Aubrey hadn’t expected her to know to make reservations here. Yet that’s the first thing Beca did when Aubrey said where she wanted to eat lunch. The restaurant was quite popular on Sunday afternoons, and they wouldn’t have gotten a table without a reservation.
The server stopped at the table immediately, and Aubrey indicated she’d have what Beca was drinking. When the two were left alone, Beca steeled her nerves. “Thank you for agreeing to meet, Aubrey. This means so much to me.”
“Hmm, well, I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing it for Chloe. I’m not sure how you managed to get your hooks back into her, but she seems keen on keeping in touch with you. What are your intentions, Beca?”
“Intentions? I don’t have any wild, ulterior motives. I only want a chance to get to know Chloe again. Make up for past mistakes. For lost time.”
Aubrey didn’t look convinced. She stared at Beca for a moment. “Okay, let’s say I buy this story. Why do you feel you have to make amends with me? Chloe’s her own woman. I’m certainly not the boss of her.”
After thinking for a moment, Beca replied. “I realize that Chloe can make her own choices. Of course, she and I can rekindle our friendship without your permission. But if she moves to Los Angeles to practice, how much simpler would it be for us to be at least able to get along.”
Despite trying to school her emotions, Aubrey’s face turned ashen while Beca’s turned red. “Oh shit. I guess she hasn’t talked to you then. Fuck. I’ve messed up again.” Beca couldn’t bear to look at Aubrey, afraid of the type of daggers the blonde would be shooting at her. She ran her fingers through her hair and drained her wine. Beca motioned the server over and ordered a double whiskey. “Shit, Aubrey. I didn’t realize she hadn’t talked to you about moving here.”
Aubrey couldn’t decide if she was delighted Chloe was considering moving to the same city or livid that she had to hear the news from Beca fucking Mitchell. “She hasn’t. The last I heard, she was deciding between two clinics in Georgia.”
“Please don’t tell her I told you?” Beca cringed when she asked.
“Unlike yourself, who obviously has no boundaries for other’s private information, I would never hurt Chloe’s feelings. Trust me, I won’t be saying a word to Chloe about anything we talk about.”
“Look, she thinks the world of you. I know how tight you were in high school, and I only thought that bond had deepened since you are such close friends. She only mentioned in passing to me a few times. By the time she returns from Europe, she may not even be interested in sitting for another set of exams to get her California license.” Beca could feel her heart pounding as if it were outside her chest.
“So she mentioned it… a few times…” Aubrey arched her eyebrows.
Beca nodded. “Look, I get it. You hate me for what I did when we were in high school. I own that. But if there’s any chance of my being in Chloe’s life again, I want that. And if she moves here, that means that you are a part of that as well. I know you two are a package deal. All I’m asking for is a chance here, Aubrey. Can we put our differences aside, even if only for her sake?”
The server interrupted their conversation to take their order. Aubrey hadn’t even looked at the menu yet knew exactly what she wanted. Beca had eaten there enough times to know her favorite dish, so she didn’t have to look at the menu either. Somehow, Aubrey seemed surprised when Beca returned the unopened menus to the server.
Shrugging, Beca admitted, “What? I know what I like.” Beca tried a new tactic before the conversation went back to the past. “Chloe told me you moved to Los Angeles to join your father’s law firm. What type of law do you specialize in?”
“Corporate mostly. The firm has a few divisions; however, working with commercial businesses is where I think I’ve found my niche. I’ve only been here a little over a year. Daddy keeps telling me I can change if I want. But this is his bread and butter, what he practices. So I know he’ll be proud of me if I stay where I am.”
“Sounds like you’ve done well.”
“What about yourself?”
Beca was afraid to let down her guard. Aubrey had seemingly moved away from the I-hate-Beca-Mitchell mode for the moment, and Beca didn’t want to ruin it. “I’m an Associate Producer at Blossom Records.”
“Blossom Records?” Aubrey chuckled. “Sorry; I don’t mean to laugh. Exactly what does an associate producer do?”
Beca gave her the shortened version of what she’d told Chloe-how her boss had taken her under his wing and taught her all the facets of making a record, from finding the artist to releasing the album. “In fact, I was in Berlin searching for new artists.”
The two fell into an easy conversation that lasted throughout lunch. At one point, Aubrey threw her napkin on the table. “Damn you, Mitchell.”
Surprised since she thought things were going well, Beca asked what was wrong.
“I came here today wanting to hate you. And the longer we visit, the more I’m actually starting to like again.” Beca flashed her a lopsided grin. “But don’t think this lets you off the hook completely. Put one toe out of line and hurt Chloe, that’s it.”
Beca let out a breath of relief. “I promise you won’t regret it, Aubrey. But still, please don’t let Chloe know I let the cat out of the bag?”
“Never! But… now we can work on her from both sides to make Los Angeles a place she can’t pass up.” Aubrey sent a conspiring smile Beca’s way.
Chloe couldn’t resist texting Beca during her long train ride to Poland. Beca had told her that she put her phone on Do Not Disturb at night and while working so Chloe could text any time without fear she was interrupting. She texted as soon as she boarded hoping she could catch Beca still awake.
[To Beca: Poland bound on a train]
[To Beca: Sounds kind of morbid to be excited about that, huh?]
A response came immediately.
[To Chloe: Only you would think of that, Chlo]
[To Chloe: Got snacks?]
Chloe told her she had some peanut butter wafer snacks she’d picked up in Prague but would probably hit up the food car soon.
[To Chloe: How’s the internet?]
[To Chloie: A lot of people?]
After checking to see that only a few people were scattered in the car, Chloe put in her earbuds and tested a video call.
“Hey, Chloe! I guess you got my hint.” Beca grinned at her phone’s camera. “I’m in my jammies.”
“I’m surprised you’re still up.” Chloe kept her voice low not to disturb the other passengers. “Glad, though.”
“How did the rest of your visit in Prague go?”
“Fabulous!” She told him how the bellhop, who she’d later learned was the desk clerk’s son, and their family owned the quaint hotel, was so excited when he lugged her bags to the Uber on the back side of the building. “I only had euro coins when I checked in; so I emptied my pockets of a huge pile of change into his hands. Of course, he didn’t know I’d been saving all my change to give him, but it felt good to make him happy. I’m sure he works the family business for free.”
Beca laughed. “You are too kind for your own good, Chloe.”
“Naw,” Chloe retorted. “I just want people to see the good in humanity. Anyway, I see you’ve been enjoying my pictures on Instagram.”
“How can I not? I can’t wait to see the ones you’ve taken with your big camera.”
Chloe told her she would pull the photos from her memory cards and upload some of them during the trip. “So, how was your weekend? Did you do anything exciting?”
Beca froze, thinking she’d been busted talking to Aubrey. Surely Aubrey didn’t go back on her word so soon after agreeing to let Chloe tell her about her plans herself. “Umm, not really.”
“Why don’t I believe you?” Chloe shook her finger at Beca. “You are still an awful liar.”
Relieved Chloe didn’t seem to know she had spilled the beans to Aubrey, Beca didn’t see the harm in telling Chloe a bit of her weekend. “I had lunch with … umm… an old friend?”
“You say that like it’s a question,” Chloe laughed. “Did you have a good time?”
“Eventually,” Beca admitted. “It was hard at first, but we came to an understanding.”
Chloe furrowed her eyebrows. “‘Splain, Lucy.”
Beca laughed out loud at Chloe’s weak Ricky Ricardo reference. “You have to promise you won’t be mad.”
Chloe made an odd face and moved her head back. “Mad? Why would I be mad that you had lunch with a friend?”
“An old friend? Like from high school old.” Chloe still wasn’t catching on, so Beca had to spell it out. “I met Aubrey for lunch, okay?”
Chloe burst out laughing. “And you are still alive to tell the tale?”
“Hush. We came to an understanding…”
“And, pray tell, what was this understanding? That you can split me in half when I return? Because I feel that’s what’s going to happen. That or I’m going to have to choose.”
“No, no, no. I promised to be on my best behavior, and she will try to give me a second chance.”
Chloe’s jaw dropped. “Seriously? How’d you do that?”
“Still got that Mitchell charm, I guess.” Beca brushed off her shoulders with a flick of her fingers.
“You’re so bad, Beca. I can’t believe you got her to lunch with you.”
“I guess I used you in a sense. I told her if she wouldn’t do it for me, then do it for you. Regardless, the wolves have been called off. For now. I just have to walk the line from here on out.” She looked at Chloe, whose eyes were brimming with tears. “Chlo? What’s wrong?”
“I j-j-just didn’t expect this. I can’t believe you went to Aubrey and got her to listen to me.”
Beca explained that she knew how important Aubrey was to Chloe. Ergo that made her and Aubrey getting along paramount for Chloe’s happiness.
Chloe thought about the conversation with Beca most of the ride to Poland. The train must have stopped a dozen times to let people get off, and others get on. She was glad she hadn’t chosen a sleeper car as she certainly wouldn’t have gotten much sleep. She successfully sorted through all of her pictures from the Czech Republic and uploaded an assortment of her favorites.
Even after that, Chloe still had a few hours to kill. A quick time check told her Aubrey would still be asleep, so Chloe started researching California again. She’d decided that she could only do so while on the train; otherwise, she’d go down a rabbit hole and miss out on visiting the places she’d traveled so far to see.
Chloe started a spreadsheet of pros and cons. She listed each one and found corresponding internet links for later reference. She knew the cost of living in California would be substantially higher, and she couldn’t even consider purchasing a house until she’d paid off her student loans. However, she’d be close to Aubrey (and Beca), which was priceless. She knew all too well what having friends nearby meant.
Pro: The beach was incredibly close.
Con: Gas prices were the highest in the nation
Con: Housing prices were extremely high
Con: She’d have to sit for additional licensure exams
Pro: Salary would most likely be commiserate with increased cost of living
Pro: Aubrey and Beca would be close
When Chloe realized she kept returning to being near her two friends, she felt that was her deciding factor. Nothing was keeping her in Georgia; she had only two job offers at clinics in towns where she knew nobody. Granted, the job offers were excellent. She simply couldn’t see herself truly happy, knowing she could possibly have more.
Wait, more? Was Chloe hoping for more? With Beca? She hadn’t quite figured out how she felt about her old friend, if she was just pleased to have been reconnected or if her old feelings had been rekindled. So, for now, she shoved those feelings down inside her and concentrated on deciding based on being close to her former best friend and her now best friend.
When she was saying goodbye to Beca in Berlin, Chloe kissed Beca. Kind of. She’d tentatively pressed her lips to Beca’s cheek before pulling her into a hug. Beca had seemed a bit shocked at first, then quickly recovered. Chloe knew she’d always been touchy-feely through high school, but this… this had felt different. Now, she and Beca were adults. And the fact that they were both gay was out there. Maybe she wanted more with Beca, to explore the crush she’d had way back when. Regardless, she had several weeks to think about the future and many decisions to make along the way.
Chapter 9: Chloe's Adventures Continue
Chapter Text
Chloe arrived in Krakow and again took an Uber to her hotel. This time, she stayed in a more modern hotel, like the one in Berlin, Hotel Saski Krakow. Most major attractions were within walking distance, and a full laundry was on site to boot. Like Czech Republic, Poland did not deal with Euros either. She was able to exchange some euros for local currency at the front desk. Chloe knew she was probably getting the tourist exchange rate but was too exhausted from the train ride to care.
She couldn’t bear the thought of deciding where to eat, so settled on the hotel restaurant. She had a tremendous serving of hunter's stew which she later learned was called bigos along with chunks of large, crusty, freshly baked bread. Again, allowing the server to choose her beer was the best decision. Feeling stuffed, Chloe retreated to her room and decided to go to bed early. The following day would be a full day trip to tour Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Wieliczka Salt Mine. While the morning at the concentration camps would be heavy, the afternoon at the salt mine promised to be much lighter.
Chloe awoke in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. When she checked the time, she realized she’d probably gone to bed way too early since she was wide awake at two am. Quickly calculating the time let her know she could safely call Aubrey. It was early evening there, and Chloe needed to gauge Aubrey’s feelings about her considering moving to Los Angeles. She could always count on Aubrey to have a level head on her shoulders and to help guide Chloe in the right direction.
Skipping the text message, Chloe punched Aubrey’s contact and was soon connected with her best friend.
“Hi, world traveler? What exotic locale are you calling me from tonight?”
“Poland. Krakow, to be exact,” Chloe laughed. “I suppose you could call it exotic, off the beaten path for many who visit Europe.”
The friends visited for a while, Chloe filling Aubrey in on the things she’d seen since they last talked. As Chloe rattled away, she noticed Aubrey sitting patiently with her hands folded in front of her as if expecting something.
“What?”
“Do you have something to tell me,” the blonde asked.
Thinking she was talking about Beca’s visit, Chloe asked her own question. “Do you have something to tell me? Like a story about a little visitor you had.”
“Key word, little,” Aubrey retorted as she rolled her eyes. “I’m not talking about my lunch with Beca since apparently she already told you. I’m talking about your other news.”
Chloe’s mouth dropped open. “Oh. That.” She began to fidget nervously. “That’s why I’m calling. I, umm, wanted to talk to you about possibly moving to Los Angeles.”
Aubrey nodded. “I know. What I don’t know is why I had to hear about it from that swarmy hobbit and not you. Why, Chloe. You told Beca and not me?” Hurt was etched across her face.
“She told you?” Chloe began to panic.
Aubrey held up a hand. “Not that I’m letting her off the hook since I think she truly thought I knew. Even she thought you would have talked to me before mentioning anything to her. Why, Chloe?”
Chloe dipped her head down, not looking at the camera. “I-I-I didn’t even consider moving to Los Angeles. Until I reconnected with Beca, then it all made sense. I could be close to you. And her. I don’t have friends in Georgia anymore except people I went to school with, who are more colleagues. But if I moved to L.A., I’d have two good friends already. Plus, all of y’all’s friends.”
“Good friends?” Aubrey’s eyebrows shot up. “Now Beca’s a ‘good friend?’”
“I want her to be.” Chloe furrowed her eyebrows together. “And I think she wants to be friends, too. I mean, she called you, didn’t she? And convinced you to go to lunch with her. And lived to tell the story! You gotta be impressed with that, Bree.”
“The jury is still out on how I feel about Mitchell waltzing back into your life and you instantly forgiving her because of some teenage crush you had in high school.”
“That’s so not it,” Chloe protested. “A chance meeting on an overseas flight allowed us to reconnect. I basically forced her to talk to me. Eventually, we cleared the air about what happened back then, and she said it was a big misunderstanding.”
“And you believe her?” Aubrey’s tone said she was still skeptical.
“Yes!”
“She hurt you. Chloe. Badly. I had to pick up the pieces.”
“Just give her a chance. Please? For me?”
“Funny thing. That’s what she said, too. She asked for another chance, not for herself - but for you. I’m willing to do that, Chlo. But the moment she hurts you again, the door is slammed shut on any goodwill I might afford her.” Chloe clapped and beamed at her friend. “Now, back to this moving to Los Angeles bit.”
The two talked for a while, and Chloe laid out the pros and cons of the decision. Aubrey helped her clarify some of the issues she’d brought up. “Don’t be concerned about a place to live. I have more than enough room here, Chloe. You can stay here as long as it takes for you to get on your feet.”
“I couldn’t do that, Aubrey. That’s not fair to you nor your privacy.”
Aubrey explained she had a home office with its own entry at the back of the house if privacy was a concern. And since they’d lived together for all of undergrad, they knew each other’s quirks. “You don’t have to, of course. And I’d charge you rent, which would help me pay my mortgage. So, it’s a win-win for us both.”
The longer they talked, the more excited they both got. Chloe said she couldn’t commit fully yet, that she needed to explore the job market and how long getting licensed in California would take. However, when the phone call ended, both friends were quite optimistic about the possibilities.
Beca couldn’t keep her mind off a certain redhead, so buried herself in her work like she tended to do. But Chloe kept finding ways to sneak into her thoughts. She stalked Chloe’s Instagram constantly. It seemed like Chloe sent her additional pictures of her adventures every day. And they also had phone calls and FaceTime when they were both available.
She dared not ask Chloe anything about her job or plans after her return to the States. Beca didn’t want to interfere with Chloe’s vacation and relaxation. And frankly, Beca wasn’t ready to hear the news if Chloe decided to stay in Georgia. Granted, she did tell Chloe that she missed her regularly, but she figured there was no harm in telling the truth. Beca did miss her friend—a lot.
One evening, Beca got a phone call that she had not expected. When she picked up the phone, the voice on the other end said, “This is Aubrey Posen.”
Beca laughed. “I know your name, Aubrey, and caller ID is a given these days. Why can’t you say hello?”
After a moment, Aubrey said, “Hello, Beca.”
“Hi, Aubrey; how are you tonight?”
“Quite well, thank you.”
“Well, check us out. Being all civil and all. To what do I owe the pleasure of this phone call.” She could hear Aubrey sighing on the other end.
“I thought perhaps we might do lunch again on Saturday.”
Shocked, Beca quickly agreed. “Are you sure you’re okay? Did you fall and bump your head?” Beca could practically hear the blonde rolling her eyes.
“No. I simply want to see if you are consistent. If you are as contrite as you said you were the last time we met.”
“Okay then,” Beca said. They made plans on when and where to meet and disconnected the call.
Chloe’s summer European vacation continued. She saw everything she’d planned on seeing when planning the trip and many things recommended by the people at the places where she stayed. Sometimes, she stayed in larger hotels, while others, she stayed in smaller boutique hotels.
In each city, her hard drive collected more pictures, and her souvenir bag got a bit heavier. In addition to the pictures she put on Instagram, she texted Beca additional pictures along her journey. And while in each city along the way, she tried to connect with Beca at least with a video call. Sometimes, it was during a train ride, others at her lodging.
Some research uncovered that a Swiss train company offered NightJet, a direct overnight from Vienna to Zurich. While there were a few stops along the way, online reviews gave her confidence that booking a sleeping car would result in little sleep disturbance along the way. Plus, she’d have her own shower and all the privacy she could ask for.
While in each city, Chloe kept herself busy, but most of her train rides left time for thoughts. By the time she reached Bern, one city away from her final stop in Paris, she had all but decided to commit to moving to Los Angeles. Since the deadline for accepting or rejecting the two job offers in Georgia was approaching, Chloe emailed her contact at each clinic and let them know that she was not taking the job.
Meanwhile, back in Los Angeles, Beca and Aubrey were having lunch. Aubrey was actually quite civil, which surprised Beca. She easily talked about her work. Beca shared that the German artist she had found at the Berlin open mic was being flown in the following week. Her boss loved what Beca had put together; this was the last step in signing the artist.
“Then she’ll be all mine. We’ll go through her songs. Record the ones we like best and put together an album.”
“You make it sound so effortless,” Aubrey said.
“Many moving parts are involved,” Beca admitted. “But this artist is hungry and quite the go-getter. I think she’ll do well. And the better she does, the better I do.”
“Ohh, so the shoe drops. This is self-serving, after all.”
Beca could tell that Aubrey was teasing by her tone, but she still needed to defend herself. “Absolutely not. Take you for example. When you win, your client wins, and your firm wins. It’s kind of the same thing.”
“I’m teasing, Beca.” Aubrey reached over and squeezed Beca’s arm. “I’m just trying to get to know you again.”
Relieved, all Beca could do was smile. She couldn’t fuck up with Aubrey. Not if she wanted any chance with Chloe.
Despite Chloe being a common factor in their lives, neither woman steered the conversation towards her. In fact, it seemed that they both were doing everything they could not to talk about Chloe.
Finally, Chloe’s vacation came to an end. She knew her flight would be long the next day, and she’d be exhausted when she landed. Chloe texted Aubrey to ensure she had the flight information and still planned to pick her up. She messaged Beca to see if she was available for a call.
“Hey, you.” Beca was grinning from ear to ear when she answered. “Tomorrow’s the long flight back, right?”
Chloe said it was and that while she had a blast, she’d be glad to be back in the States. “Aubrey’s picking me up at the airport. Is that okay?”
Beca looked offended. “I thought I was arm wrestling her for it.” She quickly laughed to let Chloe know she was kidding. “I get it. But I would like to see you before you head back to Georgia. Give me another chance to make my case for you to move to L.A. again.”
Chloe realized that she hadn’t told Beca her decision. After their discussion, It was a given with Aubrey, but Beca hadn’t brought it up. She decided to hold off and tell Beca face-to-face. Plus, she wanted to have one final conversation with Aubrey and look at the space her friend was offering her to live in.
“Sure,” Chloe chirped. “I’ll let you know when I land, and we can make plans.”
Beca was nervous about Chloe’s return. Her lunch with Aubrey had gone well, but neither had brought up their mutual friend. Had Chloe said something to Aubrey about her? Did she not want anything to do with Beca? Perhaps Beca was reading too much into it. In fact, she knew she was because Chloe had just told her they’d make plans after she got back to L.A. and before she returned to Georgia.
Maybe she was blowing things out of proportion. Maybe she was getting too deep into her own mind. She kept replaying what Chloe had said about having a crush on her in high school. Beca knew back then that she thought Chloe was hot, but then there was Jesse. Beca had a boyfriend because it was what ‘she was supposed to do’ no matter how wrong it felt.
Then, there was not one but two kisses in Berlin. Chloe first kissed her cheek in excitement when she’d suggested the redhead listen to some DJs with her. But when they said goodbye, Chloe was a bit more tender as she pressed her lips to Beca’s cheek. Beca couldn’t help but raise her hand to her cheek as if the sensation was still there. Chloe had always been an affectionate person, right? Perhaps Beca couldn’t read too much into it. Or into Chloe texting her the entire time on vacation. Or the video chats.
No, no, no. Beca wouldn’t let herself get caught up in crushing on Chloe when she would be almost on the other side of the country when she returned. She might as well still be in Europe!
Chloe had emptied all her bags onto the extra bed in her hotel. She packed everything but her clothes for the following day, snacks for the plane, her electronics, and the rubber ducks she’d picked out for Beca. Looking at them one by one, she pushed them into the crevices of her souvenir carry-on. One with the Czech Republic flag emblazoned on their chest from Prague, one dressed as a dragon from Krakow, another riding a Lipizzaner Stallion from Vienna. The one from Zurich had dollar signs for eyes. The Bern duck was dressed as a bear, and finally, the Paris duck was hanging off the Eiffel Tower.
Satisfied that all the ducks were tucked safely away, Chloe secured her electronics that didn’t need to charge overnight and their accompanying cords. She then went in search of what had become her favorite place for crepes and had a savory galette for dinner. Chloe knew shedding the weight she’d gained while on vacation would be time-consuming, but the food she’d gotten to experience had been well worth it. She’d managed to find a walking food tour in each city plus visited countless eateries recommended by locals.
She had no regrets about the entire time she’d spent in Europe. Except maybe one. That she had been by herself most of the time.
Chapter 10: Home
Chapter Text
Chloe saw her best friend standing right by the exit to customs at LAX. She giggled when she realized Aubrey was holding an iPad that said, “C. Beale.” Racing around the dividing rope, Chloe dropped her bags and flung her arms around her friend’s neck. “I missed you!”
While only a few inches taller, Aubrey picked Chloe up and swung her around before unceremoniously dropping her back on the ground. “I missed you, too. Welcome home.” She tucked the iPad under her arm. “I thought I’d be funnier. Of course, it would have been more hilarious had I sent a driver for you.”
Chloe’s lower lip protruded. “You wouldn’t have! Then I’d have to wait to see my bestie.” Chloe put her pack back on and grabbed her rollaboard. Aubrey grabbed her larger suitcase and made their way to Aubrey’s car.
“You’re right. I wouldn’t have sent a car after you. Besides, someone else would have happily taken my place if something had come up.” Aubrey chucked Chloe’s shoulder with her own.
“Aubrey Posen. Whoever might you be talking about?”
“Please. I know you, Beale. I’ve got your number. But that’s neither here nor there. Let’s get you back to my place so you can clean up. Depending on how tired you are, we can go out, order in, or you can take a nap and get your body readjusted to the time shift. But after all is said and done, I want to hear about your trip.”
Beca’s leg nervously jiggled up and down. She tried to concentrate on the track she was listening to but kept getting distracted by checking her phone. Chloe’s plane was supposed to have landed an hour ago, but she had yet to hear from her. Perhaps she was having trouble getting through immigration and customs. Maybe Aubrey hadn’t shown up, and Chloe was trying to figure out the best way to get a ride to where she needed to go. Or, in the worst-case scenario, Chloe had chosen not to let Beca know she was back.
Finally, Beca flipped her phone face down and pushed it to the far corner of the studio console, doing her best to concentrate on the track she was to be mixing. She kept eyeing her phone, sitting far away, willing it to buzz. And when it did, Beca lunged to read the message.
[From Chloe: Landed safe and sound]
[From Chloe: Headed to Aubrey’s]
[From Chloe: Talk soon]
Relief coursed through Beca’s body. She quickly texted back.
[From Beca: Awesome]
[From Beca: Love you]
She froze, staring at the last line she’d sent. Fuck! Fuck, fuck, fuck. She quickly unsent it, hoping Chloe had been too busy gabbing with Aubrey to have read it.
After Beca silently freaked out about the text she’d accidentally sent Chloe, she decided her attention span was kaput. So, she decided to leave for the day and go do something productive. After arriving home, she looked around her apartment and realized the mess in which she lived. Her place needed a good cleaning, and it would keep her mind occupied. A secondary benefit would be that she wouldn’t have to worry about the clutter if Chloe came over.
Chloe sat silently in Aubrey’s car, staring at her phone. She saw two texts come in from Beca. Suddenly, the second disappeared and was replaced with Beca M unsent a message.
“Chlo, are you okay? You look as white as a ghost.”
“Umm, sure, yeah. I’m fine.” By now, Chloe was second-guessing if she had read what she thought Beca had sent. And truth be told, she was freaking out a bit on the inside. Did Beca mean what she sent but sent to by accident? If she didn’t send it by accident, why did she unsend it? Did Beca send that to the wrong person? A million scenarios flooded Chloe’s exhausted mind. Finally, she shoved her phone into her backpack, pushed her thoughts to the side and gave Aubrey all her attention.
When they got to Aubrey’s home, Chloe took a shower and freshened up while Aubrey took all the clothes, dirty or not, to the washing machine. Chloe said they were already packed to head back to Georgia and for Aubrey not to worry, but the blonde insisted. “This way, you can go back to Georgia with clothes you know are clean - one less thing on your to-do list.”
Chloe took a long, steamy shower and pulled on a comfy pair of fleece shorts and an oversized sweatshirt from the college she and Aubrey had attended. She lugged her two carry-on bags into Aubrey’s living room and collapsed on the couch.
Aubrey handed her a goblet of white wine, which Chloe gratefully took. “I’m sure you had better on your trip, but at least this doesn’t come with a tab at the end of the evening.” They both laughed. Aubrey also had laid out a charcuterie and cheese board in case Chloe had the munchies. Once her friend seemed relaxed and settled, Aubrey spoke. “Okay, now I want to know everything about your trip.”
Chloe laughed and told her that they talked in every city. “And I know you saw my pictures on Instagram.”
The blonde insisted there must be more to share - stories and pictures. Chloe gently dumped out her souvenir and gift bag. “Here’s everything I bought. I got myself one memorable item, one magnet from each city, and then a few gifts for people.”
Aubrey clapped. “Am I people? I love gifts.”
“Of course, you’re people,” Chloe replied. “My favorite people.” Aubrey cheered.
The redhead started pulling out various things she had purchased and naming where she’d bought them. Some items remained wrapped as she set them aside. She let Aubrey ooh and aww over the Frau Toni summer fragrance she’d gotten in Berlin. Chloe showed off the limited puppetry skills she’d learned with the marionette from Prague.
“This is Wawel,” Chloe giggled as she pulled out a small dragon figurine. “He lived in a cave behind a castle in Poland. Aubrey laughed. Only Chloe would name her souvenirs. “Oh no,” Chloe replied. “That’s his name. The Wawel Dragon.” From Vienna, Chloe had bought herself a pair of stunning whiskey tumblers made from Lobmeyr glass.
“And from Switzerland,” Chloe announced. “Drumroll, please.” Aubrey appeased her by beating a rhythm on her knees.
“Chocolate!” They both shouted together as Chloe handed Aubrey one of the boxes. She also gave her a box of fresh macaroons she’d purchased on the way to the Paris airport.”
“Thank you so much, Chloe. I’m sure these will both taste scrumptious. I love my presents.”
Chloe put her hand on her friend’s leg and scrutinized her face seriously. “Aubrey, do you seriously think I was gone for a month and only brought you chocolate and macaroons?” Chloe knew Aubrey like the back of her hand, especially her love of the finer things in life. She’d already decided to find some incredible presents for her best friend.
She selected the first gift and handed it to Aubrey, who carefully undid the wrapping to reveal a pure white vase. Aubrey turned it over and around in her hands and saw a bright blue seal stamped on the bottom. “Königliche Porzellan from Berlin,” Chloe said. “I have cards on everything to explain. I know you love to collect conversation pieces.”
Tears filled Aubrey’s eyes. “It’s stunning.” She accepted the next gift and unwrapped it to discover another white porcelain container with fluted edges, two handles and a lid.
“Bohemian Czech porcelain. It’s a mustard pot,” Chloe giggled as she shrugged. “Who knew one needed an entire pot for mustard.” The Augarten porcelain champagne bowl from Vienna was emerald green with a gold interior. “This company was founded in the mid-1800s. They have quite a history.”
By now, Aubrey was crying. “Chloe, this is all too much. This vacation was your graduation present from your parents. Not a shopping trip for me. You got me nicer things than you got yourself.”
Chloe insisted that she had always enjoyed picking out the presents for Aubrey. “I tried to imagine you with me in every city and picked out things I thought you’d pick out. Things you’d proudly display in your house.” She gave her friend a long hug. “There’s one more.” Chloe handed Aubrey a box. “I know The Queen’s Gambit is one of your favorite Netflix series.”
Aubrey looked perplexed as she pulled a wooden box from a velvet bag. As she opened it, the realization hit: It was a chessboard. Chloe bounced on the couch in excitement, waiting to tell her about it. “The dark squares are poplar and light squares are ash.”
Stunned, Aubrey ran her fingers around the perimeter of the board. “There’s even an orange, red, and black delimiter, exactly like the board on the show.” Chloe nodded as Aubrey opened the green felt-lined box of pieces and extracted one. “Exquisite.”
“Hand carved. I watched for quite some time. This one man - that’s all he did was carve chess pieces. And look.” Chloe pointed to the box that held the pieces. There was a gold plate bearing Aubrey’s name.
“Chloe, this is perfect. I love chess. Everything about it is perfect. How ever can I thank you?”
“Teach me how to play chess? I know how to play a little. I bet I can beat you in a few months, after boards - of course.”
“Wait, what?” Aubrey’s head whipped up from staring at the gorgeous chess set before her. She gently put it on the table, away from all the breakables Chloe had brought her. “Boards? Are you moving to L.A.?”
Chloe worried her bottom lip with her teeth and nodded. “If you’ll let me be your roommate again. Just for a little while; I promise.”
Aubrey jumped up and pulled Chloe to her feet for a hug. “That’s the best news ever. You can stay as long as you wish.” She held on to her friend a bit longer than usual, partially because she’d missed her while she was gone and partially because she was excited that they would be roommates again.
She opened her eyes and looked over Chloe’s shoulder at a few more items that Chloe had in her bag. “Umm, Chloe? What’s with all the ducks?”
Beca shifted in bed, turning back over and resisting the urge to check her phone, which lay face down on her nightstand. She’d turn the volume on and turned off her Do Not Disturb, which she usually kept active while she slept. Chloe had only returned this morning, but Beca was anxious to hear from her. She still wasn’t sure if Chloe had seen her faux pas text. She fell over on her back and let out a sigh. Finally, Beca turned away from her nightstand, pulled the covers to her chin and tried to fall asleep.
The morning arrived, yet there was no text from Chloe. Maybe Beca had read too much into the time they spent in Berlin. But Chloe had messaged her constantly, sharing little tidbits of her trip, and they’d video-called quite a bit. Beca decided she was giving herself whiplash and gave up trying to make sense of the situation. She set about getting ready for work.
Typically, Beca didn’t bother with breakfast at home. There was a coffee shop between the parking garage and the studio that had the best brew and lemon pound cake. Of course, Beca supposed there were worse things she could eat for breakfast, but this pastry was one of her guilty pleasures. After stopping at the small cafe, she continued the half block to work. She shoved the last of the cake into her mouth and reached behind her computer to flip the power switch. Taking a sip of coffee, she glanced over the files the secretary had left on her desk.
Mila, her new German artist, had arrived a few days ago. Beca had given her time to acclimate to the States, but today would be her first day in the office. She called the studio’s car service to ensure they had Mila on their pick-up schedule. Beca sipped her coffee while she perused her emails. Usually, her routine was perfectly timed - the better coffee from the shop was gone by the time she finished her emails. The studio’s coffee wasn’t too bad, but she still preferred the shop’s.
Beca checked the recording studio she’d reserved for Mila that afternoon after the introductions and grand tour. Her boss initially wanted to be in on things. Beca didn’t feel he was checking up on her - just excited that she was stepping out alone. She donned a blazer she kept at the office and dropped her phone in her pocket.
After she made her rounds, Beca made her way to the front to await Mila’s arrival. She propped herself on the edge of the security guard’s desk and made small talk. When she saw Mila enter, Beca jumped up. “Hallo und willkommen.”
“Hi,” the artist said timidly. Thank you.” Her English was passable and would improve the longer she stayed in the States. Beca made a mental note to stick with her so Mila wouldn’t feel lost her first time in a foreign country.
“First, the tour. Die Reise. We do have some paperwork, but this afternoon will be spent in the studio.” Beca spoke first in English and then in German to ensure nothing got lost in translation. Mila looked grateful as she nodded her head.
“I am excited to be here.”
Beca showed her around the studio and introduced her to Beca’s boss. She explained that he’d be in the recording studio with him this afternoon.
“I’m quite impressed, Mila. We’ve been excited about your visit.”
As Beca translated, she giggled and looked down as she nervously shuffled her feet.
Their next stop was human resources. Mila didn’t have an agent, so a basic contract had been drawn up in both languages. Mila would be paid for her time recording, including travel, room, and a stipend for food. Once the album was done, if the studio decided to move forward with release, they’d help her locate an agent to negotiate those terms.
When they were finished, it was lunchtime. Beca wasn’t sure what types of food Mila liked, so she asked her what she wanted.
The artist grinned and said, “American taco!”
Beca laughed. “Tacos it is.”
She decided to take Mila to a nearby food truck park so she could see the assortment of food available. “Leo’s Taco Truck is my favorite,” Beca said, motioning towards one of the brightly painted Airstream trailers.
Mila repeated the name as if committing it to memory. When they arrived, Beca quickly explained the different things pictured on the menu and then told her the available meats. They each ordered three tacos with other meats. Beca made sure to get forks and lots of napkins. There wouldn’t be harm in letting Mila have different tastes, especially if Beca wanted Mila’s first taco experience in Los Angeles to be memorable.
When Mila pulled out her phone and made Beca take pictures of her as she posed with the food, Beca laughed.
“Why laughing at me?”
“You just remind me of someone, that’s all.”
“That is good thing, yes?”
Beca grinned and nodded her head. “Yes. Good thing.”
Chloe woke up with quite a painful crick in her neck. She felt like she’d slept for days. After checking the time on her phone, she bolted up in bed when she saw it was nearly two in the afternoon. Shit, shit, shit, shit. She scrambled to pull on a robe she had found in the guest bathroom, quickly ran a brush through her hair and hurried downstairs.
The house was quiet. She found a note taped to the coffee pot.
Chloe,
You were sleeping so soundly, so I didn’t want to wake you. I’ve gone to work but will be home this afternoon. The coffee pot is ready to go; just push the on switch.
Love,
Aubrey
Despite being two in the afternoon, Chloe knew she’d need some caffeine to function. She was kicking herself for sleeping so late. She should have set an alarm so she could wake at a regular hour to get her body back on schedule.
After pouring and doctoring a cup of coffee, Chloe sat on the couch. All the gifts she’d brought Aubrey were gone from the coffee table where they’d been opened. Chloe looked around the room. Her heart warmed when she saw that each had all found a new home scattered around a built-in bookshelf in the living room. The chess set was on a side table beside a vast, overstuffed chair. The white queen’s pawn had been moved. Chloe stood and walked over to examine the board and smiled. Aubrey’s lessons had started. Chloe Googled for a moment to determine how to counter the move, which she learned was quite aggressive, then selected a dark piece and took her turn.
Chloe was about halfway through with her coffee before she clicked open her phone and checked her messages. Her heart sank slightly when she saw that Beca hadn’t texted her. She’d hoped for a message from the brunette. Then she remembered the text that had been unsent. After she studied her messages for a while, she decided that Beca was probably waiting for her to text since she knew Aubrey was picking her up and didn’t want to interrupt girl time. After thinking for a moment, she fired off a message and then went to take a shower to start her day.
Beca and Mila had been recording for over an hour. Beca’s boss had stayed for a while. Once satisfied that his protegee was doing a good job, he returned to his office. Mila wore clunky headphones and stood in front of a large, round microphone inside the booth. Beca was listening to the playback of the latest take.
“Okay, Mila. Start again from… FUCK.” Beca’s pocket vibrated, scaring the shit out of her. Mila tore off the headphones as the loud curse had hurt her ears. Beca pushed the button to speak again. “Sorry, sorry, sorry. Let’s take ten.”
Mila exited the recording booth and opened a bottle of water. “I am so sorry, Mila. I normally turn my phone off when I’m in the studio. I got a text, and it scared me.”
The German girl giggled and watched Beca pull her phone from her back pocket.
[From Chloe: Hey you!]
[From Chloe: I’m finally in the land of the living]
[From Chloe: Dinner?]
Beca’s heart sank a bit. She had Mila tonight, so she couldn’t meet Chloe as much as she wanted to. However, she could probably convince her boss to host Mila the next day.
[From Beca: Can’t]
[From Beca: Dinner plans with Mila]
[From Beca: Tomorrow?]
[From Chloe: Mila? I’m replaced so easily]
[From Beca: No, no, no, no. Mila is that German artist I told you about]
[From Chloe: Relax Beca. Just messing you]
[From Chloe: Tomorrow’s great]
[From Beca: Reservations for two or three?]
[From Chloe: Two]
Beca did a quick fist pump. She wasn’t quite ready to share Chloe with Aubrey just yet.
[From Beca: I’ll text you later with the deets]
[From Chloe: XO]
Beca stared at Chloe’s last text, thinking about what she’d accidentally sent Chloe the night before. She tried not to read too much into it.
“You smile big. Boyfriend?”
Beca had forgotten Mila was there. She shook her head. “No. An old friend from high school. In fact, we reconnected on the flight to Berlin.”
“Big smile for old friend.”
Beca nodded. “I suppose it is.” She took a few moments to enjoy the feelings coursing through her chest. “Ready to get started?”
Chapter 11: What to Do About Beca
Notes:
This update is a tad early, but I'm headed out of state tomorrow and refuse to take my computer!
Chapter Text
Chloe and Aubrey sat on the floor of Aubrey’s house, eating various Chinese dishes from take-out containers. “So,” Aubrey started. “What are you going to do?”
“First, I have to find out when I can take California boards and register.” Chloe used her chopsticks to dig deeper into the carton of chow mein she held. “That will determine when I have time to move.”
“No, Chloe. About Beca.” Aubrey was amused at how clueless Chloe was about the situation. Or maybe she wasn’t clueless; she simply didn’t want to admit her feelings.
Chloe glanced up at her friend. “I’m not sure, Aubrey. I don’t know where she stands with all this.” She waved her chopsticks in the air. Chloe hadn’t told Aubrey about the deleted text she thought she’d read. Her mind had given her fits about it all afternoon. She didn’t feel like hashing it out again.
“Then let’s talk scenarios. I can see three ways this could go. One, she’s only interested in rekindling your friendship. Two, she wants to rebuild your friendship, with the possibility that it could go further. Or three, she’s into you.”
“She’s not into me,” Chloe immediately said.
“How do you know?”
“How do you know?” Chloe’s retort was quick.
“Someone doesn’t go to their arch-enemy to make amends for someone they aren’t interested in. Beca stuck her neck out calling me, all to make peace for your sake.”
After considering Aubrey’s words, Chloe said, “She’s changed, Bree. I told you.”
“What she did goes a long way in my book. Did I tell you we had lunch again?”
Chloe’s eyes widened. “Umm, no. And she didn’t mention it either. How did that go?”
“Fine,” Aubrey replied nonchalantly. “We didn’t even talk about you.”
“What’d you talk about?” Chloe snorted in disbelief, sure that her name had to at least come up in passing.
“Her job. My job. Everything. Nothing. I’m impressed with what she said. She told me about a German artist she’s bringing to the States to cut an album.”
“Yeah. Her name’s Mila, I think. They were going out to eat tonight.”
Aubrey’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh really.”
“Oh, hush. It’s her job, Bree. But she and I are going out tomorrow night. I hope you don’t mind that it’s just us. I haven’t seen her since Berlin.”
“You’re a grown woman,” Aubrey smirked. “I tell you, she’s into you. Mark my words. I called it first.”
“Whatever.” Chloe couldn’t afford to get her hopes up. While she wanted Aubrey’s intuition to be correct, if it wasn’t, she would probably be somewhat hurt. Regardless, she’d still have Beca as a friend, which was what counted.
Beca let Chloe know she’d pick her up at Aubrey’s the following day. Beca wasn’t sure why she was so nervous since she and Chloe had spent time in Germany together and had talked non-stop since then. Maybe now that Chloe was back stateside, things were becoming real. She didn’t know how much time she had before Chloe returned home to Georgia, and Beca wanted to make the most of it.
She hesitantly walked to the door and rang the bell, unsure who would answer. She heard the click of the locks, and the door swung open. Aubrey. “Hi,” she squeaked before extending the flowers in her left hand. “These are for you.” Aubrey took them with an amused smile.
“Come on it. Chloe’s almost ready. I swear she’s changed clothes five times. Would you like something to drink?” Beca shook her head. “I take it you’re nervous, too.” Beca nodded and gulped.
“Not sure why,” she managed to stutter out. “We went out several times in Berlin. It’s just Chloe.”
Aubrey laughed. “You and I know there’s no such thing as just Chloe.”
Beca grinned and began to relax. “May I have some water?”
Aubrey poured her a glass of water from the fridge. “She’s quite excited.” Beca gulped the entire glass down at once and wiped her mouth with the back of her arm. “You, too, I see.” Beca nodded.
About that time, Chloe entered the room wearing a cute red dress cut right above the knees, short white ankle socks, and red shoes. Beca caught herself staring. “Hi,” she finally managed to eke out.
“Hi, yourself,” Chloe replied. She saw the flowers Beca held. “How pretty.”
Beca looked down like she had forgotten the second bouquet. “Oh, these are for you.” She handed them to Chloe, who thanked her. Beca couldn’t take her eyes off Chloe. Had it only been a few weeks since she’d last seen her?
Aubrey cleared her throat and plucked the flowers from Chloe’s hands. “I’ll find another vase to put these in next to mine. Thank you, Beca. You children need to be on your way.” She shooshed them toward the door.
Chloe playfully pushed her friend’s chest but walked towards the door anyway. Beca scurried to catch up.
“Don’t be out late,” Aubrey teased.
“We won’t, ma,” Chloe replied.
“This place is So. Much. Fun.” Chloe announced as she pursued the menu. She deepened her voice and read, “Miso Sea Monster Noir. Perfectly cooked tender sea monster. From the depths of the black lagoon, the most gothic fish to roam the ocean sits before you on the plate. Taste the darkness, live forever.” In her normal voice, Chloe continued. “That’s what I’m having.”
Beca grinned, delighted that Chloe loved Beetle House, a Beetle Juice themed restaurant that had only opened a few months ago. She’d heard good things about it, and it was living up to the hype so far. “Then I’m having Petoncles et porc pour Lestate.” Beca continued to read. “Before Lestat became forever undead and lost his taste for human food, he loved crisp pork belly and scallops splattered in the fresh blood of a virgin. Although I’m tempted to get the Edward Burger Hands just for the scissors.”
Chloe had wanted to share a Big Fish Bowl drink made from a concoction of five different alcohols. Beca was skeptical at first but later admitted it was pretty tasty.
Following the advice of friends, Beca made sure to get reservations inside the Beetle House Specialty Showroom. Throughout their time in the restaurant, they were entertained by a ventriloquist, a mime, and even a contortionist, who Chloe swore had no joints in her body. Beca was amused at watching Chloe watch the acts. At one point, when the contortionist had one leg pulled over the back of her head, Beca leaned over and whispered, “I can do that.” Chloe began giggling and swatted Beca’s arm.
After a long dinner, the pair left the restaurant fully satiated and well entertained. They vowed to come back with a larger group next time. While it’d been nice to be only the two of them, having more people would also have been fun.
Beca drove back to Aubrey’s and got out to open Chloe’s door. “Would you…” Chloe hesitated. “Like to come in? I’m sure Aubrey wouldn’t mind. I’m not ready for tonight to be over.” Beca agreed and followed Chloe into the house. Still stuffed, she refused wine but asked for some water.
“I’m glad you had a good time tonight, Chlo.”
“Are you kidding? That place was the bomb.” She sat next to Beca on the couch.
Beca put her arm around Chloe’s back and pulled her into her. “I’m going to miss you when you return to Georgia.” Beca’s voice sounded gloomy.
Realizing she hadn’t told Beca her decision to move to Los Angeles, Chloe perked up, and an idea popped into her head. “Don’t be sad, Beca. It’s not like it will be forever before you see me again.”
“Just you’ll be so far away.”
Chloe laid her head on Beca’s shoulder, unsure how far she could string Beca along. The woman sounded so sad. Chloe toyed with the buttons on Beca’s shirt. “We can text, FaceTime; we can do anything we want, Becs. It’s okay.”
Beca gave a loud sigh. “Won't be the same as having you here.” She pushed Chloe up and turned to face her. “Chloe, look. I haven’t been frank with you.”
Chloe tilted her head slightly. Beca’s revelation was unexpected. “Oh?”
“No. I don’t want you to go back to Georgia. I want you to stay. Here. In California. With Aubrey.” She paused. “And with me. I just got you back, Chloe. I don’t want to lose you again.”
Chloe let out a tension-filled breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “You scared me for a moment there, Becs.”
“I’m serious, Chloe. I know I’m being selfish, but I’ll help however I can. I know the cost of living here sucks. And you have tons of student loans. And you aren’t licensed here yet. But I’ll help. You can stay in my spare bedroom to start.” The more Beca talked, the more excited she got.
“Oh, Beca.” Chloe put one hand on her cheek as Beca looked at her hopefully. “That would never work.”
Beca’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “But why, Chloe? You already told me you have nothing waiting for you in Georgia. I know Aubrey is your best friend. And I’m here. Move to Los Angeles. What about that won’t it work?”
“I can’t stay in your spare bedroom.” Chloe was beginning to enjoy seeing how desperate Beca was. Maybe Aubrey was right.
“Of course you can. Housing prices here are off the charts, allowing you to make a dent in your loans.”
“Becs, I appreciate the offer, but I can’t.”
“But why?”
Realizing Beca was about actually to shed real tears, Chloe grinned. “Because I’m already moving in here.”
Beca took a few moments to digest what Chloe had just said. “Wait, what?”
“I can’t live at your place,” Chloe giggled. “I’m moving into the back of Aubrey’s house. I only have to return to Georgia to pick up the stuff I’m keeping. And it’ll all probably fit in my car.”
Realizing that Chloe had been baiting her this entire time, Beca looked chagrined. “So, you knew you were moving to L.A., but let me beg anyway? What kind of friend are you?” She scooted away from Chloe on the couch.
“Oh no, sister. You aren’t getting away that easily.” Chloe moved back toward Beca and swung her leg over Beca’s lap, straddling her and pinning her. Staring down at her friend, who wasn’t doing a perfect job at pouting. “You gotta admit, I had you going there. I had no idea you wanted me to move here so bad, Mitchell.”
“I hate you,” Beca said, turning away.
“No, you don’t. You love me.” Chloe settled down on Beca’s hips, pinning her against the couch.
They both froze. And there it was. Chloe’s red hair fell on either side of Beca’s face. Beca reached up with both hands and placed them gently on either side of the redhead’s face to move her closer. As Beca’s head moved forward, both their eyes drifted shut. Their lips met, and they froze, savoring the moment. Beca opened her mouth slightly, slipping her tongue out to meet Chloe’s.
Behind them, a door clicked open. “Chloe, did I hear you come in?” Aubrey looked up and saw the pair on the couch. Her face turned beet red. “Fuck. Oh god. I’m so sorry. I’m leaving; I’m leaving. Shit, shit, shit. As you were.”
Chloe giggled and sat back down next to Beca. “I bet that gets me free rent for a month.”
“A month, easily,” Beca smirked. “Where’d you go?” She tugged at Chloe, who was now sitting back on the couch.
“Aubrey kind of cock blocked us.” Chloe was still laughing at Aubrey’s embarrassment.
Beca pulled one leg up, shoved it between Chloe and the couch, and pulled the redhead into her. “Who?” She pushed some strands of Chloe’s hair behind her ears and leaned forward. “Kiss me again?”
Chloe was afraid the moment had been ruined but could no longer stand the anticipation. Chloe moved forward to press into Beca's lips.
As their lips touched, both women froze, relishing the moment. Beca sighed in contentment as her body moved closer, as near to the redhead as she could get. Beca swore that Chloe tasted like pure happiness while Chloe's heart was about to explode.
As the kiss deepened, the world fell away from around them both. Beca moved her hand below Chloe's chin, her thumb caressing her cheek as their breaths mingled. Chloe ran her fingers down Beca’s spine, pulling her closer. She swore she could feel the beating of Beca’s heart against her chest. Time stood still as the women lost themselves in each other's kiss.
The pair broke for air about the same time. Beca leaned her forehead against Chloe’s. “I’ve waited a long time for that.”
“Mmm? How long?”
“This time? Since you wormed your way back into my life in Berlin.”
Chloe squinted her eyes. “Are you calling me a worm?”
“If the shoe fits,” Beca laughed.
“Wait,” Chloe stopped Beca. “You said this time. What’d you mean by that?”
Beca replied that she wasn’t sure exactly why she’d said that, but deep down, she thought parts of her always had deeper feelings for Chloe. She paused a moment and tilted her head before speaking again. “I do, you know.”
“Do what?” Chloe hoped she knew what Beca meant but wanted to hear her say it.
Without hesitation, Beca said, “Love you.”
Chloe smiled. “I know.”
Beca raised her eyebrows. “You do, eh? And how do you know?”
“Aubrey told me.”
“Well, I’ll be damned.” Beca certainly didn’t expect that answer.
“Oh, I brought you some gifts from my trip.” The spell between them was broken when Chloe jumped from the couch. Beca used the time she was gone to straighten her clothes and drain the rest of her water.
Chloe soon returned with a small cardboard box with all the ducks she’d brought from Europe. She delighted in pulling each pair from their home and explaining their stories.
“You know you didn’t have to, Chlo. But these are awesome. What if I don’t want to give one from each pair to another Jeeper?” She split the pairs in half, pushing one pile towards Chloe. “Why don’t you keep this set in your room? You can be reminded of your trip and me at the same time!”
The following week was a flurry of activity. Apparently, the licensure information Chloe had found when researching overseas was outdated. The Department of Consumer Affairs website outlined the simple process. California offered reciprocity to veterinarians from other states.
She had to pay an application and initial license fee. Since she passed the NAVLE exam only a few months ago, it remained valid. She had to submit her fingerprints to the state. The only hurdle was since she hadn’t graduated from a California vet school, she had to take a veterinary law exam specific to California law.
“The exam is on Survey Monkey, Bree. How hard can it be?”
Aubrey looked at her incredulously. “Seriously? You are taking a law exam on Survey Monkey?”
Chloe spun her laptop around and showed Aubrey the site.
“Hang on.” Aubrey left the room and returned with her laptop. “Well, one thing’s for sure. With a lawyer as a roommate, you will pass it your first time!”
She and Beca had decided to take things slow, not rush and force a relationship. They both wanted to make sure that they built a relationship built on mutual respect and love, not on memories of the past. So they did not see each other in person much while Beca continued to work with Mila and Chloe completed the application process. Processing her California license wouldn’t take longer than a few weeks. Chloe used that time to return to Georgia, pack her meager belongings, and drive cross country back to Los Angeles.
When Chloe asked about meeting Mila, Beca suggested they go out to dinner before Chloe flew to Athens. Chloe insisted on going back to Beetle House. She thought Mila would get a kick out of the crazy American restaurant. Plus, she wanted Aubrey to see it as well. Needless to say, the night was a booming success. A magician performed and called Mila on stage as a “volunteer.” She became so nervous that she began rattling in German. When the magician started speaking her native language back, the look on her face was priceless.
The performer took advantage of that and made it a part of his bit. He’d ask Mila a question in German, and she’d respond in German. He’d then translate for the audience. Beca was in stitches because she knew that what the magician ‘translated’ was nowhere near what Mila said on stage.
Mila became increasingly frustrated until he shoved her into a tall black cabinet and made her disappear, saying that she had to catch a flight back to Germany. When the ushers brought her back to the table, she had calmed down and was giggling. She clutched vouchers for a free drink and dessert in her hand. That alone made up for her embarrassment on stage.
The weekend before Chloe was to fly back to Georgia to gather her belongings, Beca came over and helped rearrange furniture at Aubrey’s house. Chloe had decided she wasn’t bringing any of her crappy college furniture or dishes - only clothes, books and a few mementos. Aubrey’s office was at the back of the house by the rear entrance. The furniture needed to be swapped with one of the guest bedrooms upstairs.
All three of them got the job done quickly. When Chloe returned, she’d have a nice room to move into. Her license application should be processed. Then, she could start actively looking for a job. Chloe somehow felt if she didn’t wait until all the puzzle pieces were in place, she’d jinx the entire move.
Since Chloe took the first flight out Monday morning, Beca agreed to take her to the airport. Sunday afternoon, Beca told Chloe that life would be much easier if she just spent the night at Beca’s so they could both “sleep in a bit longer” before leaving for the airport.
“Sure, Mitchell. ‘Sleep.’” Choe raised finger quotes.
Beca shook her head. “Seriously, Chlo. Nothing but sleep. I promise. Maybe a little cuddling. I’m telling you, we could easily sleep an extra hour.”
Finally, Chloe agreed. After bidding Aubrey farewell, they were off to Beca’s.
Chapter 12: The Big Move
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Chloe had her large suitcase she’d taken overseas with her smaller packed carry-on and a few empty duffels packed inside. Aubrey had also sent her with another large suitcase with another empty suitcase nestled within. “Aubrey said my clothes would be easier to pack in suitcases than boxes,” Chloe explained as she and Beca loaded the bags into Beca’s car. “I can check these two pieces and then use all of that to pack.”
When they arrived at Beca’s, Chloe got a quick tour of the small apartment. “It may not be much, but it’s mine. I decided to go with the two-bedroom model for guests I may have. Right now, there’s just a bunch of recording equipment I haven’t returned to the studio left over from Covid in the spare bedroom.”
“So, theoretically, you could work from home?” Chloe seemed genuinely interested in hearing about Beca’s job.
“I suppose. But the equipment at work is far superior. Back then, I didn’t need as much. I mean, I’m sure the studio would let me set up a decent home office if I asked. But for now, I’m fine going in to work.”
Beca got a sly look on her face, approached Chloe and backed her against the door to the spare bedroom. “I have an awesome primary bedroom, though.” She grasped Chloe’s hands and raised them above her head as she kissed Chloe’s neck. She moved her hands to hold Chloe’s face and kissed her solidly. Chloe hungrily moved into the kiss, ran her hands down Beca’s arms to her back, and pulled their bodies together.
“Mmm, why don’t you show me?” Chloe questioned through the kiss. Beca guided Chloe to her bedroom without breaking lip contact until they fell onto the bed. Both women kicked off their shoes and then returned to making out.
Eventually, Beca rolled away, her sides heaving from arousal. “Umm, if I don’t stop now, we won’t just sleep tonight.” Chloe frowned. “Not that I don’t want more,” Beca quickly said. “We just agreed to take things slow. Tomorrow morning will come quickly if we get too caught up in each other.” Chloe reluctantly agreed as she snuggled into Beca’s chest.
“Don’t miss me too much while I’m gone?” Chloe began drawing circles on Beca’s chest and stomach.
Shivering from the touches, Beca replied, “Define too much.”
Early the following morning, Beca dropped Chloe off at the airport after securing promises that Chloe would keep her updated when she landed and how the packing was going. Getting rid of her old household goods would be a chore, but Chloe hoped she could pass them down to another broke college student.
Chloe’s parents were coming from Florida to help where they could. Chloe thought they were looking for an excuse to see her again before she moved to the other side of the nation. She always looked forward to seeing her folks; plus, they would love to hear about her trip in person. Chloe had carefully packed the gifts she’d brought them and carried them in the plane’s cabin along with her laptop.
The following two weeks would again allow Chloe to adjust her mindset regarding Beca. She felt confident that Beca was genuine in wanting to try at a proper relationship when she returned. When they were separated while Chloe was in Europe, Chloe wasn’t sure how Beca felt about her. She knew that her feelings were more substantial than perhaps they should be. But now, she was much surer that she and Beca belonged together. Plus, she had Aubrey’s support, which helped tremendously. While the two sort of admitted their feelings to each other the night of their first date, they hadn’t exchanged those important words since.
Chloe texted Beca when she landed and again when she arrived at her apartment. Knowing Beca was in the studio, she didn’t expect an immediate answer. When Chloe finally arrived at the tiny, one-room apartment she lived in while attending veterinary school, she saw how few belongings she had, which surprised her after a month away, like vet school, had all but been forgotten. Her fold-out couch that stayed as a bed for two years unless a study group was coming over, a small table with four chairs, various small appliances, and books. Lots and lots of books.
After a day of travel, Chloe decided to head out for food and smaller boxes for her books. Then, she’d tackle her belongings in the morning after a good night’s rest.
Chloe knew that the best boxes for packing heavy items were found at liquor stores. They were small and sturdy. Chloe visited three different stores and found enough to fill the back seat of her car. Satisfied, she went to The World Famous, her favorite restaurant for good, old southern Chicken and Waffles. While she was eating, her phone rang with a video call. She hurriedly wiped her hands and tried to answer before Beca hung up.
“Hey!” Chloe was trying to finish with the mouthful of food she’d just taken before Beca called. “Sorry. Eating.” She flipped the camera to show a partially demolished plate of chicken and waffles.”
“Looks good,” Beca said. “We need to find a good southern place here. How’s everything so far? Overwhelmed?”
Chloe snorted. “Hardly. I got boxes for my books. Since I took what few decent clothes I own to Europe and left them in L.A., most that are still here are sweats and T-shirts. That leaves household goods, and Aubrey doesn’t exactly need my dollar store bargains.”
“What’s your plan for those? Craigslist?”
“I may post a flyer in the complex and at the vet school. See what I can give away to students. If I don’t have enough takers, surely I can find a few college boys to carry it all to the dumpster for a few bucks. How’s work? Mila still doing well?”
Beca’s eyes brightened. “She’s going fabulous, Chloe. Whenever he hears a new track we’ve worked on, my boss gets more excited. He sent me to Germany to find the next big artist. He thinks she’s the real deal.”
“You’re the real deal,” Chloe replied as her face softened, smiling at Beca. “I’m so proud of you.”
The pair talked a bit longer, and then Beca ended the call so Chloe could return to her dinner. “I miss you, Chlo. Come home soon.”
Chloe’s heart skipped a beat with Beca’s words as she told Beca the feelings were mutual.
Beca hung up the phone and contemplated her feelings about not being completely honest with Chloe. She had wanted to ask the redhead for more details about her plans but didn’t want to raise suspicion. Instead, she texted Aubrey a vaguely worded question.
Aubrey immediately called. “You can’t text me with that question and expect me not to be concerned, Mitchell.”
“Chill, Posen. I already know the consequences of hurting Chloe.” She laughed and then explained her idea to Aubrey. Beca had thought it through quite a bit and thought Chloe would be delighted. The blonde immediately agreed and promised that Chloe would be none the wiser.
After ensuring her plan was safely kicked into motion, Beca knew she had to talk to her boss in the morning. She was enough ahead with Mila that he shouldn’t have a problem, primarily since Beca had found such a promising artist.
Chloe had almost all her clothes packed when her parents showed up to help. Since she was already sweaty and on a roll, they agreed to wait to see all the vacation pictures until after dinner. “Mom, Dad, I had the best time,” she said as she rolled the last pair of sweats she was keeping and tucked them into the suitcase. “The vacation was the most incredible present you could have ever given me; thank you.”
Her parents told her they wanted to do something memorable since Chloe had never traveled much, not as much as taking a gap year between undergrad and vet school. “We’re just glad our baby girl had a fabulous time.” When Chloe’s mom first presented the idea, her father quickly agreed. Two parents couldn’t have been prouder of their only child.
Chloe’s father had been tasked with boxing books. “All the books, dad.”
“We saw your pictures on that Insta-thingy,” he said as he taped another lid closed. “I saw another familiar face in some of the pictures in Berlin. Or was that just someone with an uncanny resemblance to Beca Mitchell, your friend from high school?”
Luckily, Chloe was facing away from her father, so he couldn’t tell how quickly her mind was spinning to come up with an answer. She finally went with the truth: “Good memory, Dad. That was Beca Mitchell. We ran into each other on the plane ride there. She was headed to Germany for work, and I convinced her to go with me on some sightseeing trips.”
“Whatever happened to that Mitchell girl?” Beca’s mom sounded curious. “I don’t remember hearing about her after high school.”
“Yeah, we lost touch,” Chloe honestly admitted. “Seeing her on the plane was a fluke. But get this: she lives in Los Angeles. Not too far from Aubrey, in fact. So, I’ll have two good friends there, not just Aubrey.”
Fortunately, Chloe’s parents were satisfied with that explanation as it was the only one Chloe was willing to offer at this point. While they knew Choe was a lesbian, she didn’t feel it was necessary to tell her parents absolutely everything that had occurred between Beca and herself since they reconnected in Berlin.
With her parents' help, Chloe could wrap everything up in Athens a few days early. A timid first-year vet student had called Chloe from one of the flyers she’d posted at the university. She was more than tickled to take Chloe’s furniture and household goods off her hands. The student showed up with her boyfriend and two of his burly friends. Chloe bought them a pizza to share and a six-pack of beer to help out.
All that remained was for Chloe to return in the morning and clean her apartment before turning her keys into the front office. She’d then jump in her car and head west.
“She’s what?” Beca was panicking after she heard Aubrey tell her that Chloe was leaving Georgia after she cleaned her apartment the following day.
“Haven’t you talked to your girlfriend?” Aubrey asked incredulously.
“She’s not my girlfriend, Aubrey. And I’ve tried to make myself scarce. I didn’t want to distract her work, and I was afraid I couldn’t keep a secret,” Beca admitted.
“You two are so girlfriends,” Aubrey teased as she gave Beca the information she needed and chuckled as Beca disconnected without as much as saying goodbye.
During her ride to Burbank airport, Beca continued to second-guess her choices. She double-checked the airline app on her phone to ensure that her flight left in a few short hours and would get her to Athens in the dead of night Eastern time.
Had she made the right decision to leave Mila with her boss? He had arranged for Mila to fly to their New York office, not for work but sightseeing. Quite a few places were along the eastern seaboard, which could be reached with a quick train ride from NYC. Beca relaxed, knowing that he wouldn’t have agreed with her idea had he not thought her album would do well with the album. As shown by his interest in Beca, her boss liked to invest in new talent.
When Beca landed in Athens around 1 a.m., finding an Uber was difficult, as the airport was fairly dead save for the passengers on their plane. She finally gave in and hailed the lone taxi waiting for a fare. The cost was higher than ride-share, but it seemed to be her only choice at this point.
As she rode to the hotel Aubrey said Chloe was staying in since her apartment was empty, Beca reviewed her plan. She didn’t want to knock on the door and scare Chloe. After the taxi dropped Beca off, she called Chloe, hoping she’d answer.
“Hello,” a voice mumbled, thick with sleep.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Chlo. I forgot about the time change. I can let you go back to sleep.”
“No, no.” Beca could hear Chloe sitting up in bed. “I haven’t talked to you very much. I miss you.”
“I miss you, too. But you’ll be done there soon and returning to see me.”
“‘M done now. I leave tomorrow.”
Beca got in the elevator and pushed the button for Chloe’s floor. “Tomorrow? That’s great.”
“What’s that noise, Becs? Are you just now getting home?”
“No, I’m quite a ways from home.” Beca chuckled, thinking just how far away she was from her L.A. apartment.
Chloe was still quite asleep. “Oh, I thought I heard an elevator.” Beca smirked and knocked on Chloe’s door. “Shit, Beca, someone’s knocking on my door.” While Chloe’s voice had dropped to a fearful whisper, Beca could tell she was now wide awake.
“Open it,” Beca whispered back and knocked again.
“Beca? No! What do I do? Should I call the front desk?”
Finally, Beca couldn’t let Chloe be scared any longer. “Open the door, Chlo. It’s me, Beca,” she called out through the door. She heard the phone thump to the floor, and then Chloe’s feet pad to the door. The redhead eased the door open, the safety latch still engaged.
“Beca!” Chloe swiftly shut the door to disengage the safety features and flung it open so she could get to Beca. “What are you doing here?”
Beca wrapped her arms around Chloe, not minding that the redhead was squeezing her to death. “I heard you are embarking on a road trip tomorrow. The thought of you being alone on a two-thousand-mile road trip made me sad. So, surprise?”
Chloe pulled her in and peppered her face with kisses. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?” Beca told her she wasn’t sure until the last minute that everything was covered at work.
“When the last minute got moved to yesterday, I was quite frantic. I didn’t want to disappoint you if it didn't work out. But I’m here now.”
Chloe was excited and wanted to stay up and visit. Beca had to assure her they’d have plenty of time to visit during the drive. Eventually, Chloe caved and went back to bed after Beca promised she’d join her after a quick shower.
Once Beca had cleaned the travel grime off her body, she looked at Chloe's maps and the AAA itinerary. Of course, Chloe’s parents made sure their daughter had AAA. While they might rely on their phones for directions, having an itinerary would be quite helpful. The longest day of driving was a tad over ten hours, with most being around eight or nine, which seemed reasonable for a single driver. Beca knew that with two of them, they could get home quicker.
But why would they want to? This trip was perfectly planned for seven days. If they wanted to stop and explore, they could. Alternating driving would allow them to make up that time and stay on the schedule.
Beca slowly opened one eye and took a few moments to remember where she was. She panicked momentarily when she saw Chloe wasn’t in the room until she heard the key card in the door. She rushed to help Chloe in. The redhead juggled a tray of two large coffees and a bag of pastries.
“I come yielding caffeine, sugar, and grease,” she giggled as she sat the coffees down before plopping on the bed. Beca crawled over and sat cross-legged next to her, peering into the bag. As she reached into the bag, Chloe swatted her hand.
“Ouch, but bear claws are my favorite.” She released one of the coffees from its cardboard tray and took a sip.
“You must see the full selection,” Chloe announced as she laid all her purchases out and waved her hands over them. “Now you may pick.”
Beca quickly snagged the bear claw before Chloe could protest and shoved part into her mouth. “Thanks.”
With two people working, Chloe’s apartment was quickly cleaned, and she was no longer an Athens, Georgia, resident. They had to rearrange Chloe’s backseat just a tad to fit Beca’s duffle. They both only had a week’s worth of the necessities packed in soft bags which could be shoved in the extra space in the back.
“You’ve been working all week,” Beca announced as she decided to take the first driving shift. “Plus, it’s less than four hours to Birmingham.”
“Passenger gets to choose the music!” Chloe commandeered Beca’s phone, knowing she’d have some great selections.
Beca hit a few traffic snarls as they traveled through Atlanta, but afterward, the roads were clear. The AAA itinerary pointed out some highlights in each city Chloe had planned to spend the night in. As they drove, Chloe listed some places she was interested in. “Of course, you have veto rights.”
“This is your trip, Chlo. I’m just here to keep you company.” Beca knew there was no way she could say no to Chloe anyway. “Birmingham. Wasn’t there a lot of civil rights and segregation issues there?”
“Yeah,” Chloe responded. She told Beca about Kelly Ingram Park and the statues that were erected to depict things that happened during the riots. “And there’s the 16th Street Church that the Klu Klux Klan bombed, killing four girls.” Chloe found a self-guided audio tour of the park they could download and decided that would interest them both.
After checking into the hotel, they decided to check out the park and church before the sun went down. Chloe had the tour on her phone, and she and Beca each had an earbud. They paused at the first bronze sculpture of a stern police officer with a snarling canine holding a young African American boy by his shirt. The boy’s arms were splayed backward in a non-confrontational manner. Beca looked at Chloe walking around the statue taking pictures from different angles.
“Excuse me.” Beca was startled by the voice behind her. “I didn’t mean to scare you, ma’am.” An older African American gentleman was standing a respectable distance away. “I was wondering if you,” he motioned to her and Chloe, “would like to hear more history than you’re probably getting from that audio tour I think you’re listening to.”
Beca was initially cautious but listened as he explained about the foot soldier statue. Indeed, his tale was more colorful than the narration, so she asked, “How much?” He told her a group of people did this for free, but donations were accepted after they were done if someone felt the need to do so. Beca agreed to let him be her tour guide.
He showed them the sculpture with the water cannon that Bull Connor used to try to disperse the crowds. “This was probably one of the defining moments in the movement which garnered support for our community. Connor’s utter brutality drew a spotlight to Birmingham.”
Slowly, they wound through the path that went through all the statues, arriving at one of snarling police dogs made from scrap iron lunging from either side of two walls. Despite knowing she was only walking through a statue, Beca said that she could feel the terror rise in her chest. Chloe took pictures but refused to walk through the walls.
“I like how the welds are so rough on the dogs - like they are battle-worn and scarred. It gives more credibility to the dogs’ terrifying looks.”
Once they had explored the park, their unofficial guide led them to an area where several men were playing chess. He offered them some lemonade and a place to sit in the shade, patiently answering all their questions.
Finally, Beca noticed the other men were packing their chess boards, and daylight was growing dim. The time had come for her and Chloe to find somewhere to eat. She pulled out her wallet and gave him all her cash. “You were right. Your story was worth so much more than what we had heard. I hope this helps your cause.”
As they walked back to the car, Chloe asked how much she’d given him. She shrugged and said she didn’t care. “No amount would have been enough for that story from someone who experienced it.”
Notes:
Visualizing the Civil Rights Movement: Kelly Ingram Park
See the statues and more in this park that is an amazing tribute to the experiences of the people fighting for Civil Rights.
Chapter 13: The Road Trip Continues
Chapter Text
Beca and Chloe continued the long road trip to rekindle their bond. As they journeyed, they discovered that while some aspects of their relationship remained unchanged from their youth, others had evolved. Beca, in particular, was using the drive as an opportunity to gauge if Chloe had truly forgiven her for past transgressions and to explore her own growing feelings for her friend.
After the first day, the duo had a meticulously thought-out road trip routine. Each evening, after dinner, they would ensure the fuel tank was topped off, lay out their clothes for the next day, and decide on a breakfast spot in case their hotel didn’t offer complimentary breakfast. They took turns driving in two-hour shifts, with a more extended break every four hours. In addition to controlling the music, the passenger oversaw deciding when and where to stop for food and researched potential activities for their next destination. However, if they weren’t the final passenger on that leg, their plans were subject to change.
Next stop: Memphis. They did a drive-by of Graceland because the iconic memorial to Elvis’ home was about to close when they arrived, and an attempt at a tour would have been futile. But Beca did have a surprise for Chloe in Memphis. She quickly found a parking spot, grabbed Chloe’s hand and guided her to a busy area.
“What’s this?” Chloe looked around at the shops.
Beca held her hands over her heart. “I’m wounded. It’s Beale Street, Chlo. Your own street. But more than that, this was the birthplace of the Blues, and it’s still the heart of Memphis’s live music scene. We can walk in the footsteps of Elvis Presley, B.B. King, and Louis Armstrong. Come on! As if the name wasn’t a winner in of itself.”
They meandered down the street, peering in windows and occasionally going into shops. Beca picked up some interesting guitar picks, and Chloe found a Beale Street Blues t-shirt. “I can’t believe there’s a whole street dedicated to me,” Chloe said.
“Or that it has such importance in music. I wonder if your family tree roots stretch to Tennessee?”
Chloe giggled and said she’d ask her mom.
They found a restaurant that Yelp rated four and a half stars, Blues City Cafe. They decided to get a ‘Beale Street Throw Down’ cheese and sausage platter and a catfish plate to share.
“Again, we must find a down-home southern restaurant in Los Angeles!” Beca pushed her empty plate back and wiped her mouth with her napkin.
“Oklahoma City tomorrow, Beca.” Chloe stretched out her legs before flopping one over onto Beca’s.
“So exciting.” Beca’s voice said she didn’t mean what she’d said. “What’s the plan for OKC?”
“They have a minor league baseball team. We could go to a game,” Chloe suggested.
Beca pondered the suggestion for a moment and pulled out her phone. “If we went to Amarillo tomorrow, that would be ten and a half hours on the road.”
Chloe pushed herself up on one elbow. “But what’s in Amarillo?”
“I’m not sure,” Beca chuckled. “But after almost eleven hours of driving, would it matter? We could have a chill evening and recharge. Then reroute to Flagstaff then Los Angeles. Does that throw your plans off too much?”
“Are you getting tired of me,” Chloe teased.
“No, not at all,” Beca protested. “If that’s what you’re worried about, we could stop in Albuquerque for a night, then to Flagstaff, putting us back in L.A. right on time.”
Chloe rolled onto her back and grabbed her phone to see what things they could do if they changed their itinerary. “Can we stop at the AAA office and get a new itinerary? Their suggestions have been pretty good places to start our driving research.”
Despite waking up early, the pair had to wait for the AAA office to open. So, Beca found a cute place called Staks! in East Memphis. She got the Elvis Presley special, a short stack of pancakes layered with peanut butter, banana, bacon and a fried egg on top. Chloe had strawberry waffles. Taking their time to eat breakfast was a luxury they had yet to take since leaving Athens.
They also stopped at a grocery store to double up on road snacks. By the time they got their new itinerary and maps from the AAA office, they were good to go. Since this drive would be the most tiresome, Beca physically set alarms every two hours on her phone to force them to pull over even if they weren’t in a town. They’d get out, stretch their legs, replenish their water and snacks, then head off again.
The pair had stopped in Oklahoma City for a quick lunch and arrived in Amarillo by eight p.m. The hotel desk clerk said their dinner choices were probably limited to the Dairy Queen across the highway or Pizza Hut. They chose pizza because it was delivered.
Chloe had kicked off her shoes and was lying on the floor with her feet on the bed. Beca sat down and began massaging her feet. “I’ll give you exactly two hours to stop doing that,” Chloe groaned.
“May not seem like it now, but I think we made the best choice. We can sleep in a little tomorrow before the short drive to Albuquerque.”
Eventually, the pizza arrived, and the women ate a few pieces each. They then put the half-full box in the hallway to not stink up their room. They both showered and crawled into bed.
The sensation of needing to pee woke Beca up. Disoriented, she opened her eyes to get her bearings, then remembered she was in a hotel room with Chloe on a road trip back to L.A. As Beca started to get up, she realized Chloe’s arm had her pinned. When she began to move the redhead’s arm, she realized something else. Chloe’s hand was thrust beneath her shirt and had a firm grip on Beca’s breast. As much as she wanted to lie there and enjoy Chloe copping a feel in her sleep, Beca really needed to go to the bathroom. She slowly detached Chloe’s hand from her tit and eased it out of her shirt, then went to pee.
When she came back, Beca slipped back under the covers. Chloe was still on her side, facing Beca. So, she just pulled Chloe’s arm over her, backed up against Chloe’s front and tried to go back to sleep.
Neither had set an alarm the following day. When Beca awoke, she could feel Chloe’s arm still wrapped around her. Her hand was again under Beca’s shirt, holding her breast. She chuckled and shifted ever so slowly to face Chloe, waking up with the movement. Beca grinned at her. “Morning.”
“Ugh,” Chloe said. “Hi.” She opened her eyes a bit wider. “Why are you grinning?”
“Did you know you sleep grope?”
Chloe’s eyes snapped all the way open. “No! I do NOT!”
“Yeah, Chlo. You do. Well, you did last night. Twice.”
“Oh my god, Beca. I’m so sorry.” Chloe covered her face with her hands.
“Don’t be; I’m not,” Beca teased. “At least one of us is moving forward.
Chloe frowned and playfully punched Beca’s arm. As she got up to go to the restroom, Beca swatted her butt. “Go get me coffee, woman.”
“Whatever. Get it yourself.” Chloe laughed as she shot Beca the bird and went into the bathroom.
Beca laughed as she got up to use the tiny coffee maker in the room to make coffee for Chloe and herself. When Chloe emerged, she went in to freshen up. As she stood, Chloe moved aside to make room for her. Beca mirrored her action. Chloe moved again. Beca followed.
“What? Don’t annoy me before my morning coffee!”
“I love you, awesome nerd,” Beca said as she quickly kissed Chloe before letting her pass.
Chloe could hear her heart pounding at what Beca said. She only managed to eke out, “But I’m your awesome nerd.”
When Beca came out of the bathroom, pulling her hair into a low ponytail, Chloe’s coffee was almost gone, and their clothes from the night before were packed. “Did I really sleep grope you last night?”
“Yeah,” Beca grinned. “And this morning, too. Don’t worry. I loved it. Too bad you missed out.”
Chloe rolled her eyes at the comment. Her mind had been going non-stop while Beca was getting ready, and she was getting caffeinated. “This going slow thing is for the birds.”
Amarillo proved to be as dull as they had imagined. After a good night’s sleep, the pair were off on the short drive to Albuquerque. Beca sneakily took the first driving shift so she could be the passenger during the final leg. She had already decided on a few things to surprise Chloe and had made reservations the night before.
They arrived in the New Mexico town right around lunchtime. Beca located a restaurant with classic New Mexico fare. She decided on enchiladas while Chloe chose the tamales. “Now, the decision of all decisions,” Beca chuckled. “Green or red sauce.” Both women ate with gusto and filled their bellies full.
“What’s your master plan, mighty navigator?” Both women had a great time choosing things to do, but Beca had been relatively silent about this stop on their trip.
Beca checked her watch. “We’re right on time.” She paid the bill and guided Chloe to the car for a short drive to a local park. “Grab your camera gear. I have a feeling you’ll want it.” In fact, Beca was counting on it. Chloe was becoming quite an artist with her photography.
After some searching, Beca found their local guide at Plaza Dan Luis. As they walked around the plaza, he explained the area’s rich Spanish legacy, including the sculptures that remained to pay homage to early settlers. Old Town Albuquerque perfectly blended Spanish roots with the vibrant present.
From there, they strolled along a serene riverbank. “What river is this?”
“The Rio Grande,” the guide replied, smiling at her shocked reaction. When Chloe questioned how far north they were.
“I always thought the Rio Grande was the border of Mexico.”
He explained that the river actually started in Colorado, snaked through parts of New Mexico, including Albuquerque, and entered Texas at the southern edge of New Mexico before becoming the border between Mexico and the United States. “The serene waters are quite unique. Beautiful.”
As the tourists and their guide walked along their way, Chloe took many pictures. She also had the guide snap several of her and Beca together. Eventually, they arrived at a museum, where they explored independently for about half an hour.
Their final stop was the Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The pair entered the quiet beacon of faith and devotion and reveled in the ancient tapestries and stained-glass windows. As they rested on one of the back pews, a parishioner exited the confessional, glanced at them, and scurried out of the church.
“Time for us to go, Chlo.” Beca pulled the redhead to her feet, and they returned outside in the blinding sun. She thanked the guide for his time and told him they could make it back to the plaza without him.
Chloe hooked her arm in Beca’s as they walked. “That was interesting, Becs. Thank you. I guess I’m the type who never gets tired of learning.”
Chloe’s praise warmed Beca’s heart. She was nervous about the activity the following morning. Hoping she’d been reading Chloe’s signals correctly, Beca had decided to make a big move. Either her gamble would pay out, or she’d crash and burn.
“Chloe,” Beca hissed. “Wake up. Come on. It’s time to get up.” She gently shook the redhead in an attempt to rouse her.
“No,” grumbled Chloe. “More sleep.” She fumbled for Beca and tried to pull her back into bed. “Early. C’mere.”
As precious as Chloe was, Beca resisted. “Not this morning, Chloe. Get dressed.” She uncovered the other woman and pulled her legs around where they fell off the bed. Then, she lifted them with all her might until Chloe sat upright. “Let’s go.”
Chloe frowned. “It’s still dark outside. I hate you.”
“No, you don’t.”
Slowly, Chloe woke up and got dressed. As they walked out the door, Beca pressed a cup of hotel coffee into her hands and guided her to the car. Before waking Chloe up, Beca had packed their belongings so they could head to Flagstaff when this activity was done. Not noticing anything around her, Chloe was curled up in the passenger seat as best she could while still wearing her seatbelt.
“Okay, babe. We’re here.” When Beca stopped the car, Chloe was more alert and saw the array of brightly colored balloons stretching at tethers, keeping them grounded. Beneath each ballon was a basket.
She immediately woke up. “Oh, my goodness. Are we going up in one of those?”
“Yup,” Beca proudly said. When Chloe didn’t respond, she looked over to see Chloe’s face had turned ashen. “Chlo? What’s wrong?”
“I-I-I’m afraid of heights. Deathly afraid.”
The bottom dropped out of Beca’s stomach. She had not expected this complication. “I’m sure it’s safe, Chloe. People do it all the time.” Her voice showed a lot of nerves she was feeling about the situation. “Will you at least go and talk to the pilot?”
Beca eventually convinced Chloe to get out to go and talk to the woman at the check-in desk. She explained the redhead’s fear of heights. The clerk smiled softly as she lay a gentle hand on Chloe’s. “Have you flown in a plane, dear?” Chloe nodded. “Noisy, wasn’t it? Flying in a balloon is peaceful and serene. Even people who are normally afraid of heights do not tend to feel stress during hot air balloon rides. The hot air balloon experience is both relaxing and exciting simultaneously.”
Chloe finally agreed to go, albeit reluctant. Relieved that her plan had not been blown to smithereens, Beca got Chloe’s camera gear from the car and covered it with a bag retrieved from the clerk. The pilot introduced himself and gave his credentials to help Chloe feel more at ease. Then, he and his crew completed readying the balloon for flight.
Once in the air, Chloe forgot all about her fears. “It’s like a magic carpet ride,” she whispered to Beca. “So tranquil.” They immediately headed toward the Sandia Mountain range. Dawn was only beginning to break so Chloe could snap photos as the sun's first rays fell on the dramatic landscape. “So beautiful,” she crooned.
As the most vibrant colors dissipated but the light was still soft, the pilot told the pair they were in luck. Conditions favored his favorite flight to a small farming community south of the city. He had Chloe stow her camera, and he headed toward Los Luna.
“Look,” Chloe tugged on Beca’s sleeves and pointed out the winding body of the river. “The Rio Grande.”
The pilot checked that Chloe’s camera gear was secure and in the bag from the check-in cabin. He then began a controlled descent towards the slow, rambling body of water. Chloe’s eyes widened as the water became closer and closer. “Hang on,” he warned. “Splash and dash coming up.” He winked at Beca, who grasped Chloe’s hand.
The pilot dipped the basket down until it hit the water's surface then soared back up into the air through Chloe’s delighted squeals. “Again!” The pilot grinned and did one more dip into the slow-moving river.
Once he found the perfect place, the pilot landed the balloon and secured its tethers before helping both women out of the basket. He pulled a large crate from the basket and withdrew a blanket. After spreading it out, he told Beca he’d return in about an hour.
“What did you do?” Chloe tilted her head and looked at Beca, who only shrugged before motioning to Chloe to take a seat.
Beca pulled out a bottle of champagne, which she handed to Chloe with instructions on how to open it. “But don’t point it at me,” she laughed. She found the flutes and orange juice and positioned them between her and Chloe so the redhead could make mimosas. Beca then unpacked the rest of the breakfast the balloon company had packed for them. “We obviously got the deluxe package,” she sheepishly admitted when she saw the colossal spread before them.
Chloe handed her a plastic flute filled with orange juice and champagne. “To old friends and road trips.”
Beca nodded. “To old friends and road trips. Cheers.”
The pair ate silently, the only noise being an occasional blast of heat to keep the hot air balloon inflated. “Thanks, Beca.” Chloe finally broke the silence.
“I’m glad you mustered the courage to get in the basket.” She popped another strawberry into her mouth.
“No, Beca. Thank you; I mean it.” Chloe put her hand on Beca’s knee. “For showing up at my hotel, taking this road trip with me, arranging this amazing balloon right. I appreciate it all.” She sniffed.
“Hey, don’t go getting sentimental on me, Chlo.” Beca was getting nervous. She knew why she’d planned the hot air balloon ride but had Chloe figured it out yet? “I’m glad you are enjoying yourself.”
“Beca?” The brunette gave a noncommittal hum. “What are we doing?”
Trying not to choke on the fruit she was chewing, Beca felt a flush rise up her chest and neck. She swallowed. “What do you mean?”
“This,” Chloe motioned around them and then to the balloon. This doesn’t feel like sightseeing.”
Beca took a deep breath to steady her nerves, then blew the air out. “Chlo, okay, I will lay everything on the line here. When I tell you I love you - I mean it. When we talk about going slow - I don’t. I don’t want to go slow. I don’t want to wait. I know what I want. I want you.”
Chloe’s eyes opened wide in surprise, and Beca’s heart sank. She looked down at a spot in the grass. “Hey. Look at me.” Chloe’s voice was soft as she moved her hand to Beca’s arm. “I want those things, too.”
“Really?”
“Really, you weirdo. Let’s see if we can make a go of it.” Chloe leaned forward and pressed her lips against Beca’s. “Besides, who could turn down a romantic gesture like a balloon ride at sunrise plus breakfast along the riverside?”
Beca’s grin was crooked as she leaned her forehead against Chloe’s.
After flying high over the Petroglyph National Monument and oohing and awwing over the ancient volcanos and lava flows scattered around Albuquerque, the new couple were back at their car and headed to Flagstaff, Arizona. Chloe insisted on taking the first driving shift.
“Like you can beat that balloon ride, Beale.” Beca loved teasing Chloe who was studying her phone like she was studying for an exam.
“Just wait and see, Mitchell.” Chloe was bound and determined to surprise her now girlfriend. “Don’t count me out; I’ve got mad research skills.”
The two agreed that they were glad they had skipped the night in Oklahoma and only made a cursory stop in Amarillo because it had given them a chance to spend more time doing some adventurous things.
Beca pulled into their hotel in Flagstaff right as darkness fell across the city. The hotel clerk directed them to a touristy Route 66 diner with excellent food. After such a gargantuan breakfast on the balloon ride, they skipped lunch in lieu of road snacks, so the diner was a perfect choice.
“What’s on tomorrow’s itinerary?” Beca questioned as she dragged a fry through some oddly delicious fry sauce.
Chloe snorted as she acted like she was zipping her mouth closed. “You’ll find out soon enough.” She rolled her eyes as Beca actually tried to pout. “Hey, the drive to L.A. is what, seven hours?”
Beca checked her phone and concurred. “Well that sucks. Thanks, Chlo. Now I’m not going to be able to enjoy tomorrow.”
“Well,” Chloe drew out the word. “I thought if you could swing another day… what if we stayed here two nights rather than one? I mean, once we get back to Los Angeles, we’ll be back in reality and all.”
Beca said she didn’t see the issue with staying another night since they’d be getting back on Saturday instead of Friday. “Nobody’s expecting me in the office until Monday anyway.”
Chloe had been worried that the first activity she planned would be too long for them to be able to get back home at a decent hour. Home. She smiled at the thought of Los Angeles being her new home.
Chloe rolled Beca out of bed at a decent time the following day. “We’ve got places to be and things to do. Up, up, up.”
Remembering how early she’d gotten Chloe up the previous day, Beca wasn’t about to complain. “Breakfast?” She walked toward the complimentary breakfast spread the hotel provided.
“You might want to wait before having too much,” Chloe giggled.
Chloe fired up her car and headed south toward Sedona. She had Beca close her eyes before she could read the advertisements. Once parked, Chloe told Beca to wait until she’d come to open the door. Chloe jumped out, guided Beca out of the car, and positioned her so she could see the building and vehicles.
“Arizona Safari Jeep company? Are we going on a Jeep tour?” Beca’s eyes lit up as Chloe nodded. Beca began to jump up and down like a little kid. “Jeep, jeep, jeep, jeep.” She raced to her duffle in the car, pulled out a rainbow-colored rubber ducky, and clutched it in her hand. She couldn’t contain herself as Chloe checked them in at the front desk. “Jeep,” piped Beca as she slammed the rubber duck down on the desk.
The clerk laughed and reached below the desk. He pulled up a duck in a tan vest with a safari hat on and handed it to Beca. Winking, he said, “It’s a Jeep thing.” He placed the rainbow duck on a shelf nestled between a vast collection of various ducks collected over the years.
Beca proudly tucked the rubber duck in her pocket and went outside to examine the tour vehicles. When Chloe had finished the registration, she found Beca deep in conversation with one of the guides about exhausts and lift kits. She silently stood beside Beca, slipped her hand into Beca’s, and waited for their conversation to come to an end.
The three-hour tour was quite rough and tumble, to be expected from a four-wheeled adventure. The guide went through the town of Sedona and into the Coconino National Forest. He pointed out how diverse the landscape was, including the famous Sedona red rocks buttes and the Ponderosa pine forests. “There’s also the southwestern deserts and alpine tundra.” He pointed out various local wildlife as they drove through the canyons.
Periodically, the driver would stop for pictures. Chloe hadn’t brought her digital camera because of the nature of their trip, but she’d also gotten quite good at photographing with her phone. Throughout the drive, the guide talked continuously about the area’s history, local traditions, and different rock formations.
When they were dropped off back at the office, both women were worn out from the rough yet exhilarating ride. Beca and Chloe laughed all the way to the car. “That was a blast, Chloe. Thanks! You picked out the perfect adventure for our last stop.” They agreed to head back to the hotel, shower their bodies with grime from the four-wheeling trip, and maybe take a quick nap before finding lunch.
When Beca came out of the bathroom, Chloe was sacked out on the bed. She had pulled her long, curly hair back from her face in a loose ponytail and wore a threadbare Barden University t-shirt. Beca watched her sleep for a few moments before finding something equally as comfortable to wear and slipping under the covers to settle behind Chloe.
They had long stopped checking into rooms with two smaller beds, choosing the rooms with the larger king-sized beds instead. Beca made a mental note to measure her bedroom to see if she could replace her queen with a king. Burying her face into Chloe’s sweet-smelling hair, Beca settled in for a short nap.
Beca stirred a bit and went to turn over. “Where do you think you’re going?” Chloe’s voice was barely a whisper. “Come back here.” Beca tried to blink the sleep from her eyes. She felt Chloe’s fingertips ghosting across her breasts.
Smiling, Beca reached for the water bottle on the nightstand. “Just…”
“Nope.” Chloe gently held her hand down as Beca’s eyes popped open. “I don’t want you to go.”
“Oh really?” Beca’s voice turned playful.
Chloe’s teeth gnawed on her lower lip as she smiled at Beca and shook her head.
“And do what?” Beca inquired. Chloe leaned forward and kissed her.
“This.” She trailed her fingers up Beca’s chest and out through the neck hole to caress her neck.
Beca pulled Chloe closer, pressing her lips against the redhead’s neck. “This?” Chloe gave a contented sigh and dropped her hand back to Beca’s breast, massaging it and then pinching her firm nipple, causing Beca to gasp. Beca shuddered in anticipation as she pulled Chloe close and kissed up her neck to her mouth.
By the time they each realized the other had only gotten into bed in a t-shirt and a pair of panties, their kissing had become frantic, all-consuming. “Touch me,” Beca whimpered.
Chloe moved her hand to Beca’s other breast. “I am,” she teased and giggled.
“You won’t find it so funny when you realize how wet I am.”
Hearing that, Chloe swiftly dipped her hand into Beca’s panties and found the moisture pooling between her legs. Chloe gasped as Beca sighed when Chloe’s fingers found their mark. She begged Chloe to take her, her voice coming out as a whimper.
Chapter 14: Home At Last
Chapter Text
Beca peeked through eyelids which would barely open. Looking down, she realized Chloe was lying on her chest. She glanced around the hotel room, the blackout curtains not entirely pulled together and dim light showing through. Beca could tell by the shadows that the afternoon was quickly fading into evening. She pressed her lips to the crown of Chloe’s head and eased from the bed.
Chloe muttered something under her breath and rolled over. Beca smiled and went to the bathroom to freshen up. When she returned, Chloe was sitting on the edge of the bed mussing her scarlet hair with her hands. “G’morning,” she mumbled.
“G’afternoon,” Beca replied. “It’s four in the afternoon.” She sat next to Chloe. A gurgling, rumbling noise came from her stomach. Beca clamped her hand against her stomach and grinned. “I’m not sure about you, but I’m starving.”
Chloe leaned over and kissed her. “I suppose we did get a tad bit distracted before lunch,” she teased, sharing a moment of their enjoyment.
“I propose we rectify that. Why don’t you get ready, and I’ll find us a place to eat.”
Once both women were ready for public viewing, Beca drove them to Dark Sky Brewing Company, a local brewery with top-rated pizzas. While they waited for their pie, Chloe entertained them both by reading the advertisement on the table. “Look!” She turned the display around so Beca could read. “There are nine breweries. If we visit all of them, we can get a cool pint glass.” The prospect of the pint glass prize at the end of the pub crawl excited the couple.
“We might as well end our little road trip with a hell of a hangover,” Beca chuckled.
When the server brought them their beers, Chloe asked for a Brewery Trail Passport that also listed the locations of each establishment. He also told them that northern Arizona was known as the craft beer hub of the Southwest.
Knowing they had quite a few beers to consume if they wanted to complete the passport, the couple paced themselves. Each brewery was unique. Chloe took interior pictures of each establishment and of each beer they ordered. Beca could only imagine how well-documented Chloe’s trip home would be.
By the seventh stop, Chloe was a tad tipsy. She declared Historic Brewing Co.'s Barrel + Bottle House her favorite. “Don’t you think this place is a bit hipster?” Chloe giggled. She’d ordered a flight of six smaller beers served on a book. “Look, a library of beer.” The redhead grabbed the one on the end and downed it.
“You don’t have to finish all the beer, you know?” Beca’s smile was crooked as she drained the pint she’d ordered. Her alcohol tolerance was much higher than Chloe’s, who’d spent the last however many years with her head in books, studying.
By the time the pair were finished, Chloe was shit-faced drunk. While not as intoxicated as Chloe, Beca refused even to consider driving, so they ordered an Uber back to their hotel. Their mid-afternoon start on the pub crawl meant they returned fairly early and fell into bed at a decent time.
The couple woke at a respectable hour. After a hearty Southwestern breakfast, they started the last leg of their journey toward Los Angeles. The closer the coastal city got, the quieter the pair became. Neither wanted their trip to end. Chloe kept wanting to delay the inevitable and pull over at roadside stops, but Beca insisted they’d eventually be expected back in Los Angeles. Chloe and Beca pulled up to Aubrey’s house in the early evening.
“What are we going to tell Aubrey?” Chloe giggled as she and Beca unloaded her car into her bedroom.
“The truth?” Despite having her blessing, Aubrey still scared Beca a tad. She was afraid she’d do something to mess up and get on the wrong side of Chloe’s best friend again. The new couple finally decided to share only if Aubrey asked.
Beca helped Chloe start unpacking her clothes and books, but the closer Aubrey was to be home from work, the more nervous she got. “How about I head back to my place? I’ve had you for a week now. I’m sure you and Aubrey could use some catching up.” Beca shifted from foot to foot.
Chloe insisted Aubrey wouldn’t mind if Beca hung around for a while. But again, Beca wanted to be respectful of friendship boundaries and not get sucked into a routine that took Chloe away from Aubrey. Aubrey was, of course, the other half of the reason Chloe had moved to L.A. Beca promised she’d meet them for brunch the following day to prove she wasn’t trying to hide from Aubrey.
When Aubrey got off work, she and Chloe decided on takeout for dinner while they finished unpacking Chloe’s meager belongings. Soon, the drawers and closets were as full as they were going to be for now, and the bookshelves were overflowing with books from Chloe’s school years. Aubrey gave her a hard time about packing in liquor boxes until Chloe made the point that they were sturdy enough to withstand the weight and small enough to be manageable.
Chloe regaled Aubrey with snippets of her and Beca’s adventures on their journey home. “Aubrey, I still can’t believe she flew to Athens to drive home with me. I was utterly surprised.”
“How long are you two going to ‘take it slow’?” Aubrey held up finger quotes. Chloe’s face reddened as Aubrey smirked. “I knew it. You’re smitten already. I called it!”
“What can I say, Bree? She’s everything I’ve ever looked for - kind, caring, giving. I mean, who plans a sunrise hot air balloon ride with breakfast?”
“You got in a hot air balloon? I thought you were petrified of heights.” Aubrey was shocked.
“See, that’s what Beca does to me. So, we’re going to try to make a go of it. I hope that’s okay.” Chloe was nervous about her friend’s reaction.
“I already told you, Chlo as long as she doesn’t pull any of her old Mitchell tricks. I see how happy she makes you.”
Brunch was less painful than Beca imagined. She enjoyed watching Aubrey and Chloe interact, reliving their college years and diving into old memories and experiences. Part of her wished she’d been around her high school friends during their undergrad school years. Then she realized that everything that happened with her was of her own accord, and she’d made the decision to get away from Barden as soon as she graduated.
“Mmm, Aubrey,” Chloe beamed as she reached over and stole a strawberry from Beca’s plate despite the protests of the brunette. “You have to listen to Beca’s projects from college. They are amazing. She even sings!”
“I’d love to hear some of your work,” Aubrey said as she wiped the edges of her mouth before turning to Chloe. “Lest our friend here forget we were in choir together since middle school.”
Beca smirked and told Aubrey that she’d find some of her better projects so that Aubrey could better understand what she did and the skills she honed along the way to get where she was. Aubrey enquired more about Beca’s job and if she knew how things were going with Mila’s recording.
“I’m not sure. I stayed true to my word to my boss that I would be unplugged during this trip. But I do know Mila should be back in town tomorrow. I will email her and tell her not to bother coming into the studio until after lunch. I need to catch up on some things and don’t want her sitting around bored.”
“Do you have to go back to work?” Chloe pouted.
“Until the point, I become independently wealthy, yes.” Beca squeezed Chloe’s knee beneath the table. “Besides, don’t you also have a job search to start?”
“I need to pick up my certifications and organize my curriculum vitae. In the afternoon, I’ll dive deeply into the internet waters and see what’s available.”
Beca screwed her lips into a sideways grin. “Just how does one find a job as an animal doctor? Indeed.com for vets?” She laughed at her joke.
Chloe shrugged. “Possibly. I’m sure clinics also post openings to recruit new graduates. The AMVA has a job clearinghouse. When I went to pick up my transcripts last week, I ran into my advisor. He said in large cities, some companies provide relief vets to established clinics. He suggested it might be a way to get a feel for the city and try out different places before settling down.”
Once brunch was over, Beca went home to prepare for work the following day. The longer she spent around Aubrey, the more comfortable she got. As Beca drove home, she let her mind toy with scenarios had she not colossally fucked up during high school. She wondered how things would be different. Would she and Chloe be as close as they seem now, or would they have drifted away as high school friends often do? Knowing she could drive herself crazy thinking about the what-ifs, she pushed them aside and tried to concentrate only on the present.
Aubrey placed the tea set on the table and poured a cup of herbal tea each. “Have I told you I’m genuinely delighted you reconnected with Beca?” Aubrey blew on the hot liquid before taking a small sip.
Chloe pulled her legs beneath her on the couch to sit cross-legged. “You have no idea how much your support means to me, to both of us. I know you weren’t quite the fan when I told you I sat next to her on the plane…”
“Chloe, you don’t have to explain anymore. I get it. I see that she’s not the same person who hurt you.”
The two friends continued to visit while enjoying their tea on the spring Sunday afternoon. Aubrey retrieved a blank journal notebook and a pen from her office. She also brought down her spare laptop. “We need to get you organized for this job search.” She handed Chloe the computer. “I don’t know what shape your college one is in, but Daddy gave this one to me for Christmas. I figure you can borrow it for now.”
They began to make a list of things Chloe needed to do. Chloe would clean up her curriculum vitae before going to bed. The following day, after she picked up her California certifications, she’d meet Aubrey at her office for lunch. Aubrey said she’d have a paralegal scan it and copies of her transcripts, AMVA test results, and Georgia license. Then, Chloe would have digital copies of everything in her notebook.
While Aubrey was organizing Chloe’s To-Do list, the vet was wading through the results of her first internet search of available jobs in the city. “This can get overwhelming quickly,” she lamented.
“Have you put any thought into the idea from your professor? Work as a relief vet for a bit. You could build up your experience, make your own schedule, and learn what type of clinic you’d like to call home.”
Chloe said she hadn’t ruled it out but wanted to see what types of jobs were available. “Something about stability speaks to me. I’ve been in school all my life. School was stable. Predictable. I’m unsure if I’m ready to fly by the seat of my pants.”
“Pfft.” Aubrey gave a chortle as she looked at Chloe sideways. “Dating Beca Mitchell is exactly a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants thing. You just got home from a week-long road trip, picking activities like throwing darts on a dart board.”
Chloe protested, claiming they researched everything they did. Aubrey kept laughing, telling Chloe to believe what she wanted. “You are more spontaneous than you let yourself believe.”
When Beca arrived at work the following day, she had an immense stack of paperwork on her desk. She plopped down in her chair and started going through the pile, muttering beneath her breath. A voice from the doorway startled her. “You act surprised, Mitchell.” Her boss, Larry, stood there with a cup of coffee. “Every time you leave, you return to that.”
Beca pushed back from her desk. “I thought you’d spare me this time since I was on vacation.”
“Never,” he laughed. “How was the trip?”
“Well worth it. Worth this,” she motioned to the papers. “How’s things going with Mila’s album? Thought about what you might want to do with her?”
Larry motioned for his protegee to follow him to a meeting room without a phone or other distractions. “You recruited her from an open mic at a coffee house in Berlin, right?” Beca nodded. “What if we took that idea and cut an EP rather than a full album? We already have enough songs to do that. Then, we could sponsor her in bars and coffee shops in a few choice cities. We arrange the gigs, but she goes solo. If she starts to become popular with that crowd, we can extend her little ‘tour.’”
“You want Mila to travel to cities in the United States alone? Seriously?” Beca took a moment to explain to her boss why that might not be the safest for a young woman from another country.
“So, we pay for someone else to go with her. A friend, even, from home.”
Beca thought for a moment. “Are you suggesting we set her up like she’s self-promoting herself?”
“Yeah,” Larry said excitedly. “Ever hear of Jewel? That’s how she got her start. Well, she didn’t have the backing of a label, but still. Maybe Mila’s friend could handle her social media. They can do cool TikToks; I don’t know; whatever kids do these days.”
The two discussed the idea a bit longer, and Beca slowly warmed up to the suggestion. “There’s a proposal on your desk. Read over it before Mila comes in after lunch. If you’re in, pitch it to her.” Larry clapped her on the shoulder as he stood to leave.
Chloe closed the laptop lid and slid it into her bag as the server placed their food on the table. She flipped open her notebook and laid it where Aubrey could see. “All these places are hiring. And they are all within a twenty-minute drive of your house.”
Aubrey flipped through and saw that Chloe had filled three pages with clinics that were hiring. “Google Maps may say twenty minutes, but Los Angeles traffic may say otherwise.” Chloe’s eyebrows furrowed together. “I’m being honest with you, Chloe. That’s why my house is in the opposite direction of rush hour traffic. Narrow your search radius, and then we can talk about traffic patterns tonight. You don’t want to spend hours stuck in traffic.”
The veterinarian closed her notebook and dropped it into the bag next to her laptop. “Many places offer excellent mentorship opportunities to new graduates, continuing education opportunities, hiring bonuses… They all have great benefits. There are so many clinics looking for staff.”
Her friend sounded concerned, so Aubrey wisely kept quiet to let Chloe talk through what she’d found in her short search.
“There’s also contracts.” She blew out a puff of air. “Fabulous jobs which all come with contracts, the better ones with multi-year contracts. I never knew being in demand would be so difficult.”
When Mila arrived at the label in the mid-afternoon, she was excited to share her adventures with Beca. She slipped into her mother language as she described everything she’d seen and done. Beca was pleased that Mila had the opportunity to relax and see more of the United States besides Los Angeles.
“How did you like the East Coast, Mila? Did you have a chaperone the entire time?”
Mila proudly explained that she often ventured out on her own and could easily navigate and see the sights she wanted. “Your country is so large, and everywhere is so different. The sites, the food, everything.”
After Mila’s initial excitement waned from sharing her travels, Beca decided that might make a good segue into Larry’s idea. She explained the concept of Mila building a following by playing the bar and coffee shop circuit. “The label would sponsor you, of course. And I’ll plan for where all you’ll sing. But it’d be a good way for you to develop an American fan base on which to build once she released a longer album.”
Mila’s earlier confidence immediately waned as she told Beca she wasn’t sure she could navigate multiple cities independently. “It was easy for a week, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t fearful.”
Beca chuckled. “Who said you were going alone?”
“Are you going with me?” Mila's eyes were hopeful that her only true American friend might travel with her as she sang.
“Not me; I have work to do here. Larry thought you might like to bring a friend from Germany with you. Two Germans traveling the States would be more credible than me.” Beca explained how much Americans have gotten into social media. “Tik Tok, X, Instagram. Whoever goes with you could help with that. In exchange, the label will pay for their way as well.”
Beca told the artist that the EP wouldn’t be finished for about a month. “Plus, it’ll take me that long to set up some great gigs for you. You could return home and come back prepared to launch your career in American music.” They agreed that Mila would return to her hotel and consider the offer. “If you have someone in mind, call them and see if they’d consider it. I’ll see you back here tomorrow afternoon.”
Chapter 15: Job Search
Chapter Text
Once Mila left Beca’s office, the producer scheduled a short meeting with Larry. She told him about her conversation with Mila and that the artist was returning the following day. “I have confidence in our girl. She seemed interested, but I asked her to sleep on it since it’s quite a decision.”
“One that could very well change the rest of her life.”
Beca grinned and replied, “Hopefully, when she comes in tomorrow, we’ll have good news.”
After settling some other small bits of business, Beca returned to her office to wade through the backlog of paperwork on her desk. She became so engrossed in her work that Beca didn’t realize how long she’d been working until one of the junior producers stuck his head in the door to tell her good night.
A glance at her phone told her Chloe hadn’t messaged her. They had decided to try to give the other some space so that each could get things accomplished. Beca was proud of her now-cleared desk. She was contemplating messaging Chloe to see if she and Aubrey were hungry when her phone rang, startling her. Seeing it was Chloe, she answered with a broad grin. “Ears burning? I was thinking about you!”
Chloe laughed and told Beca that wasn’t exactly how that saying worked. “Aubrey’s going to be home in about half an hour. I made lasagna and wanted to see if you’d like to join us.” Beca told her she would be on her way shortly. “Would you mind picking up some wine on your way? I don’t want to be that guest that drinks all the booze.”
Beca beat Aubrey to the house by only a few minutes. Chloe had already put the flowers she’d brought in water while Beca opened the wine to let it breathe.
“Where’s there’s Beca, there’s flowers,” Aubrey teased.
Beca turned around from the kitchen cabinet with three wine glasses. “And wine, too. I like to make myself useful.” She poured a drink for everyone.
After taking a sip, Aubrey tasted the tannins in her mouth again. She reached over and checked the bottle. “Sangiovese. Hmm, I’m impressed, Becs. I always figured you for a beer kinda gal.”
Beca rolled her eyes and told Aubrey she had no problem asking for the proper pairing at the store. Aubrey nodded, accepting the answer.
Soon, the trio were seated around the table, plates full of rich, meaty, cheesy lasagna. They ate in silence for a bit until Aubrey asked Chloe how the rest of her day went. “Did you find anything interesting in the job search?”
For Beca’s sake, Chloe repeated what she’d told Aubrey - about her initial need for stability versus not wanting to be locked into a long contract at a clinic she knew nothing about. “I found a relief agency that’s based in Pasadena. Roo. Cute name. Anyway, I have an appointment to speak with one of the recruiters tomorrow. He said we could do everything virtually, but I think I’d feel more comfortable face-to-face.”
She shared that she knew little more than what she’d read online—that she could pick and choose the jobs she took and get paid a higher rate. “The downfall is that I’m an independent contractor, which means no benefits.”
“Thus, why they can afford to pay the higher wages.” Aubrey was being her practical self. “But think of the need you’d be filling.”
“Get some experience under your belt and see what type of practice you want to work at,” Beca replied. She squeezed Chloe’s forearm. “You don’t want to sign a contract and be tied to the wrong place for a year or two.”
“What about you,” Chloe chirped as she leaned over and placed a greasy kiss on Beca’s cheek. “How was your first day back?”
“Eww, Chlo, seriously?” Beca wiped the lasagna kiss from her face with her napkin. “Why does it always have to be about us? Aubrey, how was your day?”
Apparently, this question caught the blonde off guard, as she was enjoying listening to Beca and Chloe's banter. “It was… okay.” Her response was hesitant.
“Are you sure about that? Do tell. We are always blabbing about us. I want to hear about you, too.” Beca leaned over toward Aubrey with a fork full of lasagna. “Don’t make me…”
“Don’t. You. Dare.” Aubrey smiled despite trying to act offended. “You honestly don’t want to hear about my job. Commercial law is so dry and boring.”
“What?” Beca gasped and put her hand on her chest. “No! There’s no way that Aubrey Posen could have a dry and boring job. That’s just not her! Why her personality is so shiny and sparkling.”
Chloe laughed and playfully shoved Beca’s arm. “Seriously, Aubrey. I’m your best friend and now your roomie.”
“And I’m your roomie’s girlfriend, so by default, we come as a package deal,” Beca chimed in. “And we… want to know how your day was.”
Aubrey had no choice but to trust her friends were telling her the truth about being interested, so she gave in. “I suppose you’ve heard of Dole, right?”
“As in bananas?” Beca smirked.
Aubrey nodded. “And pineapple, as well as other produce. They are a Fortune 500 company and a huge money maker in this area. They are reviewing all their contracts and renegotiating where they can. So, we are currently organizing contracts and ensuring things are in order before we start to see if we can find ways for them to cut costs. I admire a company that tries to find a way to cut costs before they lay off employees.”
“Youch,” Chloe said. “It’s getting that bad?”
“Food costs are skyrocketing, and the company wants to negate negative impacts on their workforce, which has been loyal to them throughout Covid. So we are starting with contracts, then will slowly go through all other aspects of their business to streamline costs where we can.”
“Quite admirable,” Chloe exclaimed. “I never knew what you did with your job. But I only have myself to blame. I never asked.”
“You’ve been busy, Chloe.” Aubrey’s response was kind. She knew Chloe had more than enough on her plate trying to get through medical school. “And it’s not like I’ve been open about my job. It’s just a means to an end.”
“It shouldn’t be that way, Aubrey.” Beca’s face showed her concern. “Your job should bring you joy. You should work so that you can live, not live so you can work.”
“Daddy’s proud of me. Right now, that’s all that matters.” Aubrey gave a weak smile. “But enough of that. Now it’s your turn, Beca.”
Beca gave them the Cliff Notes version of Larry’s plan for Mila. “Hopefully, she’ll return tomorrow and let us know she’s willing to do the coffee shop tour. Scheduling and planning will be a lot of work on me, but if she can build a following that way, the work will be worth it.”
A nervous Mila stood by Beca’s office door the following afternoon, waiting to be noticed. Beca had a pair of bulky headphones on and bobbed her head as she listened to music. When Mila stepped forward, Beca became startled and ripped off the headphones. “Oh, hi. Come in. Come in. I was just, umm, listening to the rough cut of your EP. Have you heard it?”
Mila blushed as she nodded her head. She told Beca that the label had sent her the tracks when she was in New York. “I want to talk to you about your offer,” she said timidly. “The tour?”
“Yeah,” Beca leaned back in her chair. “You’d be playing in coffee shops like in the open mic where I met you. Sometimes bars. And you’d have CDs to sell. We’ll also make you some merch - hats, caps, stickers. You can have design input, of course.”
“And where would I sleep?” Mila asked several questions about logistics.
“You’d have a hotel room. We’ll provide a cargo van for equipment and merch as well. Along with your salary, we’ll give you a stipend for food. And you can keep any tips you get, of course.” They continued to talk about some of Beca's ideas, including some cities that Beca wanted to start with. “Do you have a friend in mind who would be willing to go on this adventure with you?”
Mila told her she’d talked to her best and most trusted friend who had agreed to join her. “She’s a music enthusiast, too. And she already has some ideas about my social media.” Mila also explained that while the woman was German, she had lived in the States for some time. “So she can help me with things like driving, American customs, all the things that make me so nervous.”
Satisfied that Mila had thought everything through enough, Beca took the artist to Human Resources who would write up the contracts for Mila and her friend while Mila was back in Germany packing for the tour. “HR will let you know what information they need from your friend. Then they’ll arrange for your flights. Both of you can sign contracts when you return. While you’re gone, I’ll start finding places for you to sing.”
Chloe nervously sat in the foyer of the Roo office, her curriculum vitae balanced on her lap. A sign on the desk said to be seated, and someone would be in shortly. A few minutes later, a harried man came bustling from the back. When he saw Chloe, he stumbled back a bit in surprise.
“Oh, I didn’t hear the door. Have you been here long?”
“No, sir.” Chloe stood and offered her hand. “Chloe Beale. I have an appointment with Dr. Richards at 1:30.”
The man said, “Oh, oh, yes. Yes, you do. Well, I’m Dr. Richards. Come along then.” He motioned for Chloe to come around the counter and follow him. He pointed at a chair while he went around behind his desk. “Make yourself comfortable.” Dr. Richards started typing furiously on his computer keyboard.
Chloe gently laid her binder on his desk and folded her hands in her lap, unsure what to do or say. She watched the curious man, who seemed frustrated with something. Eventually, he pushed the keyboard away and turned his attention to Chloe.
“My apologies, Dr. Beale. I’m normally not so discombobulated. A… crisis has come up.”
“Oh,” Chloe’s voice was full of concern. “Do we need to reschedule?”
“No, no. I’ll handle that,” he waved towards the computer. “But I certainly have time to answer your questions. We are always looking for applicants to add to our pool. So tell me about yourself, Dr. Beale.”
Chloe told the man she was a new graduate who was fully certified in California. She pushed her vitae forward and allowed him to flip through the pages while she talked. “While I did all the required rotations, my interests are in canine and feline practices, general medicine for now.”
“And you are looking to be a relief veterinarian? Have you searched the AMVA job listings? Many Los Angeles clinics are willing to hire new graduates, many with great benefits and some with signing bonuses.” He closed Chloe’s binder and centered it on his desk.
Chloe explained that she had started to do just that, yet everyone she’d come across required a lengthy contract. “I’m not sure if I’m willing to make a long-term commitment to a clinic I know nothing about. I moved to Los Angeles because my best friend is an attorney here. We talked about working as a relief doctor to fill a need in the community and learn about different neighborhoods and clinics.”
Dr. Richards spun his pen around his thumb and flipped open her vitae again to her personal details. Finding what he wanted, he pulled up something on his computer and typed a few things. Seemingly satisfied with what he saw, he turned his attention back to Chloe. “You do realize that these jobs do not offer benefits?” Chloe nodded. “You aren’t under a contract except that if you accept a job, you meet the requirements stated up front.”
“Of course.”
He tapped his chin in thought. “I like you, Dr. Beale. I think you’ll make someone an excellent employee sooner rather than later. But as I said earlier, I’m in a crisis.” Chloe tilted her head sideways, confused. He turned his computer screen around and pointed. “This is your address.” He then pointed to another dot on his screen. “This is the Van Nuys Veterinary Clinic.”
Beca spent the rest of the day laying out a plan for Mila’s return. She decided to try to come up with reasonable driving routes to cities before searching for venues. Once she developed a feasible driving plan, she could look for venues. She envisioned starting in the local area and possibly having the pair drive up the Pacific Coast Highway to places like Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and San Francisco. Maybe she could even snag her a gig or two in Palm Springs.
She had an intern go in search of a paper map of California. Beca took control of one of the meeting rooms and hung the map on the wall to help her better visualize what she’d been trying to do on her computer screen. Thanks for the paper map lessons, Chloe, she muttered as she thought of the weeklong road trip from Georgia to California.
Beca’s phone began to vibrate in her pocket. “Hey, there!”
“Hey, yourself,” Chloe replied. “Whatcha doing?”
Beca flipped the phone camera around to show her the wall. “Using those map skills you taught me on the road trip home,” she chuckled.
“Mila’s going to tour?”
“Yup, Mila’s going to tour. And I have to figure out where and how. How’d your meeting go at Roo?”
“Join me for dinner and find out. Aubrey and I will be Norms at 6:30. I’ll send you the address.”
Beca laughed. “And what if I don’t want Norms?”
“Tough.” Chloe stuck her tongue out. “Be there or be square.”
A few moments after the call disconnected, Beca received a message with an address near Aubrey and Chloe’s house. She laughed. “I guess Norms it is.”
Aubrey and Chloe were already seated in a booth when Beca arrived. She scooted in next to Chloe and gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek. “Fancy place here, Chlo,” she teased, looking around at the twenty-four-hour diner with its no-frills decor.
Chloe rolled her eyes. “I ordered your coffee.” She pushed a menu toward her girlfriend. “I hear they have great mac and cheese.”
“That kills me,” Aubrey groaned. “Go out to eat and order mac and cheese for $15 when you’d be just as happy with a $1.79 box of Kraft at home.”
Beca cut her eyes at Aubrey. “I was going to get a Reuben sandwich. But now I may get mac and cheese just on principle. Besides, I’ll have you know I make an amazing homemade mac and cheese. You won’t find Kraft in my pantry.”
“You?” Aubrey’s eyebrows shot up. “Cook? This I have to see.”
“Hey, I’m not in high school anymore, Posen. I know when to bring flowers and wine, don’t I?”
Chloe smiled as she reached across the table to grasp Aubrey’s hand and hold Beca's next to her. “I’m so glad my two favorite women get along. You have no idea how happy this makes me.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Beca said with a grin. “I’m going to have breakfast for dinner.”
When the server came over, they each gave their order. When Beca said she wanted two eggs over easy, bacon extra-crispy and a short stack of pancakes, Aubrey burst out laughing. Short stack, she mouthed to Chloe as Beca kicked her under the table. The waitress gave them a strange look as she repeated their order, then left the table.
“You have to admit the irony,” Aubrey said. “You - ordering a short stack of pancakes.”
Beca made a motion like she was zipping her lips shut and didn’t reply. She then turned to Chloe. “So, how did things go at Roo?”
“Dr. RIchards seemed like a nice man, a bit frazzled when I arrived. He seemed to get better the longer we talked, though. We went through how the company works, how there’s an app where I can select available jobs when I want to work, when I get paid, etc.”
“So you are going be a relief vet?” Aubrey asked.
“You know how I was struggling between the stability of working at one place and the fear of being tied to a place I didn’t like for a long period?” Beca and Aubrey both nodded. “Dr. Richards was quite distracted when he came in because he’d just returned from taking lunch to his wife. She’s a veterinarian, too. Her partner went into labor when he was there. She was three weeks early, and they hadn’t even planned on a relief vet coming in until closer to her due date since her partner wanted to work as long as possible. They thought they had at least another week to find a relief vet to fill in for the three months her partner would be out on maternity leave. He was stuck over a barrel and needed to find someone like yesterday. Dr. Richards explained that most vets weren’t looking for a long-term placement and wanted autonomy and control of their schedule.”
Chloe stopped talking as the server delivered their food. She snagged a piece of bacon from Beca’s plate. “Hey,” Beca protested.
“You snooze, you lose,” Chloe laughed. “Anyway, to make a long story short, I took the position. It’s three to four months until his wife’s partner is ready to return to work.”
“Seriously? You… have a job?” Beca reached around her girlfriend with one arm and hugged her, slyly snagging the remainder of her slice of bacon from Chloe’s far hand.
“Hey, I wasn’t done with that! And yes, I have a job.”
“Congratulations, Chloe.” Aubrey was beaming. “I wasn’t expecting anything to happen that fast.”
“You should have seen how frazzled Dr. Richards was. He was quite relieved when I agreed. So then he took me to meet his wife and see the clinic. She’s incredibly nice, too.”
“Well at least you can map it out from home to figure out traffic and all.”
Chloe gave a sly grin. “How far is Norms from your house, Aubrey?”
Aubrey told her it was only a few blocks, like a five-minute drive. “Why? What clinic are you working at?”
“The Van Nuys Veterinary Clinic. Norms is about halfway.” Chloe beamed as Aubrey looked shocked. “See, I do listen to you. That was one of the deciding factors. No highways. No super busy streets.”
She went on to tell them that the clinic saw only cats and dogs. Two vets were on staff, one receptionist, and four vet techs. “It’s not big at all. And the other Dr. Roberts. She’s super sweet. Very appreciative that I took the placement. She didn’t mind that I was a new graduate, either. Said we all had to have our first job somewhere and her receptionist could arrange the appointments so that I could do more of the routine ones until I get more comfortable.”
“Wow, I don’t know what to say, Chlo.” Aubrey was beaming. “Congrats. From what you’ve said, this seems like the perfect happy medium for you. A bit of stability without a long-term commitment. What are you going to do about scrubs? I hate to say the ones I saw at the house from Georgia are all pretty ratty and stained.”
“We found a few sets in my size with the clinic name embroidered on them. She had the receptionist order more since I will be there a while.”
After the trio finished their dinner, they all piled in Chloe’s car and went to see the clinic. It was closed, of course, but Chloe wanted to show off her new place of employment. When she dropped Aubrey and Beca off at their cars, she and Beca decided that Chloe had a big day ahead of her and Beca should probably head back to her place.
“Good night, babe. I’m so proud of you.” Beca pressed her lips against Chloe’s. “My girlfriend, the employed veterinarian.”
“Shush.”
Beca waited until Chloe drove off, pulled out her phone, and sent off a text. The reply arrived while she was driving. After reading it, she grinned and pocketed her phone.
Chapter 16: Getting Started At Work
Chapter Text
Beca tucked the two packages wrapped in brown paper beneath her arm and closed the door to her car. Making her way to the garage stairwell, she trotted down the few flights of stairs and pulled open the door into the building’s lobby. After checking the directory on the wall, she located the elevator bank and pressed the button for the twelfth floor.
The elevator doors opened to an expansive foyer with a long desk. The receptionist looked at her expectantly. “Beca Mitchell here for Aubrey Posen.” The woman told her to sit, and Ms. Posen would be with her shortly.
Beca was almost swallowed by the plush leather chair she chose. She sank back and looked around the foyer. Behind the receptionist was a large sign: Posen, Goodwin, & Martin, PLLC. She chuckled, thinking about Aubrey growing up as a military brat. Her father went into the military right after law school to the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps. After spending time in the JAG Corps, he worked his way through the ranks, retiring as a Major General.
Beca was sure he had pretty powerful connections from his time in the military. Aubrey seemed satisfied enough with working for him despite not loving her job. Beca strongly felt her friend’s desire to be connected with her father outweighed her own sense of happiness.
Before long, a dark-haired man in a dark navy suit came to retrieve Beca. “Ms. Mitchell?” He looked her up and down as if he wasn’t happy to be there. “Ms. Posen is this way.” Beca had to keep from chuckling as she followed Aubrey’s minion to her office. She was able to keep it together until the door was closed.
“Dude, who was that weirdo? Does he even want this job?” Beca put the packages on her friend’s desk.
Aubrey rolled her eyes. “He’s a nephew of one of Daddy’s partners. He keeps asking me out. It’s getting annoying.” She saw the packages. “Ohh, how’d it go?”
“Perfect! I figured you could do better at wrapping them than me.”
“Aww,” Aubrey teased. “Does Beca weca not like to wrap itty bitty pwesents?”
“Knock it off. This is important, Aubrey. I want her to like them. And I know you do, too. And wrapping gifts isn’t my forte, although I can do it in a pinch.”
“I’m just messing with you. I’m headed home after this if you want to come over. Maybe you can make some of that mac and cheese you bragged about for dinner.”
“Maybe I will do just that. I’m sure I can cut out early.”
Chloe arrived at the Van Nuys Vet Clinic with plenty of time to spare. She checked her maps app and found a donut shop only a few blocks away and decided she had time to grab treats for the staff. No harm would be had in trying to make an excellent first impression if she would be there for several months. She picked up a dozen assorted donuts and a carton of coffee.
When she returned to the clinic, one car was in the staff parking lot. She grabbed the carton of coffee with one hand, balanced the donuts in her other, and went to the door. Luckily, the person inside saw her coming and met her at the door so she wouldn’t struggle to open it.
“Hi,” Chloe said, putting the coffee and donuts on the ledge of the receptionist’s desk. “I’m Dr. Beale, and I will fill in until Dr. Madison returns from maternity leave.”
“Oh! I’m F’... Amy. I’m Amy, the receptionist.” She reached out and shook Chloe’s hand. “Ohh, donuts. You are going to be the hero today.” She poured herself a coffee and began putting in sugar and creamer.
“That’s what I’m counting on,” Chloe said. “Help yourself.”
Amy patted her stomach. “Can’t. On a diet. Well… maybe just one.” She snagged a chocolate-covered cake donut. “Mags, ummm, Dr. RIchards had me order more scrubs yesterday. The company we use is pretty quick. They should be here tomorrow. Where’s your coat?”
Chloe looked at her strangely. “Does it normally get cold inside?”
Amy sighed. “No, your white coat. Your doctor coat. You know. So people know you’re the vet. We all have dark blue scrubs, but you need a coat. With your baby face, clients will think you are one of us!”
Chloe’s face flushed. “Oh. Umm, I don’t have one yet. This is my first job out of college and all.”
Amy went to the back and returned with a white coat. “Here. This has Dr. Madison’s name on it. But nobody will notice. It’ll do until you get one.” She helped Chloe put it on. “A little long, but that’s okay.”
The rest of the staff arrived around the same time. Chloe held back a bit while everyone helped themselves to coffee and donuts and chatted with each other. Dr. Richards rushed in a few minutes before the clinic was supposed to open. “I’m so sorry I’m late. I went by the hospital to check on Dr. Madison. Her baby girl was so precious, and I lost track of time.” Everyone crowded around her phone to ooh and aww at the pictures of the baby. “Have you all met Dr. Beale?”
“Yeah, she brought us coffee and donuts,” Amy said as she stuffed another donut into her mouth. “She’s great.”
Distracted by the food, the techs hadn’t noticed Chloe and seemed shocked to see her in the corner of the waiting area. Dr. Richards went to stand next to the new veterinarian. “Girls, this is Dr. Beale. She’ll fill in for Dr. Madison while she’s home with the baby. Let’s go around the room, but make it quick before clients arrive.”
Chloe learned that the techs were Stacie, Flo, Jessica, and Ashley. They were the techs. Jessica and Ashley were roommates. When they introduced themselves as that, Amy coughed and said something under her breath. Flo elbowed Amy in the ribs, which made the receptionist scowl. Chloe told them that she was fresh from grad school in Georgia and had just moved to Los Angeles. “I live with my best friend, who’s an attorney. And my girlfriend is a music producer. She lives here, too.” Chloe realized that the word girlfriend rolled off her tongue quite easily and was proud of herself. What she missed was Jessica and Ashley looking at each other when she said it.
The day was fairly uneventful. Because Dr. Madison had gone into labor unexpectedly the day before, and they weren’t sure when they’d have a relief vet, Amy had rearranged her appointments as best she could. After learning her way around the clinic and treatment rooms, she shadowed Dr. Roberts for a few clients then took a couple herself while Dr. Roberts went to get lunch for the staff.
“This is a treat for them,” she said when she returned. “I wasn’t sure what today would look like, so I told them I’d buy them lunch today. Little did I know you were bringing them donuts. I think they like you already.”
Beca left work with enough time to go to the grocery store to get what she needed to fix dinner at Aubrey’s. She decided to go all out and do her five-cheese mac and cheese version with shredded chicken and a salad to lighten the heaviness. Beca tried to convince herself that she wasn’t still trying to impress Aubrey, but maybe part of her was. Perhaps she was trying to prove to Chloe AND Aubrey that she was worth keeping around. Regardless, she loved to cook and slowly built a repertoire of meals she could use.
After she went by her apartment to pick up her food processor, she texted Aubrey to ensure she was home. Beca lugged in her bags of groceries and set the processor on the kitchen counter. When she saw how Aubrey looked at her, she said, “What? Do you really think I’m going to shred all this cheese by hand? I presume you have flour, salt and pepper. I got everything else I needed.”
Beca unloaded her bags and put the salad makings, half and half, and milk in the fridge. She tossed the pasta to the side. When she pulled out five blocks of cheese, Aubrey’s eyes widened. “Beca?”
“What? I told you. I make a mean mac and cheese. Cheddar, Colby Jack, Muenster, Gruyere, and mozzarella. It’s a crazy amount of cheese but super creamy! And I also put rotisserie chicken in it, so there’s added protein.” She had Aubrey point her to the pots and pans she needed, then brushed Aubrey out of her kitchen so she could wrap Chloe’s presents. “If you get done, you can set the table.”
“I don’t take orders from you, Mitchell,” Aubrey called back.
Beca started the water to heat to cook the macaroni and began to shred the chicken and then the cheese. Once she had the proper amounts of each cheese mixed together, she separated the cheese into four piles: two for the sauce, one for the inner layer, and one for the topping. After she dropped the pasta, she started the roux for the sauce. She’d made this recipe so often that her timing was almost perfect. When Aubrey began setting the table, Beca slid the casserole dish into the oven.
“Fifteen minutes, and that will be done. Maybe a bit longer because of the chicken.” Beca wiped down the kitchen counter and got the salad makings back out of the refrigerator. “Why are you looking at me like I have two heads, Posen?”
“Nothing.” Aubrey shook her head and got out the place settings for the table. “Thanks, Mitchell.”
“For?”
“For being good to her. I was worried about how she’d adjust. All she knows is school. It’s been her life for so long. But now. Now she has you, she has a job, she’s in a new city. You give her confidence. So thank you.”
“She also has you, Aubrey. Yeah, I could have begged her to move here. But you give her stability.” Beca looked at the blonde for a moment. “She’s going to cry tonight, you know.”
Aubrey smiled. “I know.”
Chloe smiled when she pulled into Aubrey’s driveway and saw Beca’s car sitting on the curb. She wanted to tell her about her day, but she was tired. Chloe knew Aubrey would like to hear about her day, too. The thought of going through everything twice made her even more tired. So being able to tell them together would be better.
She opened the door and called out, “Honey, I’m home!”
Beca came to the kitchen door and smiled. “Hi, beautiful.”
“Oh, you’re here,” Chloe teased as she walked over to her girlfriend.
“Ass.” Beca grasped Chloe’s face with both her hands and pressed her lips against Chloe’s. She stepped back and sniffed. “Mmm, antiseptic and wet dog. Yum.”
“Where’s Aubrey?”
“Finishing setting the table. Dinner’s ready.”
“Oooh, no. I have to take a shower. Please?” Beca narrowed her eyes. “I know you smell me. I’ll be quick. I promise. Don’t start without me.” She gave Beca a quick kiss and ran toward her room.
True to her word, Chloe’s shower was quick. She returned to the dining room dressed in a comfortable pair of sweatpants and a ragged t-shirt from Barden. “I’m starving. This looks great, Aubrey.”
Beca snorted as Aubrey said, “Aubrey doesn’t cook much. This was all Beca.” She doled out salad to everyone’s plate while Beca spooned out a healthy amount of chicken mac and cheese. “She even made the salad dressing from scratch.”
“Well, aren’t you Betty Crocker,” Chloe teased.
Beca stuck her lower lip out in a fake pout. “If you guys are going to be like this, I won’t cook for you.” Both women started protesting until Beca told them she was teasing them and that they needed to eat.
Once Chloe seemed to have some energy back in her system, she told Aubrey and Beca all about her day. “The staff seem pretty close. Stacie is interesting. At first, I thought she was more interested in her nail care than doing her job. But she ended up being brilliant. Flo is, well, Flo. She was quiet. Jessica and Ashley live together, but I think there’s more to it because Amy, who’s the receptionist, made a funny noise when I told them my girlfriend is a music producer.”
“Wait, you told them about me?” Beca was shocked.
“Is that okay?” Chloe was suddenly concerned at Beca’s reaction.
“Well, yeah. I, uhhh, just… I wasn’t expecting it.”
“So there’s Amy, the odd receptionist,” Aubrey said. “Stacie, Flo, Jessica and Ashley are the techs. Jessica and Ashley live together and are possibly more than roommates. Does that cover it?”
“And Dr. Richards, Maggie. Oh, and Dr. Madison, who just had the cutest baby girl. She’s rather tall, though. Dr. Madison, not the baby.”
“You met her? Didn’t she just have the kid? I thought she’d be in the hospital,” Beca said.
“Amy gave me one of her white coats to wear. She said everyone wears blue scrubs, but the clients would think I was a tech if I didn’t have a white doctor’s coat. So sometime this weekend, I have to find a place to get a doctor’s coat.”
Aubrey looked at Beca, who cleared her throat. “I’ll get the dishes.” When Chloe stood to help, Beca insisted she relax in the living room, saying she’d had a long day.
Aubrey and Beca made short work of clearing the table, putting the plates in the dishwasher and leftovers in the refrigerator. Beca had cleaned the kitchen as she’d cooked, so there wasn’t a big mess left. Soon, they joined Chloe in the living room. Beca nestled down on the couch next to Chloe.
“I’m glad you had a good first day, Chloe.” She tucked strands of Chloe’s hair behind her ear.
Aubrey came in with three brightly wrapped presents. Beca cocked her head to one side since she had only taken Aubrey two things to wrap. She shrugged it off as Chloe squealed when she saw the presents. “Guys! You’ve already done so much for me.”
“These are the first job out of university presents, Chlo. Things you need,” Aubrey said with a smile. “This one first.” She handed Chloe a rectangular shirt-sized box.
“The wrapping is so pretty. Thank you.” Chloe carefully undid the tape and revealed the box. She lifted the lid to find a carefully folded white coat. Tears formed at the corner of her eyes as she pulled it out and saw the embroidery on one side of the chest. Dr. Beale, DVM. “A doctor’s coat. How’d you know?” She stood and put it on. “And it fits.”
Aubrey shrugged. “Don’t all doctors need a cool coat with their name on it?” She then handed Chloe a shoebox-sized package. “This one’s not much, but you needed them, too.”
Chloe laughed when she unwrapped a pair of pink Uggs. “You know mine are worn out.” She squealed when she saw some of the charms. “Look at all the puppy and kitty charms. Aubrey! Thank you!” She stood to hug her friend. “You’re the best.
Aubrey handed Chloe a smaller oblong package. “This one is from Beca.” When Chloe opened the box, she looked at Beca, puzzled.
Beca smiled as she pulled out the components. “It’s a tubeless stethoscope. Cutting edge. See, wireless - well, Bluetooth. She pulled out a set of earbuds and the diaphragm. The guy at the medical supply store said many human doctors are using them now, but more vets are, too. He showed me some testimonials online. One doctor had an aggressive dog that was always afraid of the stethoscope. So the owner held the diaphragm, and the doctor could listen from a distance, which was safer for the doctor and more calming for the dog. There’s even an app that records the sounds, too.”
While Beca was talking, Chloe read the literature and instructions in the box. Together, they got the earbuds and Chloe’s phone paired to the diaphragm. They all took turns listening to each other’s hearts and lungs. “This is incredible, Beca. How did you find out about this?” Chloe stowed her new stethoscope in its case.
“Google,” Beca smirked. “I jumped online to find out what type of stethoscope to get you because I mean, what do you get a new doctor? And I came across this one. Then, I found a medical supply across the city that actually stocked them. So Aubrey ordered your jacket, and I drove to pick them both up.”
“I bought the Uggs when you went to Georgia to get your things after I saw the shape yours were in.” Aubrey wrinkled her nose. “I hate those shoes.”
“But they are so comfy,” Chloe giggled. She then gave a big yawn. “Oops, sorry. That was rude.”
“Not rude at all. You’ve had a busy day. I’ll take that as my cue to leave.” Beca stood and pulled Chloe to her feet.
“Beca,” Chloe whined. “Stay? I miss you.”
“You are exhausted,” Beca chuckled. “Get through the rest of this week, and we can make plans for the weekend.”
Chloe quickly settled in at the clinic and was soon comfortable with the patients Amy scheduled for her. The clinic had one small surgical suite for dental cleanings, spays, and neuters. As Chloe could see more patients, Dr. Roberts was freed up to catch up on the minor surgical procedures they had temporarily postponed when they weren’t sure about a relief vet.
Another woman came in twice a month to handle staff scheduling, payroll and accounting. Dr. Roberts explained that she used to try to do it all but realized she was spending far too much time at the clinic doing things she could hire out more easily to someone who’d probably be more efficient. Chloe realized how much she learned from working at the small clinic and was grateful she’d taken the position.
The staff was also a fun, tight-knit group. Chloe learned that on Thursdays, they had a standing ladies’ night at a karaoke bar in NoHo. “Oh, I want to come,” Chloe chirped as she clapped her hands together. I love to sing. My roommate does, too.”
The three vet techs looked at each other cautiously, fearful of saying the wrong thing. They then looked at Amy. “Don’t ask me for my blessing. I go for the booze and the men,” the blonde receptionist said.
“How about this? I’ll bring my roommate and girlfriend. We’ll get our own table. Then, if you think we’re cool enough, we can join you!” Chloe’s cheerfulness made it difficult for the techs to say no to her. Chloe also added that if they didn’t invite her back, she wouldn’t ask. “It’s not like I’m your boss, girls. I just moved here. I need some friends.”
The techs huddled together to weigh their options. “Dr. Beale is hot,” Stacie said. “I want to lay eyes on her lawyer best friend, roommate.” She waggled her eyebrows.
“Ay. Dios mio, Stacie.” Flo punched Stacie’s arm. “Tame the hunter for a while.”
The techs finally agreed that Chloe, Aubrey, and Beca could meet them at the karaoke bar. “It might be fun to hear some new voices. She said she loved singing,” Jessica, the ever-optimist, said.
“She said she loved singing, not that she was any good,” Flo replied. “But if we are going to have to work with her until Dr. Madison returns, we must at least give her a chance.”
Chapter 17: Music, Music, Music
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
After careful consideration, Beca had finally devised a tour route that she believed would be ideal for Mila's California tour. The plan was for Mila to stay local-ish for about a month, allowing Beca to iron out any kinks in the routine. Mila would perform four to five nights a week, with at least two nights off. Beca had even factored in an extra day for rest if they had to drive more than an hour or two to the following location.
She scheduled Mila mostly at towns on the beach up and down the Pacific Coast Highway. After four weeks in the Los Angeles area, she’d head north to San Francisco. Beca worked with the marketing team to put her ideas to paper and designed promo material to match their mock-ups for the CD case. Before Mila returned to Germany, she had a mini-photo shoot so the team would have some material to work with.
Once marketing had some examples, Beca emailed them to Mila to get her input. She also told her to see what her friend thought since she’d run Mila’s social media. Once Mila signed off on the designs, Beca would send her the final versions of the two flyers to advertise where she’d be - one for the L.A. area and the other for the PCH portion of the trip.
The CD had gone to press, and the insert, T-shirts and stickers would, too, as soon as the design was finalized. Then Mila and her friend could start marketing while Beca pushed advertising in the states, ensuring flyers were posted at all the venues. She tasked an intern with papering the local communities around the clubs and coffee shops where Mila would perform with the flyers.
The drive up PCH would take over seven hours if she tried to do it in one day, making sending an intern or going herself unfeasible. Beca posted some ads on Craigslist and hired college students in each town to pick up the flyers from a local print shop and post them around.
Thankfully, Mila wasn’t scheduled to return from Germany for a month because Beca needed every bit of that time to organize the tour. She now knew she was not made out for being a tour scheduler, but Beca was appreciative of what she learned along the way. Larry had been right to expose her to all aspects of the business, even if on a smaller scale than with a well-known artist.
A few weeks after Chloe started at the Van Nuys clinic, she started pestering Beca to go to karaoke. “It’ll be fun,” she whined. “I know you can sing, but I won’t even make you sing. Just go. For me?” Chloe batted her eyelashes to play with her girlfriend’s heartstrings. Beca had quickly learned that telling Chloe Beale no to something she had her heart set on was a futile cause.
“Why don’t you ask Aubrey? Wasn’t that y’all’s thing at Barden? Acapella?”
“Aubrey’s already going, and I want you to go, too. Besides, I want you to meet the girls I work with.”
“Wait, just how many are going to this ‘night of karaoke’?” Large crowds often made Beca nervous.
Chloe explained that the five girls from the clinic were meeting them there. “But we’ll be at separate tables. I think they were kind of nervous about inviting me since I’m a veterinarian. So I agreed we’d sit at different tables. And if it didn’t work out, I wouldn’t ask them to go again.”
Beca chuckled, thinking that she wasn’t the only one not immune to Chloe’s power of persuasion, yet she decided to push the boundaries a bit. “If I decide to go, what’s in it for me?”
Chloe’s eyes got an evil twinkle as she entwined her arms around Beca’s neck. She closed her eyes and pressed her lips against Beca’s. Beca gave a slight moan as her tongue darted out to meet Chloe’s. The redhead’s lips were soft and moist, and her tongue tasted like honey. She felt herself involuntarily shiver, chill bumps rising on her arms. Chloe deepened the kiss, heightening Beca’s desire and excitement. Suddenly, she broke off the kiss and turned her head coyly.
“You tell me,” Chloe teased. “What do you think is in it for you?”
Beca licked her now dry lips and returned to chase Chloe’s mouth for another round. Her girlfriend put a gentle hand on her chest, blocking their mouths from touching. She raised her eyebrows questioningly. “Okay, okay,” Beca acquiesced. “I’ll go. But I’m not saying I’ll sing.”
Chloe clapped excitedly. “That’s all I’m asking.” She turned to walk away and looked over her shoulder. “For now.”
Chloe insisted that Beca ride to the karaoke bar with her and Aubrey. “We’re taking a rideshare so that we can all drink. Look at me being all responsible.” They had given themselves ample time to eat a light dinner before their ladies’ night out. The bar was in NoHo, so Chloe had found a new restaurant she wanted to try called The Fat Dog. “You can bring your dog and sit on the patio. How cool is that?”
Beca simply smiled and nodded her head. Chloe insisted on sitting on the patio to admire and cluck at all the dogs. She’d sneak in a pat on the head if one got close enough. Beca and Chloe got a draft beer while Aubrey ordered a pinot noir from South Africa. After perusing the menu, they ordered hummus and a four-cheese plate to split. Then Aubrey and Chloe ordered a salad. Beca said she’d nibble on Chloe’s.
The atmosphere of the restaurant was cozy and casual. And the food and drinks were fabulous. The friends decided that this was definitely on their come-back list. As they nibbled on their meal, Chloe and Aubrey chattered about their favorite karaoke songs they wanted to sing.
Suddenly, Beca burst out laughing. Aubrey stopped talking and glared at her. “Something you’d like to add, Mitchell.”
“It’s just your songs…”
“We only sing songs made famous by women,” Aubrey interrupted.
“Have you noticed that there’s nothing from this century?” Beca teased. When Aubrey frowned, Beca shook her head and said, “You just do you, Bree.”
When the trio arrived at the bar, Chloe quickly found her co-workers. The table next to them had the chairs tilted so nobody would sit there. “We saved you a place,” Ashley said. “Stacie is getting drinks.” She waved at Aubrey and Beca. “Hi, I’m Ashley, and this is Jessica, my roommate. That’s Flo and Amy.” Chloe introduced Aubrey and Beca before getting their drink orders and heading off to find Stacie.
“So, you work with Chloe?” Beca asked the group, deciding to jump right in and trying to be friendly for her girlfriend’s sake. The group continued to make small talk until Stacie and Chloe returned with the drinks.
When a man came from the back carrying a box, Amy jumped up and met him at the side of the stage. She returned with two large binders, some paper and pencils. She thumped one of the binders on each table. “Read ‘em and weep, ladies.”
Chloe quickly grabbed the binder. She and Aubrey began pouring over the songs and scribbling their selections. “Come on, Beca.” When Beca told her she’d pass, Chloe threatened to choose a song for her. “You have to sing at least one.”
“I haven’t had enough beer for this,” Beca muttered beneath her breath.
“I heard that.”
Beca took this as her cue to take drink orders from both tables and dragged Ashley to the bar. “My treat; I just can’t carry eight drinks,” Beca said. “How’s working with Chloe at the clinic?”
Ashley went doe-eyed and asked, “Why? What did she say? Did she say something?”
“Take it easy,” Beca chuckled. “I’m just asking.”
The bartender started putting drinks in front of the women. Beca took a sip of her beer to make it easier to carry. “Checking up on your girlfriend, then?” Ashley studied Beca’s face for a reaction.
The comment caught Beca mid-swallow, spitting up half the mouthful she’d just taken. She chuckled. “I don’t know. Do you check up on your girlfriend,” she teased.
Ashley let out a sigh. “I knew Amy said something. I’m going to throttle her.”
“Hey there. It’s not so bad… people know and all. You two might find it’s easier to be yourselves if you stop hiding it. Especially at work.”
Ashley explained that Jessica was afraid they’d lose their jobs or that one would have to find a new clinic if Dr. Richards found they were a couple. Beca encouraged her to talk to Dr. Richards and be honest with her. “She probably already knows anyway. From what Chloe tells me, the four of you help keep the clinic running like a well-oiled machine.” Ashley promised she’d talk to Jessica soon.
The two returned to the tables and divvied out the drinks. Beca pulled the notebook over and began flipping through the pages. Chloe wrapped her arms around Beca’s waist and peered over her shoulder. “What are you doing?”
Beca said that if she had to sing a song, she might as well go ahead and pick one out before she got too drunk. When Chloe told her she’d already picked one out for her, Beca became nervous. Especially when Chloe refused to tell her what was selected. “It’s a secret.”
The night was full of light-hearted fun and songs. The more the ladies drank, the louder they sang. Jessica and Ashley started the fun with a catchy duet of Betcha Wanna by BLACKPINK and Cardi B. Aubrey sang Hero by Mariah Carey. Beca teased her endlessly about the age of t the song while Aubrey insisted it was a karaoke classic. When the announcer called Chloe and Beca to the stage, Chloe still hadn’t told Beca what they were singing.
“Welcome Chloe and Beca to the stage, everyone, for their rendition of Don't Go Breaking My Heart by Elton John and Kiki Dee.” Beca could see Aubrey doubled over in laughter at the table. She knew she’d never hear the end of singing a song twenty years older than the one Aubrey sang. However, once the music started and the words rolled up the screen, Beca got into it and began belting out the lyrics, her voice a natural match to Chloe’s.
When they finished, the crowd gave them a resounding ovation as they returned to the table. Beca plopped down in her seat and took one look at Aubrey before telling her, “Shut it.”
By the time the evening was over, the seven, well six, women had bonded over their love of music. Amy disappeared sometime during the singing with some boy toy she’d been eyeing since she arrived. Chloe grasped Jessica’s hands and said, “Thank you so much for inviting us. This was a blast.”
Stacie told them there was an all-night dinner they normally went to within a few blocks walk. Beca couldn’t imagine eating anything on top of their food earlier and all the beer she’d drank but said she wouldn’t mind some coffee and maybe some pie. Aubrey said she had an early morning meeting and ordered an Uber to take her home.
Stacie fell to the back of the group as they walked and flung her arm around Beca’s shoulder. “So,” she said. “Tell me everything I need to know about Aubrey.”
Beca quickly checked to see that Chloe was engrossed in conversation with the other three techs ahead of them before speaking. “I’ve known Aubrey a while. She can be tight-strung, but she’s the best friend Chloe could ever ask for. They were best friends in high school and roommates all through undergraduate school. She’s one of the reasons Chloe moved to Los Angeles to start practicing medicine.”
“She single?”
Beca pondered the question for a moment. “You know, come to think of it, I’ve never heard her even talk about going on a date. Personally, I think she’s married to her work.”
“Hmm,” Stacie hummed. “Interesting. Thanks for the intel.” She winked at Beca and skipped to catch up to her friends.
When the group arrived at the diner, they squeezed into one of the large circular booths in the corner. Everyone ordered coffee, and the techs ordered food as well. Beca and Chloe ordered two pieces of pie to split. The diner was much more conducive to visiting, and the vet techs began peppering Beca with questions about her job, which she gladly answered. She loved that Chloe’s co-workers were so welcoming since she knew Chloe needed to start making friends in Los Angeles other than herself and Aubrey.
“How’d you two meet,” Jessica asked.
Beca chuckled. “Under a playscape on a playground if you’d believe it.” She looked at Chloe fondly. “I was five years old; she had just turned six.”
“Awww,” Jessica and Ashley cooed at the same time.
“Childhood sweethearts,” Flo added.
“We were inseparable for most of our formidable years,” Chloe said. “Then we drifted apart.” She didn’t feel the need to explain why. “Then, as luck would have it, my parents sent me on a European vacation after graduation from vet school as a present. And who did I end up sitting by? None other than Beca Mitchell.” The redhead looped her arm through Beca’s and pressed her lips against Beca’s now flushed cheek. “I haven’t let her go since.”
“What about you?” Beca waved her fork between Jessica and Ashley. Jessica’s eyes widened as she looked to Ashley for support.
Ashley bravely spoke up. “Jessica went to Southern California and joined the acapella group, the SoCal VoCals. I went to UC-Berkley and was a part of The California Golden Overtones.”
“Wait,” Chloe said excitedly. “You two sang acapella?” The pair nodded in tandem. “Aubrey and I did, too, at Barden University. The Barden Bellas.”
“Y’all sang for the Bellas? Isn’t that the first U.S. group to ever win the world championships?”
Chloe nodded emphatically. “I can’t wait to tell Aubrey. She’s going to shit. Oops.” The redhead covered her mouth and giggled. “Next time we get together, we’ll have to compare stories. Oh, we need to have song night.”
“Is that kind of like game night?” Stacie asked as the three acapella women chattered about their experiences.
Beca shook her head and looked at Stacie. She shielded her mouth and pointed to the others with her free hand. “Nerds,” she whispered. Stacie smirked and nodded.
“I heard that,” teased Chloe.
The days remaining until Mila’s flight back to the States flew by for Beca. Mila had emailed Beca and told her that since the woman she’d chosen was her best friend, they could share a hotel room as long as the room had two beds. Beca had commandeered two interns to go over the first six weeks of Mila’s schedule, verify venues, and make hotel arrangements, making sure the two single rooms were changed to a double at every location. She was leaving nothing to chance.
Because lodging costs were greatly reduced, Beca convinced finance to increase the artist’s per diam. Mila would be issued a company credit card for food and other expenses. On one of her off days, she’d be responsible for submitting receipts for anything charged weekly.
When Beca was finally satisfied that everything was as planned, she plugged the dates of the shows she planned on attending into her calendar. Larry would let her take comp time for those evenings, which meant she’d have more time to focus attention on Chloe. The final weeks of scheduling had consumed a lot of Beca’s time and energy, but Chloe had been understanding through it all.
When Beca gave Chloe one of the Los Angeles area flyers to post in the clinic, she also gave her a USB drive of a mix of songs, including Mila’s music to play in the waiting room. The clinic staff were excitedly planning which of the shows they wanted to attend to support Beca’s new artist.
The studio had purchased a cargo van for Mila’s tour. Beca forewent having the van completely wrapped. Instead, she had large vinyl stickers made for the sides and the back with the logo from the CD cover. The vinyl also included all of Mila’s social media accounts. Beca was impressed with the content already appearing in Mila’s accounts and had a good feeling that this quasi-homegrown tour would work out well.
Mila was scheduled to return on Saturday afternoon. The cargo van still had an extra bench seat installed, so Chloe tagged along with Beca to pick Mila and her friend up at the airport. There would be plenty of room for four people, luggage and guitars from Germany.
Beca parked in short-term parking at LAX and found a small coffee shop outside the Immigrations and Customs exit to wait for the artist. She and Chloe were engrossed in conversation and apparently lost track of time. Chloe explained how Dr. Richards was going to let her start simple surgeries the following week. “On Monday, I’m going to neuter six dogs.” Chloe was excited about her expanded responsibilities.
“Six?” Beca said. “Isn’t that a lot of dogs for one day, especially your first day doing surgeries?”
Chloe shook her head. “I did lots of them in school. Neutering is the most simple procedure for a veterinarian. From there, I move to spaying.” She explained that these were the most routine surgeries but the most needed due to the ever-growing population of cats and dogs due to irresponsible owners and lackadaisical breeders. “Rarely are there complications, and Dr. Richards will be in the clinic while I do them just in case. She wants to give me as much experience doing the things I’m comfortable with to help build my resume.”
The couple continued to talk, soon losing track of time to start looking for Mila after her flight landed.
When a shadow fell on the couple’s table as they talked, Beca looked up and her face blanched white.
Mila was standing there with a much taller, broad-shouldered woman. The other woman’s blonde hair was pulled back in a tight bun, with no stray strands wisping around her face. Her makeup was flawless for someone who had just gotten off a long international flight.
The woman smiled at Chloe and then looked at Beca. “Tiny Mouse, we meet again.”
Notes:
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know Shelley didn’t go to UC Berkley, nor was she in acapella in college. Let’s just call it artistic freedom.
Chapter 18: Kommissar
Notes:
Some liberties have been taken with the scenes in this chapter because some lines are too good not to use.
Chapter Text
Beca lept to her feet and protectively moved slightly in front of Chloe. “Luisa,” she said tersely. Mila looked confused as she looked between the taller woman and her producer.
The woman side-stepped Beca and stretched her hand to Chloe, who stood. “Kommissar. I am pleased to meet your acquaintance.”
Chloe cautiously took the blonde’s hand. Her eyes widened when the woman lifted her hand and pressed her lips to Chloe’s skin. Chloe pulled her hand back, slightly disgusted, and wiped the back of it on her jeans.
“Luisa, what are you doing here?” Beca’s voice was terse.
The woman chuckled. “Oh, Tiny Mouse. Did Mila not tell you? I am going on tour with her.” Beca whipped her head to Mila for confirmation. The artist still had a confused look on her face. “Imagine my surprise when my bestie told me of her music producer friend, Beca Mitchell. I thought to myself, I know a Beca Mitchell. That can’t be.” She chuckled.
Beca looked at Mila. “This?” She pointed at the other woman. “This is your friend going on tour with you?”
A timid Mila cautiously nodded her head. Beca closed her eyes and slowed her breathing, counting to ten. When she opened her eyes, the taller woman stared down at her, smirking. “Okay then,” Beca said. “Mila, do you have all your gear?” The artist nodded. Ignoring Luisa, Beca grabbed the cart Mila’s luggage was piled on and headed to the parking lot, stomping ahead of everyone. She could hear Chloe talking to Mila behind her.
“Everything’s okay, Mila. We’re so glad you’re here. Beca’s been working so hard to get everything arranged for you. She’ll come around. Right, Beca?” Chloe said the last two words louder.
Beca just waved her hand in the air as an acknowledgment.
Beca was quiet on the drive to Mila and Luisa’s first hotel. Luckily Chloe had come along and had no problem filling in the empty air with chatter. She told Mila about her new job at the animal clinic and how excited her co-workers were to come to her shows. “Beca wanted to give them copies of the CD in advance and T-shirts to wear for your first show. But they refused, saying they wanted to support you in person.”
When Beca glanced in the rearview mirror, she could tell that bringing Chloe had been a wise choice as she calmed Mila’s nerves. She was mentally berating herself for her reaction in the airport. But never in her wildest dreams did she think she’d ever see Luisa again.
Before long, Mila and Luisa were checked into their hotel. Beca asked Mila if she could take her guitars back to the studio. “The guys will see how all the equipment fits if we need to remove that bench seat.” She finally hugged Mila and felt the artist relax a bit. “I’m glad to see you, Mila,” Beca quietly said before releasing her from the hug. “There’s nothing scheduled until Monday afternoon, so you two can relax and get used to the time change. Luisa knows her way around L.A., but if you need me, please call. You have an appointment at the studio at two on Monday to finish the paperwork at the studio. And we can go over the schedule, too. How does that sound?”
“You are not mad at me?” Mila asked tearfully.
“No, Mila,” Beca replied softly. “I’m not angry. Not at all.”
Chloe was waiting for Beca as she got into the van, arms crossed. “Beca Mitchell!” Chloe’s voice was full of anger. “What has gotten into you? You scared poor Mila to death.”
Beca again calmed herself with her breathing. “I… know her - Luisa.”
“You mean Kommissar?”
Beca scoffed. “Her name is Lusia. Luisa Fischer. We used to date.”
Chloe’s eyes widened as her mouth popped into a perfect circle. “Oh.”
“You know I’m fluent in German, right?” Chloe nodded. “Do you remember when we saw each other on the plane to Berlin? I told you that was a story for another day. I guess this is that day.”
Nine Years Ago
C.R. leaned her pool cue against the table as she retrieved the balls to rack them for the next game. She nudged Beca and nodded to the table next to theirs where the two tall Germans were in the midst of their game. The way things were shaping up, it would be her and Beca versus those two in the finals of the pool tournament. She motioned for her friend to follow her a bit closer.
The woman was lining up her shot when she looked up, staring Beca dead in the eyes as if daring her to say something.
“Okay, we didn’t come here to start something with you guys. We just wanted to check you out. You know, for when we go to the finals. And kick your ass,” Beca said vehemently.
C.R. chuckled. “Oooh! Get it, girl.”
Kommissar stood to her full height and stepped towards Beca to look down. “You? You are the kicker of ass?”
“Yeah,” Beca replied, nervously standing up as tall as she could but still six inches shorter than Kommissar.
“But you are so tiny. Like an elf. Or is it a sprite? Fairy? What is the word I mean?” She looked to Pieter, her buddy.
“Troll.”
“That’s it. You are like a troll,” Kommissar stated.
Flustered, Beca shot out a retort. “Well, you... are…,” she looked the taller woman up and down, “... physically flawless. But that doesn’t mean I like you.”
Knowing how her friend was around women, C.R. just shook her head. That Kommissar was tall and beautiful was a double whammy for Beca.
“Your team is like, a, how do you say that? A heated mess.” Pieter had to get in his digs. “You know, a mess where heat is applied to it so what once was a little messy is now even messier.” He was enjoying his pool partner being able to get into Beca’s head, even if his insults were a bit odd.
“Darlings,” Kommissar said. “Please take my advice. Don’t try to beat us. You can’t. We are the best.” She called her shot and sank the eight ball before standing up. “I must go and rest my neck. It is sore from looking down on you.”
Beca looked at C.R. who just shrugged. “Okay! Just because you are making me very sexually confused does not mean that you are intimidating. We’ve got a chip on our shoulder and nothing to lose. And we’re not backing down from anyone.” She began waving her hands in the air to emphasize her words. “Wiedersehen, bitches.” She turned her back and put her hands over her face. “Aw, what’s happening to me? Why am I using my hands so much?”
After the German team left for their break, C.R. finished racking the balls for their semi-final game. “Damn, Shawshank. You really let her get to you.”
Beca and C.R. won their semi-final round and had about an hour before they faced the Germans in the finals. They chose to relax with a beer at the bar. After a bit, the German woman approached them.
“Tiny Mouse, we meet again,” Kommissar said.
“Verbal beatdown,” Pieter said. “Highlight of my day.”
“Have you abandoned your foolish plans to beat us in the finals?” Kommissar was smug as she sipped her pink cocktail.
“You wish you... gorgeous specimen,” Beca replied, obviously flustered. She turned to C.R. “She’s really in my head.”
“Very well, I can send you there if you like,” said Kommissar. “I’ll mail you. Large envelope cost nothing.”
“Well, it will cost more than nothing but still cheaper than shipping like a horse or perhaps an adult moose,” Pieter was rambling nonsensically, which pissed Beca off.
She directed her anger at Kommissar. “Did you ever think maybe you’re too big? It would cost a fortune to mail you. You’re enormous.” Beca jumped from the barstool and tromped off, C.R. following right behind her.
Kommissar called out as she walked off. “Okay, I think we should change your name to Feisty Mouse.” She grinned at Pieter, knowing she’d gotten under Beca’s skin.
Beca kicked each open stall door in the restroom. “Damn it. Why do I let her get to me?” She splashed water on her face to calm herself down. C.R. simply looked on with an amused look on her face. “What?” Beca glared at her friend.
“Nothing, Shawshank. You ready to win this tournament?”
The team went back out to face the Germans in the final game of the pool tournament, where $500 and, more importantly, bragging rights were at stake.
Kommissar screwed the pieces of her cue together and laid it on the table. She walked up to Beca and placed one hand on her cheek. “Don’t cry too hard when you lose, huh? Makes eyes puffy.”
“Your hands are so soft.” Beca seemed shocked, as if she couldn’t control the words coming from her mouth.
“I’m sorry,” the German said with an evil smile. “I don’t speak loser. What did you say?”
Pieter spoke up. “She actually speaks eight languages, but loser isn’t one of them.’
“Even your sweat smells like cinnamon.” Beca’s eyes grew wide as she heard the words come from her mouth. “FUCK.”
Present Day
About halfway through Beca’s story, they arrived at the studio and sat in the parking garage.
“Needless to say, Cynthia Rose and I lost that pool tournament because I couldn’t get back into my game. Later that night, I cornered Luisa in the restroom. Drunk off my ass, of course. I was giving her a piece of my mind, and before I knew what was happening, she kissed me.” Beca gave a huff. “Damn it. I don’t know why I’m still angry with her.”
“You said the two of you dated. How long?”
Beca worried at the cuticle of her thumb with her forefinger before glancing over at Chloe. “Two, three years or so.”
“Hmm.”
“That’s why I’m fluent in German. I learned it for her.” Beca shrugged. “A lot of good that did me,” she huffed.
“Did you love her?”
Beca furrowed her eyebrows together. “Are we discussing this in a cargo van sitting at my work?”
“Where else should we have it? Your ex is about to go on tour with your artist. We probably need to talk about this.” Chloe’s voice was angry as she sat as far away from Beca as possible.
“Chloe.” Beca felt her frustration building. “Not here, please? Let me take Mila’s instruments inside, then we can go to my place.”
Chloe got out of the van. “I think I’m going to just go home, Beca. When you are ready to talk, let me know.”
“I’m ready to talk now, damn it.” Beca’s voice echoed through the near-empty garage. She banged the steering wheel with her hand. “But not here.”
Chloe’s face was blank as she shut the door and turned to leave. “Chlo. Chloe! Come on, wait.” When her girlfriend didn’t stop, Beca gave up. She’d already had one colossal shock today. She couldn’t handle blowing up her relationship with Chloe, too, which an argument could do. Beca would give Chloe time to calm down, and perhaps her girlfriend would come around and call.
Beca unloaded Mila’s guitars, stored them safely in the studio, and tossed the van keys on the secretary’s desk. She knew the interns would know what to do on Monday morning, so she wasn’t concerned that she had to come in first thing if she was there before Mila and Luisa arrived in the afternoon. She stopped in her office and picked up one of her older guitars from college, which she kept there for when the inclination to play hit her.
She drove to Santa Monica and found a parking spot near the beach. For some unknown reason, Beca kept an oversized towel in the back of her Jeep. She donned aviator sunglasses, slung her guitar over her shoulder and headed towards the water.
One of the things Beca liked most about this section of the beach was that it was never overly crowded. Most people came to this area to eat or shop on Santa Monica Boulevard, play games, or fish on the pier. Beca chose this beach for its solitude. She came out to ground herself, sit with her feet in the sand, listen to the waves beat on the shore and watch the birds fly and tumble in the coastal breeze.
Beca opened her case and pulled out her guitar, leaving her pad and pen inside. Today wasn’t for writing music. Today was for enjoying it. She began to strum random chords until she found a melody that suited her, and she played it repeatedly until she committed the notes to memory. She then tried adding her thoughts to her developed tune, pouring her soul into the wind. By the time she was spent, tears were streaming down her face.
She put her guitar back in the case. “I’ll probably regret not capturing that one,” she muttered, then realized that she’d come to the beach for a cathartic release. She was here for herself. Had she tried to capture the music to share with someone else, it would not have been as beautiful or calming.
Beca sat on her beach towel, watching the sun gradually melt into the Pacific Ocean, a perfect conclusion to a not-so-perfect day. She usually felt calm as the sky burst into reds and yellow, eventually fading into the black of night. But today, she felt that the sky was more like a fire, raging out of control, smothered by the dark. Beca was conflicted by Chloe’s reaction and wasn’t sure how to respond other than wait for the redhead to contact her.
Chloe trounced into the house and slammed the front door. Aubrey came from downstairs to make sure her friend was okay. When she heard Chloe’s bedroom door slam, she also decided to investigate. She lightly tapped on her friend’s door. “Chole?” No response. “Chloe, are you okay? I’m coming in.”
“Go away.” Chloe’s voice was muffled, and Aubrey could tell she’d been crying, so she went into her friend’s room anyway. “You don’t listen very well, Aubrey.”
“You’ve known me for how long, and you are just figuring this out?”
“I don’t want to talk.” She pulled the pillow tighter over her head.
“Then I’ll just sit.” Aubrey kicked off her shoes and sat on the other side of Chloe’s bed, hoping that her presence would provide some comfort.
After a bit, Chloe rolled over and sat up, facing Aubrey. “This is stupid.”
“I need a bit more information, Chlo.”
“Beca is stupid. Her job is stupid. Germany is stupid. All of it. Stupid.”
Aubrey began to laugh. “Oh, well, that explains it.” She continued to snicker.
“Stop laughing, Aubrey,” Chloe whined. “You are supposed to be on my side.”
“I am on your side,” Aubrey replied. “Why don’t you tell me what happened.”
Chloe explained that she’d gone to the airport with Beca to pick up Mila and her friend from Germany. And how Beca reacted when she saw the person Mila had brought with her. “Apparently, that girl and Beca used to date.”
“Ooohkay. And you are mad, why? Beca’s with you now.”
Chloe sniffed and shrugged. “Beca’s never told me about any of her exes. She knows about mine.”
“All two of them? Well, have you asked Beca about her previous relationships?” Chloe shook her head. “Then how can you expect her to read your mind. She doesn’t know you want to hear about them. I mean, most people don’t want to hear about exes. It’s just weird.”
“Well, she told me how they met. I asked her if she loved her. She wouldn’t tell me.”
“Chlo.” Aubrey put her hand on Chloe’s arm. “Beca thinks you hung the moon. She’ll tell you anything you ask her.”
“I did ask her. She said she didn’t want to discuss it in a parking garage.”
Aubrey rolled her eyes. “For Pete’s sake, Chloe. You can be such a nitwit sometimes for someone with a doctorate. Call Beca. Call her and go over there. Now. And talk this out.”
Chloe argued with Aubrey for a while about why she shouldn’t be the one to make the first call because Beca had kept the relationship with Luisa a secret. Aubrey kept calling Chloe a nincompoop until she finally gave in and called Beca.
“Straight to voicemail. She doesn’t want to talk to me.” Chloe dropped the phone on the bed. “There, I tried.”
Aubrey picked up the phone and handed it to Chloe. “Then either leave a voicemail or text her. Now.”
Chloe refused, saying that if Beca wanted to talk to her, then her phone would be on. “When Beca’s ready to talk, she knows how to contact me.”
The streetlights had come on in the parking lot by the time Beca made it back to her Jeep. After she put her guitar case and the towel in the trunk, she dug her phone from where she’d left it in the Jeep’s console. She pressed a few buttons. “Damn it,” she exclaimed as she realized the battery was dead. She started her vehicle and plugged her phone in to charge, hoping that as soon as there was enough juice to power on, she’d have a message from Chloe. She dared not show her face at Aubrey’s house until she knew Chloe was ready to talk.
As Beca pulled into her parking spot at her apartment, her phone beeped, and it finally had enough charge to power up. Her heart crumbled as she realized there were no messages from her girlfriend. She’d sat on the beach for several hours, hoping Chloe would calm down and ask her to come over. But Chloe still seemed to be upset with her.
Beca trudged her way to her apartment and tossed her sandy towel in the laundry room to be washed. She took a quick shower to wash off the salty spray from the waves. After the shower, Chloe still hadn’t called. Upset with herself more than anything, Beca found a bottle of scotch tucked away in a cabinet. She propped her feet up on her coffee table and drank the alcohol straight from the bottle.
Chapter 19: D. O. G.
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
“Chloe,” Aubrey tapped on her roommate’s door. “Are you almost ready? We need to leave soon to get a good table at Bernie’s for brunch.” A muffled reply came from somewhere in Chloe’s room. Aubrey opened the door to see her friend still in bed, curled in a ball and head under her pillow. Aubrey pulled the covers back, exposing Chloe to the air-conditioned room.
The redhead grumbled and unquestioningly reached for the comforter to pull it back around her. “M not going. Leave me alone.”
“I take it Beca didn’t call?” Aubrey sat on the bed.
“No. She hates me,” came the response from beneath the pillow.
“Well, did you call her,” the ever-pragmatic Aubrey asked.
Chloe sat up and launched her pillow at Aubrey’s head. “No,” she said a bit more sternly. “She knows my number.”
“Well, I’m calling you on this pity party for one.” She stripped the top covers from the bed and began to pull Chloe to her feet. “Get ready. You’re going to have to go stinky. No time for a shower. Chop, chop.” She gently shoved Chloe towards the en suite, then went to her closet to pick some comfy clothes suitable for brunch. “I will give you five minutes to meet me in the living room before I return and dress you myself. I’ve been dreaming about Bernie’s lemon blueberry pancakes since I woke up.”
Aubrey left her friend to get dressed on her own and went to find matching floppy hats and a pair of oversized shades for them to wear. She knew Chloe probably wouldn’t bother with makeup and might want to hide her raccoon eyes. Right at the six-minute mark, a grumpy Chloe emerged in the oversized sweatshirt and ragged jean shorts. “Happy?”
Beca felt her head splitting open before she even opened her eyes. Feeling around, she realized she’d fallen asleep on her couch. When she finally got her eyes open, she saw the empty bottle of whiskey on the floor and groaned. “Fuck.” Beca climbed to her feet and stretched out the soreness from sleeping on the couch. She stumbled to the kitchen and dry swallowed three ibuprofen.
Once she started her coffee pot, she found a water bottle in the refrigerator and drained it in one long drink. Beca leaned against the counter, waiting for her caffeine, trying to remember why she’d gotten so drunk the previous night.
As she was pouring her first cup of coffee, she remembered. Chloe. Beca gulped down her first cup of coffee, not caring about the scorch as the hot liquid went down her throat. A bit more awake, she found her phone beneath the edge of the couch where she’d slept. She tapped the screen to see no messages had come through during her drunken stupor. She unlocked her phone and checked the call log and her message app to double-check.
Disheartened, she returned to the kitchen and poured herself another cup of coffee. After finishing that and a piece of dry toast, Beca decided to shower, hoping the steam would pull the rest of the alcohol lingering in her pores.
Usually, Sundays were reserved for brunch with Chloe and Aubrey after Chloe and Beca had a date night the evening before. Since date night didn’t happen, Beca wasn’t expecting an invite to brunch. When Chloe still hadn’t contacted her by late Sunday afternoon, Beca almost broke down and called her. She knew Chloe had said to call her when she was ready to talk, but Chloe was the one who walked away, leaving her sitting in the parking lot. She wasn’t sure what had her girlfriend so upset, but perhaps giving the redhead some time would be best.
After Beca had somewhat recovered from her hangover and filled her stomach with real food, she decided her apartment could use a deep clean. She’d neglected her chores the past month because she’d been so busy preparing for Mila’s tour. Beca turned on one of her favorite playlists and began to clean. She wiped down all the surfaces in the apartment, vacuumed then swept all the floors, and finished the laundry.
Eventually, the apartment was clean from top to bottom, and Beca had nothing to do. She sat on her couch, flipping through options on the television, coming up with nothing of interest. Finally, Beca decided to go for a walk. She hadn’t been on a walk in her neighborhood in quite some time, so she took her time to see what was around. As she rounded one corner, she was surprised to see a fence around a large grassy area that used to be open.
Where blankets used to be spread for people lay to catch sun rays, dogs now played off-leash, chasing balls and each other and catching waterspouts from the small splash pad towards the edge of the fenced area. As she approached the gate, she read the new sign listing the rules of the new dog park.
Thinking how much Chloe would have loved playing with all the four-legged friends, Beca unlatched the double gates and entered the area. She wandered around, scooping up errant balls that landed at her feet and threw them for the dogs waiting expectantly at her feet.
Before she realized it, most of the dogs and their owners had cleared out. A quick time check told her she’d spent nearly two hours playing with strangers’ dogs. For the first time since she and Chloe had their conversation the day before, Beca felt things would be okay.
The following day was Chloe's surgery day. She had six neuters to complete before she took a lunch break. This would give the cats and dogs time to recover from anesthesia, be observed and ensure they could safely be sent home with their owners in the late afternoon.
Dr. Richards had the small procedure room set up to run quite efficiently. Flo handled the anesthesia, and Stacie helped with the instruments. Once the first surgery was underway, Chloe hit her stride and quickly completed the neuter. She’d excelled during her surgical rotation in med school, so completing six neuters was nothing. She blanked out her mind and concentrated only on the task at hand.
As she completed the sutures on the last cat, she glanced up to see Stacie carefully watching her. “What?” Chloe smiled. “I know I don’t talk much when I’m operating. I was taught to concentrate on the patient and block everything else out.” She told the techs to give her time to get used to everything; then, she’d probably chit-chat like the other doctors they worked with.
Once the animals were safely secured in their kennels, Chloe called their owners to let them know their beloveds were okay and told them when they would be ready for pickup. She then asked Dr. Richards if she could slip out for a bite. “I won’t be gone long; I just need a quick recharge alone.”
Chloe drove to Norms and got a salad to go. She found a quiet park and ate at a picnic table. She’d avoided checking her phone at work because she knew she'd be upset if Beca hadn’t tried to contact her. And she didn’t want anyone at the clinic to know something was wrong. Explaining why she was upset would have made things worse.
Sure enough, Beca had not tried to contact her. Chloe thought long and hard about breaking down and contacting Beca. Heck, she wasn’t even sure why she was upset anymore. Aubrey was probably right that she should give Beca a chance to explain her reaction to her ex. However, she just wasn’t ready to be the first to call.
Mila and Luisa appeared in Beca’s office on time on Monday afternoon. “Ooh, Little Mouse, you have done so well for yourself,” Luisa crooned as she looked around.
Beca cringed. “Can you not call me that, Luisa? We’ll be working together for quite some time, and I’d rather put the past behind us where it belongs.”
“I will stop calling you Little Mouse if you stop calling me Luisa. You know I prefer Kommissar.” Luisa had a smirk plastered on her face.
The music producer agreed to keep the peace between them. She knew she had to make this arrangement work for Mila’s stake. Luisa was to play a vital role in Mila’s success.
Beca pulled out the schedule for the women, which had been segmented into two ‘tours.’ Four weeks would be spent in the Los Angeles area, and two weeks would be spent driving north on the Pacific Coast Highway to San Francisco. “I tried to schedule you in many beach towns,” Beca said. She explained that flyers with their schedule had been posted at each venue and other places to draw interest.
She motioned to a box in the corner. “There’s a sample box of merch and CDs. There were more boxes than I realized, but we left the extra bench seat in the van so you could keep your luggage there. Everything was loaded this morning, and it fits perfectly. First out would be your guitars. Then the sound equipment.”
“Once that is out, you can pull out a box of merch. I had some interns rebox everything where you only have to take in one or two boxes per venue unless you need more.” Beca told them they’d reevaluate the merchandise situation in two weeks and refill. Then, repeat the process before they headed up the PCH. Beca explained she’d probably go to each gig for the first week or so as an extra set of hands until they got used to setting up and tearing down independently.
Beca took the pair to Human Resources to finish their paperwork and pick up the studio credit card. When she returned to her office, she was surprised to see Larry waiting for her. He was kicked back in one of the chairs, his feet on her desk.
“Have I told you good job, Mitchell?” He beamed at his protegee.
Beca’s heart warmed at her boss’ praise. “I had a good teacher.” She told him she had finalized the six-week schedule just that morning and would send him a copy. “I need to send it to Mila and Kommissar, too.”
“I thought her name was Luisa,” Larry asked, puzzled.
“It is,” Beca chuckled. “She just prefers Kommissar.” She shook her head and shrugged, not about to get into her history with the giant blonde woman who would ensure her artist succeeded over the next six weeks. “She’ll be good for Mila. Kommissar’s confidence will bolster Mila’s meekness and lift her.”
Larry said he wanted to take the three ladies to dinner that night. Chloe still hadn’t contacted her, so Beca wasn’t in the mood to be around people. But she agreed, knowing it might keep her mind off her girlfriend.
When Chloe showed up for work on Tuesday, the staff chatted about Mila’s opening night the following evening. Apparently, Jessica occasionally sang at the particular place Beca had booked. “It’s a beer garden slash coffee shop with indoor and outdoor seating. Oooh, I hope they set up outside. The weather should be nice.”
“The important question is,” Amy said, slapping her stomach, “Do they have food?”
“I thought you were on a diet,” retorted Ashley. “But yeah, they have several food trucks. For everyone’s tastes.”
Chloe quietly went past them to put her purse in the office. She wasn’t sure what to say if they asked her if she was going. Of course, she knew they’d presume she was going because Beca would be there. Chloe was all a mess about the situation with her girlfriend. She wasn’t eating or sleeping well. Sooner or later, one would have to break down and contact the other, especially with Mila’s opening night the following day.
The vet started seeing the patients on her schedule. Since she’d been at the clinic for over a month, Amy had been scheduling some non-routine visits along with the owners bringing their fur babies in for regular checkups. Chloe worked steadily until almost lunchtime.
“Dr. Beale, you have a new patient in Treatment 2,” Stacie called out as she slipped the chart into the holder by the door. She nonchalantly whistled as she walked off.
New patients typically did not have much in their charts and normally came in to establish care. Chloe glanced through the chart to at least get the pet’s name. Chuckling, she walked through the door with her head down as she continued to read the chart.
“So, I see we have Dog. Nice name,” she laughed with a chipper note in her voice. She looked up to see a thin, bony pit bull with a mournful look, then looked over to her owner. “Beca?”
When she woke up that morning, Beca emailed Larry that she wouldn’t make it in until after lunch, when she planned to drive Mila and Kommissar around the city to show them their first few venues. She also needed to ensure they could properly set up all the equipment.
After visiting the dog park in her area, Beca decided to take the plunge and get a dog. She had done a few searches and found a few animal shelters not too far from where she lived. At each shelter, Beca had asked to see the dog that had been at the shelter the longest, the hardest to adopt. The first two shelters brought out relatively healthy young dogs for whom they couldn’t seem to find a forever family. While those dogs had been in the shelter for a while, neither spoke to her, so Beca kept looking. She didn’t find what she was looking for until the third stop.
At the third shelter, the volunteer walked Beca down a row of kennels to a dog that might fit what Beca was looking for. As she passed, Beca glanced at each animal as they clamored for her attention and wanted to be petted. She stopped at one kennel about halfway down and called the volunteer back. “What’s the deal with this one?” The dog was incredibly thin and had obviously had several litters of puppies. She lay on her bed listlessly, facing away from the kennel door, seemingly uninterested in the commotion around her.
“That’s Sally. Nobody can get through to her enough to evaluate her. She won’t move, won’t eat, anything.” The volunteer looked at the papers on the clipboard hanging on the door. “She’s due to be euthanized tomorrow.”
Beca’s eyes widened, her heart clenching at what the volunteer said. Something pulled her toward this dog. “Can I go in?”
The volunteer shifted back and forth on his feet. “Umm, she hasn’t been evaluated. I have to get the supervisor.”
Soon, the volunteer returned with the supervisor in tow. Beca signed a release understanding the dog had not been evaluated and released the shelter of responsibility if Beca was injured. The volunteer gave her a pouch of beef snack treats, and Beca entered the kennel. At first, Beca sat across from the dog, not saying anything or looking at the dog. Then she started to talk in a low, quiet voice, telling the dog what a pretty dog she was. “She’s a good girl; yes, she is,” Beca said softly.
Beca put treats as far as she could reach without encroaching on Sally’s space as she softly talked to the scared dog. Then she decided to sing.
You shout it out, but I can't hear a word you say
I'm talking loud, not saying much
I'm criticized, but all your bullets ricochet
Shoot me down, but I get up
I'm bulletproof; nothing to lose
Fire away, fire away
Ricochet, you take your aim
Fire away, fire away
As Beca moved into the second verse, Sally’s ear twitched. She slowly raised her head and looked at Beca, who continued to keep her eyes on the ground in front of her and sing quietly. Sally studied Beca closely and inched off her bed towards the treat trail Beca had laid on the floor. Soon, she was nibbling the treats off Beca’s shoes and even the ones on her legs and thighs.
Beca was seated with her hands in her lap, still not looking at the dog. Sally snuffled Beca’s hands a few times, then nudged her nose beneath one, indicating she wanted to be petted. As soon as Beca began to rub her ears and tell her what a good girl she was, Sally’s entire body relaxed and melted into Beca’s lap.
They must have sat on the floor together for close to an hour until the supervisor came past. “It seems you have a new friend,” he said. “We’ve had her for almost two weeks, and she hasn’t budged from that bed.”
Beca looked up at him. “I want her. She needs me. And frankly, right now, I need her.”
When Beca got up to go to the front to fill out the paperwork, Sally sat at the door to the kennel, eyes glued on where her new friend had gone. She whined the entire time until Beca came back with a slip leash to take her outside. They spent some time in one of the fenced yards to make sure Sally (or Beca) didn’t have a change of heart.
Once they were in the Jeep, Beca immediately called Amy to see if she could find an appointment opening in Chloe’s schedule. “But don’t tell her I’m coming.”
Chloe kept looking back and forth between the scrawny dog and her girlfriend. “What are you doing here? Did you adopt a dog?” Beca nodded proudly. “And named it Dog!”
Beca screwed up her face. “No! It’s DoeGee. D.O.G.” She spelled it out and then said it faster. “Deeohgee. DoeGee.” She looked at Chloe, hopefully. “I told you that if you moved to Los Angeles, I’d have to get a dog and take it to the best veterinarian in the city.”
“Hmm,” Chloe considered. “We still need to talk, but this is a start, I suppose.” She sat on the ground and waited for Diogee to explore her at her own pace. Diogee stayed glued to Beca’s legs, so Beca sat across from Chloe. “She’s in rough shape, Becs.”
Beca explained that the shelter was about to be put down. Apparently, she’d been used as a breeder dog and was no longer useful to the owner.
“They were going to euthanize her? Because she’s a pit bull?”
“No.” Beca shook her head. “She wouldn’t respond to anyone. She wouldn’t move, eat, anything. They couldn’t evaluate her, and she was only getting thinner.”
“She seems to like you well enough.”
Beca told her that it took Diogee quite a while to warm up to her. “I think it was the singing.”
Chloe looked up at her girlfriend. “She likes for you to sing?” Beca nodded. Chloe started humming softly. After a few moments, Diogee approached her and plopped her head in her lap. Chloe reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out her stethoscope diaphragm to listen to the animal’s heart and lungs.
“Nice stethoscope,” Beca said.
“Works fabulously with patients like this. My girlfriend gave it to me.” Chloe flashed a shy smile towards Beca.
Chloe pulled out a few treats from her other pocket and held them in her open palm. After a few sniffs, Diogee tentatively took one of the treats. Chloe took that opportunity to reach over and pull up the edge of Diogee’s mouth to check her gums and teeth.
“So, what’s your take?” Beca asked.
Well, she’s dehydrated and malnourished. But physically, she’s sound. I want to run some bloodwork to ensure there are no underlying issues. Would you stick your head in the back and ask Stacie to come in?”
After Stacie brought the needed supplies, Chloe drew the samples herself. Diogee did amazingly well, all things considered. Stacie told Beca the techs had all started calling Dr. Beale the Pet Whisperer. “How animals respond to her is uncanny.”
Beca agreed to leave Diogee at the clinic for the rest of the day. The techs would bathe her and review the shelter records to make sure she was up on her shots. Because the shelter had been unable to evaluate her, Chloe said she’d probably need vaccinations, which she could get that afternoon. “Later, we can schedule her to be spayed.”
The couple agreed that Chloe would bring Diogee to Beca’s apartment when she got off work. “I’ll make dinner, and we can have that talk.” Beca held her breath, hoping Chloe would agree.
Chloe grasped Beca’s hands and pulled her close. “You didn’t have to get a dog to talk to me, you know.”
Beca pressed her lips against Chloe’s. “I know, but I wasn’t sure what to say. I figured it would be easier this way.” She grinned. “Admit it, she’s cute.”
“Once she gets some weight on her, sure.” Chloe put her arms around Beca and gave her a big hug. “Thanks, Beca. I really needed to see you. I don’t like fighting with you.”
“We’re going to be okay, Chlo. I promise.”
Notes:
Chapter 20: Talking It Out
Chapter Text
After Beca was sure that Diogee would be alright if she left the clinic, she returned to the studio to meet with Mila and Kommissar. They inspected the space at the first three venues Mila would sing at two coffee shops and a bar. Once the three returned to Beca’s work, Beca had them practice unloading and setting up the equipment on a mock stage taped off on the floor, doing sound checks, and tearing everything down.
“Like I said, I’ll come with you to the first few gigs or as long as you need an extra set of hands.”
Kommissar moved into Beca’s personal space and smiled down at her. “I could always use your hands,” she crooned.
Beca immediately stepped back. “Stop. If this is going to work, you need to respect boundaries.” Her voice was firm but non-confrontational. “I’m not the same person as I was back then. Besides, I have a girlfriend, and I will not let you jeopardize that because of some game you decide to play.”
“Ohhh,” Kommissar chuckled. “Fiesty Mo…”
“No!” Beca said firmly. “If you care anything at all for Mila, you need to stop. Otherwise, I will fly you right back to Germany.”
“Du hast gesagt, du wärst nett, Luisa,” Mila said as she stepped between her producer and friend. “So be nice.”
Beca’s shoulders relaxed a bit knowing Mila might help keep Kommissar in line.
On her way home, Beca first stopped at the pet store to load up on supplies for Diogee. Chloe had said she’d supply the food, but Beca knew she needed a collar, leash, bowls, beds, toys, the works. The dog would never want for anything again. Afterward, she stopped at the market close to her apartment to pick up fresh ingredients for dinner. She loved this particular store because they typically had everything she needed if she had a recipe in mind. Tonight’s menu would be fish tacos because what better to serve in California on Taco Tuesday?
When she got home, she unloaded the Jeep and immediately began to prep so the food would be ready when Chloe arrived. She wanted to have dinner before they settled into the long talk standing like a barrier between them. The last time Beca had a few friends over, her taco bar was a success. All the ingredients were prepped separately, and each person built their tacos how they wanted.
She first made a cilantro cream sauce, which was easy enough but improved the longer the ingredients married together in the refrigerator. Beca made short work of shredding purple cabbage and chopping onions and tomatoes - all of which went into separate ramekins. She also thin-sliced some avocado as well. Beca whipped up a light batter to dredge the fish and gave them a quick pan fry before wrapping them in foil and popping them in the oven to retain their heat.
She heard a knock on her door as she closed the oven door. “It’s open,” she called out. Beca smiled at Chloe, who came in with Diogee.
“Look who I brought home.”
Beca rushed over to greet her dog, who was wriggling to see her new mama. Beca crouched to her level and spoke in a soft voice. “Wait until you see your new home, girl. You have a new bed and a pretty new necklace and lots of toys. You are going to love it here.” She walked Diogee around the apartment, letting her sniff everything. When Diogee plopped down on one of the many dog beds Beca had scattered around her place, Beca grinned. “She likes it!”
“She did awesome at the clinic this afternoon. She’s all squeaky clean and now has all her vaccinations. Dr. Richards and I came up with a goal weight for her before we feel comfortable with putting her under anesthesia for spaying her. I brought you some prescription high-calorie food from the office.”
“Oh,” Beca said. “The shelter gave me ten days to get her fixed.” Chloe immediately said she could provide them with documentation and a guarantee it would be done once the dog was healthy enough.
When Beca was sure that Diogee was settled, she turned her attention to Chloe and told her that she didn’t have to knock. “I knew you were coming.”
“I wasn’t sure,” Chloe nervously said. She sipped the iced tea she’d poured while Beca walked around the apartment with Diogee.
Beca walked over and kissed her girlfriend softly before putting her hand beneath Beca’s chin. “Be sure, okay?” She then dug into a drawer filled with various knickknacks and pulled out a key. “There,” she said as she slid the key to Chloe. “Now you know.”
Chloe silently took the key and pocketed it. “What’s all this,” Chloe asked, motioning to the bowls of ingredients on the counter.
Beca began to warm the corn tortillas on the gas burners of her stovetop. “Build Your Own Fish Taco Tuesday.”
“Sounds delish. I’m starving.”
As Beca’s friends had before, Chloe had a blast building her tacos and selecting her own ingredients. “This would be great for a party, with different meat choices, salsas, sides, you know?” Beca warmed at the idea of Chloe thinking about throwing a party with her.
The couple shared how the rest of their day went. Beca steered clear of mentioning anything about Luisa until dinner was over, and they were relaxing on the couch. “I told Luisa to back off today.” Beca was again worrying the cuticle on her thumb with her forefinger. “I kind of had to get stern with her.”
When Chloe asked what happened, Beca told her perhaps she should pick up where they left off on Saturday. “After we started dating, things were good between Luisa and me for a while, two years or so. And to answer your question, yeah. I thought I loved her. Looking back, maybe I did. Maybe I didn’t. I know I did about everything she asked of me for a while. She moved in not too soon after we started dating. I paid the majority of the bills because Luisa said her father wasn’t sending her enough money for her own place.”
“Didn’t she work?” Chloe was confused.
“Luisa was always going to auditions or looking for modeling jobs. She swore she would become famous, then she’d pay for everything, and we’d live like queens. Until then, I paid for about everything. She insisted I learn German so we could travel to her home country. So I learned German.”
“When her dad got sick, Luisa flew back to Potsdam which is on the outskirts of Berlin. She wouldn’t give me many details and couldn’t tell me when she’d be back. Slowly, we grew further apart. I had some money saved up, so I decided to fly to Germany to save our relationship. Imagine my surprise when I got there to find that her dad had passed away the week Luisa had arrived, and she hadn’t even told me.”
Chloe wrinkled up her nose. “That’s weird. Did she know you were coming?”
“Sure. She even picked me up at the airport. While she tried to act like things were okay between us, I immediately felt something was off. Well, as it turns out, she’d gotten back together with an ex not too long after her dad passed. Didn’t even have the guts to break up with me.” Beca blew out a frustrated breath.
“She told me her name was Kommissar. But you call her Luisa. What’s that about?”
Beca rolled her eyes. “I don’t know where she came up with that. Her father was a police detective. The word kommissar loosely translates to that. Funny thing is, the origin of the word dates back to the communist party. Nobody uses that word anymore.”
“Anyway, when I showed up and discovered she’d been cheating on me, she begged for my forgiveness and promised to fly back to the States with me immediately. When we got home, she wasn’t the same. She started going by that stupid name and kept getting mad at me for calling her Luisa. I was fed up when I found she was still in touch with the woman in Potsdam. I gave her two days to get her things out of my place and changed the locks.”
“That’s it? What happened then?”
“Nothing,” Beca said. “For all intents and purposes, it was over. I never saw her again. Nor did I expect to until she showed up with Mila at the airport.”
“Mmm.” Chloe considered what Beca had just told her. “Why didn’t we ever talk about her before?”
Beca screwed up her face. “It never came up. That’s all. I promise.”
“Do you still have feelings for her?”
“God no,” Beca exclaimed, horrified. “And I’ve already put her in her place, and we’ve agreed upon ‘appropriate behavior.’” Beca made quotes with her fingers. “I even threatened to send her back to Germany if she doesn’t behave. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you more on Saturday, Chloe. I just didn’t want to talk in the parking garage.”
“I don’t want us to argue like that.”
Beca agreed, and the two made a pact that no matter the situation, they wouldn’t ever go to sleep without talking things out if a similar situation ever arose again. Chloe snuggled beneath Beca’s arm and the two enjoyed some quiet time just being in each other’s company.
Diogee got up, went to the front door, and sat on her haunches. Beca chuckled, “Looks like someone needs to go outside.” Both women put on their shoes, and then Beca fitted Diogee’s new collar around her neck and snapped on a leash. Diogee waited patiently in the elevator and immediately began sniffing outside when they exited the building.
“Want to see what made me decide to get a dog finally?” Beca asked. She continued the walk until they arrived at the dog park where a few dogs were bounding around, playing with their owners and each other. She reached over the gate to unlatch it before Chloe stopped her.
“Not yet, Beca. She needs to get some weight on her so she can be strong. Plus, I don’t recommend her being around other dogs until she’s fixed. While you are a responsible pet owner, not everyone is.”
While she was disappointed they couldn’t go in and play, Beca took her girlfriend’s advice. “That means no dog walker then?”
“Right,” Chloe suggested that Dog stay at the clinic during the day. The techs would make sure to keep her company and walk her. She could begin to socialize with other dogs from her kennel in a controlled fashion. “Besides, with the diet I put her on, she’ll gain weight quickly.”
“I hope I’m getting the friends and family discount on all this,” Beca laughed. “I’m in good with one of the doctors, you know.” She chuckled as she bumped Chloe with her shoulder.
“I talked to Dr. Richards. She said you would only be charged for supplies like vaccinations, food, etc. Since I’m doing any treatment or procedures, the clinic won’t bill for that, and the girls love her already.”
Beca asked what she should do on the nights she needed to go to Mila’s gigs, and Chloe told her that Diogee would probably be okay by herself for that period of time. “Let’s get her a kennel tomorrow and make it like a cave so she can have a safe place when you are gone. I know you might want to let her roam, but she’ll be a lot safer if you kennel her when you aren’t there anyway.”
After not talking for three days, Beca didn’t have to do much convincing to get Chloe to spend the night. She gave Chloe an old T-shirt and some comfy shorts to wear. “I’ll wash a load of clothes and put them into dry before we go to sleep. That way, you don’t have to go stinky to work.”
While Chloe was changing, Beca added, “I’m not asking you to move in or anything, but why don’t you bring over some clothes? I’ll clear out the drawer for you.” When she saw Chloe’s reaction, she quickly added, “Or there’s a dresser in the spare bedroom that’s practically empty. I, just, … well, I like it when you stay. When it’s spontaneous. Consider it removing the barriers.”
Chloe smiled at Beca’s nervous banter and told her she’d bring a few things next time she came over. Beca dug in her linen closet and found a spare, unopened toothbrush.
While waiting for the washing machine to stop, Chloe pulled out her laptop and had Beca sit beside her on the bed. “Let me show you my latest project.” She launched a web browser and pulled up a website. “This is a photo journaling website I found last week. I can upload pictures and then write captions or add blocks of text. Think of it as electronic scrapbooking.”
Beca clicked through several pages of Chloe’s stay in Europe. “Wow, there are many pictures here I haven’t seen.”
Chloe explained that she couldn’t put all the photographs on Instagram, but this site allowed her to tell a story and preserve her memories. “And check this album out.”
“Oh my goodness.” Beca looked at Chloe and grinned. “That’s our trip home. Wow! This is amazing, Chlo. When did you have time to do all this?”
“It didn’t take long after the pictures were uploaded. And putting good memories into a story is easy. Plus… I had some spare time on my hands the past few days.” She leaned over and pecked Beca on the cheek with her lips.
By the time Beca had gone through the two albums, the washing machine had finished its cycle, and Beca put the clothes in the dryer. When she crawled back in bed, she scooted close to Chloe. “Something on your mind?” The redhead could tell her girlfriend was thinking about something.
“I hate to ask you this, but do you think you could show Kommissar how to do this?”
“Oh, so it’s Kommissar, now,” Chloe laughed. Beca gave her a playful glare. “Of course I will, Beca. Anything to help Mila.”
The following day, Beca started her dryer to tumble to get the wrinkles out of Chloe’s scrubs and started the coffee. She went to take DIOGEE for her walk while Chloe showered and got ready. When she got back, Chloe was fully dressed and cooking breakfast.
“How many eggs?” Beca replied, then went to measure Diogee’s food. Diogee ambled over and sniffed at her bowl, then sat, peering up at Beca with her mournful eyes. “Chlo, what does she want?”
Chloe glanced down at the pup and chuckled. “She likes it moist. Just put some warm water in the bowl and mush it up.”
“So, you are a drama queen,” Beca crooned to her dog as she made the food more palatable for the animal.
“She can understand you, you know.” Chloe laughed as she plated eggs, bacon and toast for both of them. “Diogee just knows what she wants. Like me. If she’s still resistant to eating, there’s a tube of brown molasses-type paste, a high-calorie enticement additive you can stir in. We’ll try to get her to eat smaller meals three or four times throughout the day to get her stomach used to eating more.”
Apparently, whatever Beca did to Diogee’s food was to her liking because she began to eat slowly once Beca put the bowl back on her stand. “Oh, and change her water at least twice daily,” Chloe added. “The wet food gets all over her face, and the water gets gross when she drinks.”
“She’s going to be so spoiled,” Beca muttered, “like someone else I know.”
“What was that?” Chloe teased.
“Nothing, dear.”
Once the couple finished breakfast, Chloe left with Diogee. Beca stayed behind to clean the kitchen and get ready for her day. Mila’s opening night had her nervous yet excited at the same time.
The previous day, Beca had left the van with Mila and Kommissar so they’d have some transportation. She messaged Mila to see if they wanted to meet for an early dinner to review any last-minute questions.
[To Mila: You guys up for dinner? Go over any last things?]
[To Beca: Kommissar say you worry too much]
[To Mila: It’s my job to worry]
[To Beca: She say okay. Dinner good]
[To Mila: What does Mila say? This is your rodeo]
[To Beca: What is rodeo? Kommissar say she not bull. Bull in china shop maybe. What does this mean?]
[To Mila: Sie ist komisch]
Beca sent her the address of a place near the venue and told them to be there at five.
Beca nervously paced her office at the studio. She wasn’t quite sure what to do to fill her time until she met her artist to eat. Finally, Larry kicked her out of the studio and told her to go pace elsewhere. So, Beca drove to a deli and picked up a variety of sandwiches and cold sides before heading to the Van Nuys Clinic. She lugged the cardboard box to the front and used her back to open the door.
Amy came around from the receptionist area. “Let me take that off your hands, Pipsqueak.”
Beca turned her back where Amy couldn’t get her hands on the box. “I’ve heard things about your appetite, Amy. This is a share and share alike box.” She ventured into the doctor’s office, where the staff weren’t allowed, and left the box where it’d be safe. Then, Beca went into the back area of the clinic where the kennels and operating suite were.
She heard a loud “WOOF” and a steady thumping against the plastic confines of a kennel. Stacie spun around and said, “Oh, hi, Beca. Wow. She’s never barked before. Chloe’s in with a patient. She may be a while.”
Beca squatted in front of Diogee’s kennel and stuck her fingers through the door bars. The animal was excitedly trying to get to her mom. “Hi, girl.” Beca grabbed a lead from the wall and squeezed open the latch, slipping the leash around Diogee’s neck. The dog strained to get out. “Come on, girl. Let’s go get some vitamin D.”
She took Diogee outside and walked her around a bit before settling on the bench in the outdoor break area for the staff. “Are they treating you okay here, girl?” Beca rubbed the dog’s head and ears. Diogee jumped up, placing her paws on Beca’s legs. “If they aren’t, you just let me know. I’ll take care of it. Pronto.” She was rewarded with a wet, sloppy lick.
The clinic door opened, and Beca heard someone come out. “Hey, gorgeous. Stacie said you were here.” Chloe came over and sat next to her girlfriend. “How’s your girl doing?”
“She seems to be doing okay.”
“This area is fenced. You can let her off the leash, you know.”
“I kinda want to make sure she stays close for now. I don’t want anything spooking her.”
“Amy said you brought food and that it was imperative I come bring you in immediately.”
Beca laughed. “Yeah, I stopped at the deli and got enough food for everyone. It’s the kind that will keep a day or two if it doesn’t get eaten.”
“You’re nervous about tonight, aren’t you?”
Beca chuckled. “How’d you know?”
“I’ve known you a long time, Mitchell. There’s no reason to be worried. You’ve planned this down to the minut detail. Everything will be fine. The girls are all excited about tonight. Even Aubrey is coming.”
“I’d disown her if she didn’t,” Beca teased. “Come on, let’s go inside before Amy starves.
Beca led Diogee in and put her back in her kennel. “See how easy she goes in,” Chloe said. “It’s a safe place. I’ll get one before I take her to your apartment tonight.”
There was a lull in appointments, so all the staff could grab some food and go outside to sit around the picnic tables; even Dr. Richards joined them.
“I hear you are a music producer,” Dr. Richards said.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Tonight is a big night for you. Mark and I are excited.”
“Oh, you don’t have to come, Dr. Richards.” Beca was suddenly nervous that her girlfriend’s boss might attend the opening.
“I’ve been listening to her music; Mila, is it? Mark and I both enjoy music, and Mila’s is catchy. And please, call me Maggie. We are looking forward to supporting your artist.”
Everyone began to talk excitedly about the upcoming show. Everyone had opinions on their favorite songs and what they hoped she’d play.
“She’s going to play all of them,” Beca snorted. “The LP is short, but she has so many songs. You’ll hear some other originals we haven’t recorded yet.” She explained how her boss wanted to try this grassroots promotion and build up Mila’s credibility before attempting to launch a colossal career. “Hopefully, this works out, and she’ll be back in the studio soon recording the rest of a full album.”
Jessica off-handedly mentioned how difficult it must be to go on a tour alone, no matter how short. “That’s a lot of equipment to set up, especially for a petite girl like Mila. Then factor in being in a foreign country and all.”
Beca’s eyes cut to Chloe, who refused to look at her. Realizing Chloe hadn’t told the staff anything, Beca decided to explain. “We hired a friend of hers to join her on tour. Kommissar. She’ll help with the load in and out, sell merchandise, and run Mila’s social media. Mila’s friend has lived in the U.S. before, so she’ll help with the culture shock.” That explanation seemed to satisfy everyone without revealing the past between Beca and Kommissar.
“Is Aubrey coming?” Stacie directed her question to Chloe. Flo kicked her under the table.
“Why yes, Stacie. She wouldn’t miss supporting Beca for anything.”
Amy heard a car pull into the parking lot and excused herself to greet the client. Dr. Richards told the rest of the techs to finish up and come in shortly. Beca stood to go back in with Chloe, who stopped her inside the door. “What’s up with Stacie asking about Aubrey?” Chloe whispered.
Beca told her that after karaoke, Stacie had tried to find out if Aubrey was seeing anyone. “I told her I’d never heard of Aubrey dating anyone but that her job kept her busy.”
“Interesting,” Chloe said before telling Beca that Stacie often shared her ‘hunting escapades’ while the staff were on breaks during the day. “I didn’t think she meant for me to hear about her nights out on the town, but maybe she did. Do you think I should warn Aubrey?”
Beca laughed and told Chloe that Aubrey could hold her own. “But I’m leaving that all up to you.”
Chapter 21: The L.A. Tour Begins
Chapter Text
After leaving the animal hospital, Beca had time to kill before meeting Mila and Kommissar for dinner. To save Chloe the hassle, she went to the pet store and found a kennel that would be perfect for Diogee. While there, she obviously had to get more toys for her new pet. She wandered the aisles, throwing random things into her basket.
Beca saw a machine at the end of the check-out counter and asked the clerk about it. He told her the machine engraved pet tags and motioned to the rack where she could pick out the tag. After paying for it, she could use the machine to engrave her pet’s name and contact information. Beca knew Diogee was micro-chipped but remembered Chloe telling her that wasn’t enough and that she needed a tag in addition to the rabies tag with the number to the Van Nuys clinic.
After going through all the tags, Beca found an adorable pink bone tag that would be perfect against Diogee’s mottled black and brown fur. Her collar and leash were already pink, which would be an ideal match. Beca somehow got great satisfaction in making a tag with “Diogee Mitchell” engraved on it. Other people may think her name was silly, but it suited the pit perfectly.
After hauling all of her new purchases home, Beca set up the dog kennel as best she could, knowing Chloe would find the perfect place for it and fill it with comfy pads and blankets. Beca quickly changed into one of Mila’s tour shirts and left to meet her artist at the restaurant.
Dinner went well since Kommissar decided to behave herself. Mila only had a few questions, mostly about tracking the receipts to submit for her expense report. Beca had her download an app the company used. Since she was covering dinner, they’d stop on the way to the venue to top off the van with fuel. “I’ll show you how to use the app to scan in the receipts. Then, after your weekend gigs on Monday, we can go through an expense report. I normally keep my receipts until then just in case one doesn’t scan correctly.”
Once the trio had finished eating, they filled the van and headed to the venue. The three women began schlepping equipment from the truck inside. As Mila was setting up, Beca returned to get the final merchandise box. As she turned around, she bumped firmly into Kommissar.
“Louisa…,” Beca complained. “Move.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk,” Kommissar. “Did Tiny Mouse forget our agreement?”
Beca shut the van door and propped the box on the bumper. “What do you want, Kommissar?”
“Did you, hmm, work things out with your girlfriend?” She crooned. “You seem less frustrated today.”
“Leave it alone, Kommissar.”
“I take it she did not know about us.” Kommissar stepped forward into Beca’s space and reached up to tuck a strand of brunette hair behind Beca’s ear. “Is that why you were such a grumpy bear the past few days?” Her voice was teasing, sing-songy. “I think you made up with her, and that’s why you are now in a good mood.”
“It’s none of your concern, and leave Chloe out of things. This,” she motioned to the space between them, “is business, strictly business. My personal life is no concern of yours.” Beca tried to make her voice as firm as possible despite her stomach quivering with nervousness. She hefted the box and pushed past the tall German.
Beca double-checked the equipment set up, then stepped back and let Mila and Kommissar do the soundcheck independently. Once everything checked out, all that was left to do was wait.
“Chloe and Aubrey are coming tonight along with Chloe’s boss and all her co-workers,” Beca told Mila. “They are all really excited to hear you sing live.” Beca also showed Kommissar the photo journaling website Chloe had set up. “Do you think you can do something like this besides everything else?”
Kommissar scanned Beca and her girlfriend's pages. “You’ve done well for yourself,” she said matter of factly. Beca braced herself for the sarcasm or teasing jab that never came. “I can do this. Easy.”
“Chloe said she wouldn’t mind walking you through the basics, too. Maybe after the weekend?” Kommissar was being so agreeable and kind. Knowing the woman’s past coupled with their short conversation outside, Beca had her guard up, waiting for her ex to throw a wrench into the plans she’d painstakingly put together for Mila.
The first show went off without a hitch. Beca had chosen a venue in Huntington Beach where Mila could play either indoors or outdoors, depending on the weather. While the 602 Pub did have specialty coffees, their claim to fame was over forty taps of draft beer. The five food trucks parked amongst the trees outside gave everyone something to eat. Chloe’s friends arrived early and walked around the food trucks to pick out food. Beca had reserved one of the larger picnic tables up front that was large enough for everyone she knew that was coming.
Aubrey was startled when Stacie took a seat and scooted close to her. “Oh, my apologies,” the tall, lithe brunette said. “I didn’t mean to bump you. Just making space for everyone.” The people who knew Stacie found humor in watching her. Chloe and Beca simply laughed as Aubrey mentally tried to figure out the situation.
“Like a leopard stalking her prey,” Amy whispered to Beca as they watched Stacie make her moves on Aubrey. “Rawr!” She made a clawing motion with her hand. Beca snorted, choking on her beer, which almost shot out of her nose.
There was a surprisingly large crowd for a Wednesday night, hopefully, due to the promotion by the studio’s interns. Mila played two sets, including all the songs on the LP plus many originals, as Beca promised. The audience reacted well to her music.
Afterward, Chloe’s coworkers hung back a bit to let the other people who’d come to the show make their purchases and get autographs and pictures. When they swarmed the merch table, they all began talking at once. Mila seemed almost overwhelmed until she saw Chloe.
“Hi, Mila. These are the girls who work at the animal hospital with me.” Chloe’s warm smile eased Mila’s concerns with the sudden crowd. “And that’s my boss over there.” She motioned to Maggie and her husband. “We’ve been listening to your music at the clinic for a few weeks! Everyone’s been excited about you starting your tour.”
Mila took the time to visit each tech, sign their CDs, and take pictures. Beca also got a group photo of everyone, including Dr. Richards. Kommissar watched the group curiously as the merch in the boxes they’d brought dwindled despite her reloading the merch table as fast as people bought things.
Beca slung her arm around Mila’s shoulder. “You were incredible! How’d did it feel?”
“America is different than Germany. All these people - here to listen to me.” Her voice was proud of the crowd who had heard her play. Mila stopped talking and glanced over Beca’s shoulder to the merch table.
Beca followed her gaze and saw Chloe talking to Kommissar. Chloe’s back was against one of the posts holding the outside tent. The German was tall enough to lean against her hand above Chloe’s head, definitely too close for a friendly conversation. Her gut tightened as she tried not to react. She turned her attention back to Mila and then slipped into speaking German lest any of Chloe’s coworkers be within earshot. “Kommissar told you about our past?”
“Beca, Luisa has been my friend for many years before she moved to America to be a model. Yes, I knew about the Beca she used to date in America. I didn’t know that you were her Beca until the airport.”
“I’m not her, Beca,” the brunette snorted. “I just wanted to make sure you knew our history. As long as she behaves, we won’t have a problem.” Mila promised to keep her friend in check.
Despite the artist’s words, Beca was still pulled to see what Chloe and Kommissar could be talking about for so long. As she approached them, she slid her arm around Chloe’s waist. “Hi, babe. Kommissar.”
Kommissar gave a sickeningly sweet smile. “Your girlfriend here was telling me about her place of employment.” Beca narrowed her eyes, trying to figure out Kommissar’s game.
“Maggie wants to take some merch and more tour flyers to the clinic. She said customers have been commenting on the music in the waiting room. She said Amy could make a cute display and sell some things.” Chloe flashed a smile at Beca. “Kommissar and Mila are going to drop a case of merch off tomorrow after Mila signs all the CDs.”
Kommissar smirked at Beca’s shocked look and said to Chloe, “I will see you tomorrow, yes?” She then went to help Mila continue to break down the equipment.
“Are you sure?” Beca asked Chloe. She was nervous about her ex's intentions and what she might do.
“It really wasn’t my idea,” she said. “It was Maggie’s. I offered to talk to Kommissar to see her reaction to me,” Chloe said coyly, then pecked Beca on the cheek. “She passed.” Chloe went to return to her group of colleagues.
Beca snagged her by the elbow, stopping her. “What do you mean, she passed?”
“I wanted to see if she had an ulterior motive, Becs. That’s all.” Chloe put her hands on Beca’s waist. “From what you told me about the past between you two, she seems quite manipulative.”
Beca allowed herself to be pulled closer. “Just don’t get sucked in, okay?”
The stress of Mila’s first gig was finally over. Once the loadout was finished and all their friends had left, Beca asked Chloe if she’d stay the night. The redhead draped her arms around Beca’s shoulders and pressed their foreheads together. “I just so happen to have some clothes in my car,” she giggled. “Plus, I need to check on my second favorite girl.”
When they arrived at the apartment, Diogee calmly sat in her kennel and watched the women approach her cage. Her tail began to thump slowly. “Hey, girl,” Chloe cooed as she knelt to unlatch the cage. The scrawny animal wriggled her body as she exited the kennel and leaned into Chloe’s body to reach the vet’s face with her tongue. “Oooh, nice kisses. Careful; your mom might get jealous,” she teased.
Not to be outdone for the dog’s affection lest she forget who her mama was, Beca picked up Diogee’s leash. “Want to go out? Hmm? Come on, let’s go for a walk.” The dog came rushing over, just as happy to see Beca as she was to see Chloe.
When Beca started planning the tour, she was mostly drawn to beachy venues. Mila played at places in Redondo, Hermosa, and Manhattan Beach before taking a three-day break. Despite Beca being at each gig, on the first day of their break, Mila and Kommissar met with her at Blossom Records on Monday to debrief.
They reviewed how to submit the weekly expense report and discussed what went well and what could be improved. Beca reviewed the second week’s schedule, which would take them to Venice Beach, two nights on Santa Monica Boulevard and two nights in West Hollywood. The van was replenished with merchandise.
“Enjoy the time off,” Beca said. “Don’t corrupt her too much,” she teased. Kommissar had stayed true to her word and been the ideal employee. Beca became increasingly more comfortable with the situation with her artist and ex-girlfriend.
Chloe and Beca didn’t see much of each other the rest of the first week. Chloe had taken Dogie with her to work on Thursday while Beca went to the office, and Beca had stopped by before the clinic closed to get her, promising to drop her off first thing Friday morning. Being under the watchful eyes of the entire Van Nuys Clinic staff allowed Dogie to show immediate signs of improvement in coat, weight, and even temperament.
While Beca was delighted that Chloe was talking to her again and they had seemingly worked out the issue that put a wedge between them, something still bothered her. She couldn’t quite figure it out. The couple didn’t see each other again until Saturday afternoon. Chloe suggested she make reservations for dinner before the show for just the two of them since they hadn’t had much alone time.
Despite always being delighted to spend time with Chloe, Beca did not invite her back to spend the time after Mila played. She was exhausted and only wanted to walk the dog and sleep.
During the first “weekend” for the duo, Kommissar took Mila to some traditional Los Angeles touristy places. While Mila was in California for recording, she did not get much tourist time. Of course, when she took her mini vacation to the East Coast, she did. But not so much while in Los Angeles.
Kommissar took her to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where they both posed for pictures of the stars memorializing many of their favorite American personalities. Mila plucked a brochure from the advertising rack in front of the Chinese Theatre. “Did you know there are over 2,500 stars?” Her eyes were wide with amazement. We’ll never see them all!”
The blonde chuckled at her friend’s innocence. “How about we map out the ones we want to see next time? I’m sure there’s a website for that.”
The pair also did many of the classic things a Los Angeles tourist would do, such as window shopping down the glorious Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills and stargazing at the Griffith Observatory. The downtime alone allowed both women to recharge for the next week’s schedule.
The second week of the tour went off without a hitch. Beca joined them on Wednesday at Venice Beach and the first night of the gig on Santa Monica Boulevard but left them to be on their own on Friday. She claimed she wanted to see how they did without her, which was partially true. Although Larry told her she could focus all her time on Mila, Beca was itching to start another project. So she was spending time at the office while Mila and Kommissar had off days and during the day when they had gigs. Beca was burning both ends of the candle.
Since Saturday was typically Beca’s day with Chloe, she suggested Mila and Kommissar join her and Beca for a late brunch. This would have been the first time Chloe spent time with Beca’s ex outside a club or coffee shop. Beca made reservations at one of her favorite spots, The Butcher, The Baker, The Cappuccino Maker. She was excited to share this place with Chloe as she’d never taken the redhead there.
When Chloe arrived, the other three of their party were already seated. A large pitcher of mimosas was on the table, and the poured glasses were almost empty. The trio were laughing, apparently at something Kommissar had just said.
“... then Beca glared at the server who backpedaled so quickly he nearly ran into the table behind him.” Kommissar stood when she saw Chloe. “Welcome, welcome! Have a seat.” She poured Chloe a glass of the morning cocktail and sat back down.
Chloe sat next to Beca and reached for her flute of orange juice as she leaned over to kiss Beca on the cheek. “Sounds like I missed a good joke,” she said, a twinge of cynicism in her voice.
“Mmm,” Kommissar said as she snagged a mini-muffin from the complimentary bread basket on the table. She pushed the basket towards Chloe. “I was just sharing a story about your lovely girlfriend and a waiter who made a joke about her small stature.”
Beca tried to act offended until she burst out laughing. “That was a long time ago.”
The server came, and both Beca and Kommissar gave their orders without looking at the menu. Chloe tilted her head sideways and looked at her girlfriend curiously. “What?” She said, popping a piece of muffin into her mouth. “It’s my favorite brunch spot. I used to try to come here once a month.”
“It was our special treat,” Kommissar laughed. Back when we were young and broke. Anyway, enough about old times.” The taller German asked Chloe about her week and expressed interest in her daily routine and the surgeries she performed.
Chloe answered questions posed to her but didn’t seem to be her usual chipper self. As their food came and they began to eat, conversation waned. Since Mila had a gig that evening, so the group only shared two pitchers of mimosas, which was probably enough.
Soon enough, the brunch was finished, and each pair of women went on their way. Beca had caught an Uber so she could catch a ride with Chloe. She climbed into Chloe’s car and looked over to her girlfriend. “What in the world was that, Chloe?”
The redhead dipped her chin and turned her head sideways. “Seriously? You brought me to you and your ex’s favorite brunch spot with your ex and expect me to be okay with that?”
Beca took a deep breath in and slowly exhaled. She could feel herself clenching and releasing her hands. “Chloe, how often do I have to tell you that Louisa and I are over? What’s in the past stays there. I wanted to eat here today because it’s got a damned good brunch. If I avoid all the places I went to with my ex, that cuts out all the awesome restaurants. What is it with you?”
“I just don’t know why you have to spend so much time with her,” Chloe said with a huff. She crossed her arms, not moving to start the engine to begin the drive home.
“Quit acting so jealous,” Beca said through gritted teeth. “The last time we went through this, we didn’t talk for several days. That about killed me, Chloe. You have to lighten up.”
Chloe arched her eyebrows. “Lighten up? Well, pardon me,” she said in a snarky tone. “I can’t help that I don’t like you spending so much time with someone you used to date.”
“It’s my job,” Beca retorted. “You know what? I don’t need this. I forgave you last time because I was convinced I was wrong in not revealing my past relationships. But this passive aggressiveness doesn’t suit you, Chlo.” She put her hand on the door handle. “I’m going to catch an Uber home. I thought we had sorted through things, but maybe we have a lot more talking to do.”
“Be…” Chloe was stopped by Beca slamming the car door
Beca stomped off to lean against the corner of the building, then pulled out her phone to order a car. Chloe inched the car up and waved to get Beca’s attention. Her girlfriend just turned her back and ignored all Chloe’s attempts. Tears flowed down Chloe’s face. Maybe this time, she had taken things too far.
Chapter 22: Making Up For Good?
Chapter Text
Beca walked around the restaurant's corner with her phone in her hand, chin dipped down as she ordered an Uber. Chloe pulled up beside her window and yelled at her girlfriend through the open window. “Come on, please, Beca. Can we talk about this? Beca turned around again and walked back around the corner so that Chloe could not follow and was forced to continue down the street.
Upset and frustrated, Chloe pulled over to call Aubrey in the first parking lot she could find. She explained what had just transpired. “What did I do wrong, Aubrey? What happened?”
Aubrey almost laughed at the naivety of her best friend. “Sounds like you were being a borderline asshole, Chloe. I know how you get when you’re jealous.”
“Jealous?” Chloe was shocked and almost offended.
“Look, you wanted my opinion, so here’s me giving it to you. Beca is only doing her job, and it’s not her fault that the job happens to include Kommissar. I haven’t seen anything that leads me to believe that Beca is being anything other than professional.”
Chloe considered Aubrey’s words. “But we went to their favorite place for brunch.”
Aubrey groaned. “Beca has lived here a while, Chloe. Kommissar moved back to Germany. So that place is probably still Beca’s favorite place. Beca only has eyes for you, Chloe. I think she’s done everything possible to show you how she feels for you. Sorry, pal. But I have to side with Beca on this one. You were in the wrong.”
After talking a little more, the two friends disconnected the call. Chloe had calmed down and realized that Aubrey was right. She decided to go to Beca’s apartment to apologize for her behavior. Beca had given her a key as a show of faith that Chloe was welcome at Beca’s home anytime, so Chloe had no qualms about heading over there without calling first.
When Chloe arrived, Beca wasn’t yet home. Diogee was wiggling in her crate, waiting to be let out. Chloe grabbed a leash and wrangled the scrawny pit bull outside for a short walk. She saw the dog often when Beca would bring her by the clinic during the week to stay until Diogee had gained enough weight to be spayed. Chloe was pleased to see how well Beca’s dog was doing and would probably perform the procedure the following week.
When they returned, Beca was still not home. Chloe fed Diogee her evening meal and wasn’t quite sure what to do with herself. She’d never been in Beca’s apartment alone, and although her girlfriend had given her a key, Chloe wasn’t quite comfortable being there without Beca.
Suddenly she heard a key in the door and braced herself for Beca to come through the door. She’d been running through what she would say to Beca since she got off the phone with Aubrey, but none seemed quite good enough. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach, battling her morning’s breakfast for space. Imagine her surprise when the door swung open.
“Stacie?”
“Dr. Beale?”
“Please. Call me Chloe. What are you doing here, Stacie?”
The taller brunette was quite confused. “I could ask the same of you.”
“Where’s Beca?” Chloe asked.
“Her office,” replied Stacie. “She called to see if I would come and walk the dog, so I had to pick up a key.” Stacie held up the key as if Chloe wouldn’t believe she had one despite just using it to enter the apartment.
“Do you know when she’ll be coming home?” Chloe felt silly asking the vet tech questions about her own girlfriend. Chloe should know the answers.
“I think she was going to stay at the studio until she left for Mila’s gig tonight. Apparently, it’s an important one– at a larger venue and the first in West Hollywood.” Chloe looked confused. “It’s at a gay club?” Stacie arched her eyebrows.
“Ohhh.” Realization hit Chloe.
“If she were planning on coming here first, she wouldn’t have needed me to walk Dogee.” Stacie tilted her head sideways. “Wait. Did something happen between you two? I’m confused why she asked me to come walk the dog when you’re already here.”
Chloe shrugged and told Stacie that Diogee had already been walked and fed. “I’m going to hang out with her a little longer. But thanks for coming by. Are you going to see Mila tonight?”
Stacie grinned and said, “Sure am. The hunter is feeling like chasing women tonight.”
Chloe laughed at the open promiscuity Stacie displayed. Nothing seemed to bother her, and she had fun everywhere she went.
After Stacie left, Chloe still wasn’t sure whether her girlfriend could be coming back to the apartment. So she stayed and played with Diogee for a while. She considered whether her showing up at the club would be a good idea. She finally decided that supporting Beca’s artist would always be good and that she should go.
Once Diogee was settled in her kennel for the evening, Chloe returned home to prepare for hers. When she walked in, Aubrey immediately asked her if she’d been able to make things right with Beca.
“She never came home and even sent Stacie to care for Diogee so she could stay at the studio until Mila’s gig tonight.” Chloe shrugged. “I guess I’ll just try to talk to her tonight at the club.”
“Have you considered that words might not be enough, Chloe? Maybe it’s time to let your actions speak for you. Remember all the romantic things you did for each other while driving home from Georgia? I mean, tonight might be the right time for gestures like that. But you have to show her you mean what you say.”
Chloe thought for a few moments. “I may have an idea. How would you feel about going out in West Hollywood with me tonight?”
“Live music with my best friend? Count me in!”
After Beca ordered her Uber, she returned to the office rather than home. Nothing was there but Diogee, and she feared her dog might sense her foul mood and react adversely. She called Stacie and asked her if she would go by and walk and feed the pup. “I’m almost at my office. You can swing by and pick up a spare key. Thanks a lot, Stace. I appreciate it.”
Once the vet tech had picked up the key, Beca settled a pair of oversized headphones over her ears and began working on some production work on the smaller set of equipment the studio had installed in her office. Several hours later, her phone began to buzz incessantly. Beca looked at the time and freaked out. “Shit, shit, shit, shit!”
She had completely lost track of time and was late for Mila’s gig. Beca had wanted to be early for the load-in because tonight was important. The venue in West Hollywood was a key venue. As one of the larger clubs, the set-up would be more complex. Louisa and Mila would need more help than usual. Beca quickly changed into club clothes she kept at the office and sped towards the club.
Parking was unavailable in the back of the club, where deliveries and load-ins were done, so Beca had to park in the patron parking lot. Imagine her surprise when she rushed in and saw that many hands were helping. Mila and Louisa were working as expected, along with Chloe and even Aubrey.
“What’s going on?” Beca asked nobody in particular.
Chloe went to answer her, and Beca raised her hand to stop her. “Chlo, I’m not sure if I’m ready to hear what you have to say right now.”
The redhead’s shoulders slumped. “I suppose that’s fair, but please.”
“I need to get things set up here,” Beca said through gritted teeth.
Chloe waved her hand over the others working. “Just a few minutes? That’s all I’m asking. Then I’ll leave you alone.” Beca sighed and crossed her arms but didn’t move away, which Chloe took as a good sign. “First, I’ve already apologized to Mila and Louisa for how I acted today at brunch. I want to say I’m sorry to you as well. My actions were unacceptable. I realize I was acting like a child, and I’ll try not to do that again.”
She paused for a moment to ensure Beca was still listening. “I understand that this is your job.” She motioned to the club and the set-up being done around them. “Everything is quite important, and I’m truly sorry for making it about me.” Chloe reached forward and pulled Beca’s hands toward her. “I know the L.A. area part of the tour will be over soon, and the girls will be on the road. What would you think about maybe us wiping the slate clean? Get out of town a few days, even if it’s a staycation in a hotel on the beach, so we can have some time to talk?”
“Fuck, Chloe.” Beca’s eyes furrowed in anger. “See, that’s just the problem. Everything is okay when it’s just you and me. But bring Kommissar into the picture and…” Beca made an explosion noise and a hand gesture like a bomb blowing up. “My ex is a part of my business venture. That’s when things go wrong between us. I can’t handle you flip-flopping back and forth whenever we get together with her.”
Beca pulled her hands away and stepped back just a tad. “I need everything to be together when she’s around, too. You’ve got to stop reacting the way you do.”
Ashamed, Chloe’s eyes dropped to the floor as she fought back tears. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am for how I’ve acted. Not only today at brunch but also when I learned who Kommissar was and didn’t talk to you for days. I’m not sure how I can prove myself to you, but I’ll do everything in my power to do that. I know I’ve been wrong.” She told Beca she’d gone to her apartment after leaving the restaurant to apologize.
“Yeah, I sent Stacie to walk Diogee because I wasn’t going home before coming here.”
Chloe looked up at Beca and wiped away a few errant tears. “I’ve already apologized to Kommissar and Mila. All I can do is try to show you that I won’t behave like that again, starting with why I showed up early tonight to help with the load-in. And thank goodness Aubrey and I did because,” she playfully pushed Beca in the chest, “somebody was late.
Beca grinned. “Yeah, well, I had other things on my mind and got absorbed in my music. Thanks for coming to help. Drinks for you and Aubrey are on me tonight.”
Chloe tried holding Beca’s hands again. “I know nothing is going on between the two of you, Beca. I guess I don’t have much experience with relationships and wasn’t sure how to handle the emotions that cropped up when I saw the two of you together. I promise that I’ll do a lot better.”
Once everything was set up and the soundcheck was over, the five women found a seat in a half-circle booth with a good view of the stage. The club would open with a DJ spinning dance songs before Mila’s first set. Another artist would sing after Mila’s first set. Then, the DJ would pick up when Mila finished her second.
Beca explained that the club owner was trying to create a space where people could come to have fun, dance, and mingle while still supporting up-and-coming musicians. “We’re lucky we could book this place on a Saturday. You’ll get a lot of exposure here, Mila.”
The producer excused herself to get the table some drinks. When she returned with water for Mila and Kommissar and a drink for herself, Chloe, and Aubrey – Chloe and Aubrey were doubled over laughing. Mila slapped Kommissar on the arm.
“Ouch!” The German blonde exclaimed. Beca looked around the table, confused.
“You should not tell stories about Beca.”
Chloe laughed again. “No, no, you should tell stories about Beca.” She motioned for the German blonde to continue.
“Louisa…” Beca warned.
“Oh, Tiny Mouse,” Kommissar replied. “I only told them of your first time in a gay club. I believe it was right around the corner from here. Remember? You were a mere twenty years old and so delighted when you could sneak in with your fake ID.”
“And then they confiscated my fake ID after paying the ten bucks cover.” Beca seemed as disgusted as she was when she was a minor.
Chloe looked at Beca. “What,” Beca asked. “I was practically legal. I turned twenty-one the next month.”
“What other adorkable things did she do,” Chloe asked.
Kommissar laughed. “Oh no, that’s two of my stories. How about you share about school-age Beca?”
As Kommissar and Mila got up to prepare for Mila’s first set, Stacie came into the club. Aubrey nudged Chloe. “Isn’t that the tech who works at your clinic? Stacie?”
“Oh, yes!” Chloe stood behind the table and waved the tall brunette over. She pushed at Beca a little. “One more round for the table, please? And for Stacie?”
“I’m not talking to you,” Beca playfully grumbled as she climbed out of the booth.
As Beca left, Stacie arrived and slid into the booth next to Aubrey. “Aubrey, you remember Stacie, right?”
Stacie offered her hand. When Aubrey went to shake, Stacie gently lifted it to her lips and kissed Aubrey’s hand. “I certainly remember you,” Stacie crooned.
Aubrey’s mouth dropped open as she was caught off guard. “I…”
“Stacie!” Chloe chided. The tech grinned and scooted away from Aubrey just a smidgen. “Ignore her, Aubrey. She’s a big flirt to anything on two legs.”
Stacie gasped with her hand on her chest. “Dr. Beale. I’m wounded. The hunter has quite particular tastes.”
Aubrey turned to Chloe and mouthed the hunter. Chloe shook her head.
“Anyway, Stacie, I’m glad you made it.”
Beca returned with the second round of drinks for Aubrey and Chloe and the first for Stacie. She slid in next to Chloe and placed her hand on Chloe’s thigh. After leaning over to kiss Chloe’s cheek, she whispered, “Thanks, Chloe.”
The redhead looked at her coyly and replied, “I don’t know what you are talking about.
Mila’s first set went over well with the audience. While the second act performed, Beca’s artist signed CDs and postcards at the merch table, where Kommissar was furiously working to keep up.
“Do we need to help,” asked Chloe as she watched the flurry of activity.
Beca told her that Kommissar would ask for help if she needed it. As Chloe mentioned, they were about to be on the road alone. This was their final test to see how things would go. As their largest venue of the entire tour, Beca needed to know how they’d do with just two of them working.
Chloe turned to speak to her roommate and found Aubrey completely engrossed in something Stacie was saying. The redhead chuckled and nudged Beca to watch the blonde and brunette on the other side of the booth.
“They’d make a good couple,” Beca said. “I like Stacie.”
“If Stacie were a one-person type of person, I’d agree with you. But I get the feeling from stories at work that she’s not quite wired that way.”
Beca laughed. “If Aubrey is still anything like the Aubrey I remember, then if she decides she’s interested in the fairer gender – she’ll whip Stacie into shape in no time.”
After Mila’s second set, the DJ began to spin again as the tables were removed from the dance floor. Beca and Chloe started helping Mila and Kommissar break down the equipment and load-out into the van in the back alley.
Chloe looked around for her roommate, but Aubrey was nowhere to be found. She didn’t think anything about it until the equipment was loaded and everyone was ready to leave. “Aubrey’s my ride home, but I don’t see her.” Chloe stood on her toes and peered over the crowd as if the few inches would help much.
She pulled her phone out to call her roommate, saw the message on the screen and laughed as she showed it to Beca.
[To Chloe: Dropped the key fob in your purse. Don’t wait up]
Chapter 23: Palm Springs
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Beca was riding the high of a successful gig for Mila. So, after the couple shared a few drinks with her artist and Kommissar, she asked Chloe if she wanted to come to her apartment. “If you think Aubrey needs her car or something, I can follow you to your place so you can drop it off.” She chuckled, thinking about what Aubrey might be doing at that moment.
They agreed that would probably be the best course of action, so after saying their goodbyes to the musician, Chloe got in Aubrey’s car and headed home. Beca parked in the back by Chloe’s private entrance while the redhead went in to grab some things she needed. She and Beca discussed leaving a few things at Beca’s for those spontaneous times she decided to stay. So Chloe grabbed some casual clothes, scrubs and pajamas to leave at Beca’s. She also grabbed some extra toiletries.
“Got everything you need,” Beca asked as Chloe climbed into the passenger seat of her Jeep.
“Yup,” Chloe replied, tossing the bag into the back. “I wanted to bring a few extra things for those impromptu stayovers,” she playfully said.
Beca woke the following morning and stretched her arm behind her, feeling for the warm body usually wrapped around her. Her heart dropped a bit when she felt an empty bed, cold sheets indicating her girlfriend had been up for a while. Then… she smelled the odors of coffee and bacon wafting into the bedroom.
She got up, splashed water on her face, and padded into the kitchen. Beca’s heart grew two sizes as she watched Chloe wearing one of Beca’s oversized t-shirts. The redhead was at the stove, dancing, waving a spatula around as she tended to a pan on the stovetop. A full pot of coffee was brewed, and a plate of bacon sat on the side, waiting to be eaten. A glance into the living room showed Beca’s dog lying peacefully on one of her many beds.
Beca slipped behind Chloe and wrapped her arms around her girlfriend, startling the redhead slightly. “Good morning. I hope I didn’t wake you,” Chloe said as she turned her head for a kiss. “Diogee has already had breakfast.”
The two idly chatted while Beca poured two coffees, set the table, and got out the rest of the food for breakfast. Soon, they were sitting down to eat. Chloe asked how Beca felt the evening before went.
“The audience seemed to love her. After tomorrow night, Kommissar and I can go through the sales numbers and social media to see. While that audience may seem niche to some, the GLBTQ community can be quite loyal to an artist.” Beca explained that Mila had another night at a different place in West Hollywood; the next week, she’d be at a coffee shop in Palm Springs. “Then, in weeks four and five, she’ll be on the road, ending up in San Francisco.”
“I’m glad this seems to be going well,” Chloe sincerely said. Her face became somber, and she folded her hands in her lap as if in deep thought. She took a breath to steady her nerves before speaking again. “I wanted you to know that my apology yesterday was sincere. I never meant to cause any problems with Kommissar.” Beca tried to stop her from talking, but Chloe continued.
“This is your dream job, and my personal feelings should have never interfered with anything. I promise to work on my reactions and my attitude.” When she looked up at Beca, the producer was quiet and watching her carefully. “Say something?”
Beca could tell Chloe was quite anxious and distraught about the situation. Their relationship would never move forward if they continued like this. Finally, she reached over and pulled Chloe’s hand from her lap to firmly grasp it. “I think we’ve rehashed this enough, Chlo. Let’s move forward from here. As long as we promise to be fair and honest with each other, there's no reason to keep living in the past.”
Beca took Chloe home late Sunday afternoon so she could get ready for the week. Aubrey didn’t make it home until a few hours later. Chloe had popped an enormous bowl of popcorn and was sitting in the living room watching a movie when she heard the door open. She glanced over to see if her friend was coming in alone.
“Have fun?” Chloe said in her normal chipper voice. She turned to be able to see Aubrey’s reaction. Her friend couldn’t look at her. “Walk of shame, eh? Well, as long as you had a good time.”
Aubrey fell into one of the oversized chairs beside the couch where Chloe sat. “I’m exhausted.”
Having just sipped tea, Chloe spit the drink out as some flew out of her nose. “That good, eh?”
Aubrey cut her eyes sideways. “Don’t be crude, Chloe. Did you know Stacie liked me?”
Chloe refrained from telling her that Stacie liked anyone who showed her attention but let her know that Stacie had asked about her a time or two.
“And you failed to mention this to me, why?”
Chloe shrugged. “Let’s just say Stacie can be…”
“Stacie can be what, Chloe. Tell me.” Aubrey’s impatience was showing.
Chloe explained that while she didn’t know the vet tech well, others who worked at the clinic had shared some stories with her.
“So what you are telling me is that if I want to see Stacie, I need to keep her on a short leash?”
“Something like that,” Chloe laughed. “I should have warned you. I guess I never thought she’d convince you to go home with her.”
Aubrey stood. “I’m an adult, Chloe. I can hold my own. But now that I’ve been forewarned, I can keep her in line.” She chuckled as she went to shower and change into clean clothes.
The second gig in West Hollywood on Sunday was a success as well. When Beca met with Kommissar on Monday, there was a definite uptick in numbers from the previous Saturday and Sunday. “Things look promising, Louisa. I can’t thank you enough for helping Mila.”
“You are welcome, Tiny Mouse.” The German blonde chuckled. Surely, by now, Beca had figured out that each time she called Kommissar by her given name, she’d call Beca by her hated nickname. “Besides, you are paying me. I must do good to keep my job, yes?”
Next week, gigs were scheduled in North Hollywood and Riverside. The pair would then be on the road to Palm Springs and Riverside. The trio loaded the van with as much material as they could because they could not return to the studio to replenish supplies.
“If you think you may run out of merch, let me know in San Luis Obispo. I can send an intern with more cases.” Beca explained that she would probably come to the show in Palm Springs, but after that, they’d be on their own.
Each morning that Chloe didn’t stay with her, Beca took Diogee to the clinic. Dr. Richards met Beca in the waiting room on Wednesday when she picked her up. “Beca! I was hoping to catch you.”
“Maggie,” she greeted the clinic owner. Motioning to the display of Mila’s merch set up in the lobby, she said, “Thank you again for supporting my artist. It means a lot.”
Dr. Richards told her she was always a fan of the arts, particularly music. “Anyway, I’m not sure if Chloe told you, but Diogee is doing quite well. She’s gained a great deal of weight, and I’m feeling much more comfortable with putting her under anesthesia to spay her.” She asked Beca what she thought about perhaps having the dog fixed the following morning.
Beca explained that her artist was still touring in the Los Angeles area and asked if they could postpone the surgery to next week. When Dr. Richards said that wasn’t a problem, they scheduled Diogee’s surgery for Tuesday.
On Thursday, Beca went over to Chloe and Aubrey’s for dinner. Beca hadn’t seen Aubrey since Saturday night when she had gone home with Stacie. Chloe made Beca promise not to tease Aubrey since their friend was finding her way through this new adventure of hers.
Chloe had made a lobster risotto paired with a pear and arugula salad. The conversation among the three was comfortable. Aubrey asked what was next for Mila, and Beca repeated what she’d already told Chloe. “Kommissar has done a good job. I’m not worried about Mila going on the road. So tell me,” Beca looked at Aubrey and grinned. “What’s with you and Stacie?”
“Beca!” Chloe kicked her under the table.
“What?” Beca waved her fork in the air. “I’m just curious if you two are talking if you plan on seeing her again, you know…”
“It’s okay, Chlo. I don’t mind her asking. We’ve been texting here and there. We haven’t made plans to go out yet. But it’s something I wouldn’t be opposed to.”
“How do you feel about Palm Springs,” Beca asked.
Aubrey chuckled. “That just came out of nowhere. I like it enough.”
“Mila plays a gig in a coffee shop there tomorrow evening. She goes on at nine. I’m going and wanted to see if you and Chloe wanted to go. And of course, if you are going, you might as well ask Stacie. It’s only about a two-hour trip, depending on traffic and when we leave.”
“Sounds like fun,” Aubrey said.
Chloe clapped excitedly. “I can ask Stacie tomorrow at work,” she said.
“No, let me,” Aubrey said.
On Friday at the Van Nuys Animal Clinic, Chloe kept waiting for Stacie to say something. She was anxious to find out if the vet tech had agreed to go to Palm Springs with Aubrey on what amounted to a road trip double date with her and Beca.
Mid-morning, Chloe was taking a short break outside when Stacie came out and sat on the picnic table next to her. “Hey,” Chloe said, waiting for Stacie to talk first.
“Can I talk to you about something?” Stacie seemed nervous.
“Of course.”
“Aubrey… is she interested in me?” Stacie’s question was tentative. “I mean, she asked me to go to Palm Springs with you guys today. Do you really think she wants me to go, or was she just being nice?”
Chloe had never seen the tech act so cautious before. “Relax, Stacie. Aubrey doesn’t do anything that Aubrey doesn’t want to do. And yes, she’s interested in you. So don’t fuck it up.”
Stacie gave a nervous laugh. “Umm, okay.”
“So, are you going to see Mila play with us tonight?”
Stacie said she would. “Then you need to text Aubrey and let her know as soon as possible because she’s probably as nervous as you.” Chloe jumped off the table. “Oh, and bring flowers. Tulips are her favorite.”
Beca arrived at Aubrey’s about the same time her girlfriend got home. Chloe took a quick shower and changed into casual clothes that would also be comfortable for the drive. Aubrey had taken the afternoon off and was also in her room changing.
Chloe asked Beca to answer the door when the bell rang. The music producer chuckled when she found Stacie standing nervously on the doormat with a bouquet of pink tulips. “Dude, come in. How about I get us a beer before you pass out?”
Stacie laughed nervously and climbed onto a kitchen bar stool. Beca grabbed two beers from the refrigerator and handed one to the vet tech. She then opened Aubrey’s cabinets until she found a vase for the tulips. She managed to talk to Stacie for a bit, calming her nerves.
“Oh,” a voice came from behind them. “Those are gorgeous, Beca. Chloe will love them.” Aubrey came in, admiring the tulips. Beca arched her eyebrows at Stacie, who gulped.
“Umm, they aren’t for Chloe.” She pushed the vase toward Aubrey. “I brought these for you. Chloe said you liked tulips.”
An indescribable look crossed Aubrey’s face, followed by a large smile. She rearranged a few of the flowers and looked at Stacie. “They are. Thank you.” Aubre rewarded Stacie with a small kiss on her cheek. She motioned to the beer in Beca’s hand. “I see I’m driving.”
Beca laughed. “You would have driven even if I didn’t have this beer. I’m willing to drive on the way back, though. If I can drive your precious Audi,” she teased.
Before long, the foursome was on the interstate headed east to Palm Springs. The traffic was thick until they hit the desert, and then it was smooth sailing. At first, the four of them talked amongst each other, but as the traffic eased up, Beca and Chloe started to converse just amongst themselves, letting Stacie and Aubrey visit.
When the women arrived at the coffee shop, Mila and Kommissar had already finished the load-in, and Mila was about to start her first set. Beca was glad she'd booked this venue because they’d be driving back to L.A. that night. Watching a two-hour show drinking coffee would put them in a much better place than drinking alcohol.
The crowd in Palm Springs seemed to react the same as the others and loved Mila’s music. People swarmed the merch table when she took her first break to rest and sign autographs. Beca was delighted to see how well everything was going.
She caught a glimpse of a blonde-haired woman in a black button-down shirt and faded jeans engrossed in conversation with Kommissar. Beca could tell that Kommissar was trying to keep up with the line while being polite to this woman. Kommissar then pointed directly to Beca’s table, and the woman began walking towards the group.
“Beca Mitchell?” Beca nodded. The woman extended her hand. “Mariah Hanson, do you mind if I sit?” She grabbed a chair from a nearby table, and the other three women moved their chairs to make room for a fifth. “Are you Mila’s agent?”
“Well, kind of,” Beca said. She explained that she was actually Mila’s producer but had organized this tour as a grassroots way to release her album.
“Have you heard of Club Skirts - The Dinah?”
“Yeah,” Beca said. “That big lesbian party here in Palm Springs the time as the Dinah Shore golf tournament.”
“Kind of. The golf tournament has moved to Texas. But yes, Club Skirts is the lesbian version of Coachella. I’m the organizer.” Mirah explained that while she didn’t handle the day to day organization anymore, she was still responsible for finding the musical talents. “We’ve had headliners of the likes of Meghan Trainor, Christina Perry, Cece Penniston, Fletcher… some of the women were booked here before they made it big. Like Meghan Trainor, who blew up the charts right after I signed her.”
“Ohhhkay,” Beca was listening. “I think I’ve heard of you. You have an ear for finding new talent before they hit it big mainstream.”
“Without sounding too conceited, yes. That, and I’ve developed a lot of connections over the years. Anyway, back to Mila. She’s good. Like really good. Where’d you find her?”
Beca laughed. “Germany. Funny thing, my boss sent me over there to find a new sound, the next big thing. And I brought him Mila.”
“Impressive. Here’s my problem. Club Skirts is coming up next month. One of my pool party musicians broke her leg. She’s not going to be able to make it. Normally, we stick to dance, pop, and music that gets people moving. So they drink and have fun. But I like Mila’s sound. If her schedule is free… I have a second pool, which is the ‘quieter’ stage. I think I can shuffle some acts around.”
Mariah explained she’d need to play two sets for two pool parties days and do one round of meet and greet each day. “I’m telling you, Beca. The exposure would be amazing for her. What do you say?”
Beca couldn’t respond. She just stared at the organizer, overwhelmed with the information she’d just been given. There was no way she could make an instant commitment based on the word of a woman who she’d just met. But she’d also heard of Club Skirts before and knew its reputation. Beca pulled out her phone and tapped open her calendar.
“Mila heads north tomorrow and has gigs scheduled for the next two weeks, ending in San Francisco. When does Club Skirts start again?” When Mariah told her the dates, Beca did a few calculations in her head. “I obviously can’t commit to something without seeing the paperwork, but let’s exchange cards. Send me the arrangement details and I’ll decide after running things past my boss.” She pulled a card out of her purse and gave it to Mariah.
Mariah slid her own card over to Beca. “You won’t regret this, Beca. I promise.” The organizer stood and went back to her group.
Beca turned to find three sets of eyes staring at her. “What was that, babe?” Chloe moved her chair back to beside Beca’s.
“I think that was Mila scoring a slot at the biggest lesbian circuit party on the West Coast.”
Notes:
Fun fact: it just dawned on me that A. Camp lives in Palm Springs. 😂😂
Chapter 24: Stacie's Story
Chapter Text
After the merchandise line died down after Mila’s second set, Beca and her friends said goodbye to Mila and Kommissar. Mila did not have a gig on Sunday because the drive to Santa Barbara was a bit longer. Beca had allotted an extra day in Santa Barbara for them to rest, a short travel day, then the other day of their ‘weekend’ in Santa Barbara before their next part of the Pacific Coast Highway tour began.
Since Aubrey had driven to Palm Springs, Beca insisted on driving home. “Chloe and I can switch out if that makes you feel better. But it’s only fair.” After a quick stop for refreshments, the four women climbed into the car for the two-hour drive back to Los Angeles.
Aubrey and Stacie were engrossed in their own conversation, soon forgetting about their friends in the front seat. Chloe was chattering away about the crowd at Mila’s gig. Beca tipped her head toward the back. “I don’t think they’re listening,” she said softly.
Chloe looked indiscreetly at the back, pleased with what she saw. “I think Aubrey and Stacie are getting along splendidly.” She reached over and pulled Beca’s hand into her lap, gently squeezing it. “Seems like things are working out with Mila, hmm?”
“Looks that way. And those two.” Beca motioned towards the front seat, where Aubrey was telling Stacie about growing up as an Army brat and Stacie's decision to drop out of college and return home to care for her ailing parents. “I didn’t know Stacie dropped out of college.”
Chloe nodded as she dropped her voice. “Stacie is brilliant, Beca. Apparently, her end goal was to earn an MD and PhD studying new technologies to deliver RNA and protein therapies directly to body cells. Above my head. Pretty wild and amazing stuff. But her story isn’t mine to tell you.”
Beca nodded her head as if she understood everything Chloe just said. “As long as she doesn’t hurt Aubrey, I’m cool.”
“Oh, look at you,” Chloe teased. “Looking out for Aubrey now.”
“Hush it.” Beca rolled her eyes.
Aubrey and Stacie were too involved in their conversation to notice the glances they kept getting from Beca in the rearview mirror.
“Believe it or not, I was on a full-ride scholarship to M.I.T. I was almost done with my undergraduate coursework in biotechnology engineering when I got the call.”
“Stacie, it’s your father.” Stacie was struggling between worrying about her father and why her neighbor was calling and not her mother. “He fell. Doctors think he had a stroke. I think you need to come home.”
After a few questions about her dad, she asked, “Where’s my mom?”
“Just come home, Stacie.”
“When I got to Los Angeles, my father had been admitted to Cedars-Sinai. He had fractured a vertebra in the fall and lost control of the left side of his body due to the stroke. He’s left-handed, so I’m sure you can see the battle we were facing.”
“Oh, Stacie,” Aubrey said as she gripped the brunette’s hand.
“I went to the hospital straight from the airport. He was still able to communicate when I arrived. Dad kept apologizing for not having called me. Of course, I was confused until I went home to drop off my bags."
“Mom, I’m home,” Stacie called out as she dropped her bags at the door.
A strange woman came into the front room. “You’re mother’s sleeping. Let me call Linda from next door. She can explain.”
The neighbor quickly arrived and had Stacie sit in the dining room. “Your mother’s been having memory issues. I’m afraid she’s developed Alzheimer’s.”
“Why didn’t my dad call me? He didn’t have to handle this on his own. I could have come home.”
Her neighbor told her that’s why her father kept it from her. “Your dad wanted you to live your dream. He wanted you to stay in school. He was doing fine caring for your mother with home health care assistance.”
“How bad is she?”
“As with any Alzheimer’s patient, her memory comes and goes - sometimes in the same conversation. Your dad was doing an excellent job.” Stacie’s neighbor explained that with her father being hospitalized, Stacie needed to make decisions for both her parents.
“M.I.T. granted me a leave of absence while I sorted things out here. I was able to sort out the legal paperwork. My father gave me powers of attorney for everything, including those he held for Mom. Luckily, he’d already done most of the heavy lifting.”
“No matter what we did, my dad got worse. Somehow, he contracted Covid which didn’t help. He had a large open sore on his back which needed surgical intervention, but he was too weak to make it through the surgery. He wasn’t getting better. Finally, I decided to put him in hospice so he could at least be comfortable.”
“I was running back and forth from home taking care of my mom and the hospice unit to visit my dad. When he left us, I felt guilty to be relieved that he was no longer in pain. I wasn’t sure if I had done the right thing despite everyone assuring me I did.”
“Stacie, from what you’ve told me, there was no better decision you could have made. You are a kind soul.”
Stacie shrugged her shoulders. “I knew I couldn’t go back to Cambridge. I dropped out of college and moved back here to care for my mom. I wanted her to stay in familiar surroundings as long as possible. With my dad’s life insurance and Medicaid, I hired nurses to help almost full-time. I worked with her every day, too.”
“So, how did you end up working as a vet tech?”
“As my mother’s condition progressed, there was only so much I could do. I knew I had to get a job doing something since the money wouldn’t last forever. While I was aiming for an MD at M.I.T., I think I had all the caring-for-people I could stand. But the medical field is still something I’m interested in. I started an accelerated vet tech program that accepted many pre-med classes I had completed at M.I.T. Working with animals is so much easier.”
Aubrey leaned over and brushed the hair out of Stacie’s face. “You are a wonderful daughter, Stacie Conrad. Brave and strong. Don’t ever think differently.” She pressed her lips against Stacie’s cheek. “I’m honored you chose to share this with me.” Aubrey thought for a moment. “Wait? Are you still caring for your mother at home?”
Stacie sheepishly nodded. “Last night, we were in the ADU my dad had the garage converted to when I left for college. That’s where I have most of my things. The overnight nurses need the bedrooms in the house. It’s also why we didn’t go in the main house. I wanted to tell you about my mother before you met her.”
Aubrey said she understood.
“She’s getting to the point where she probably needs to go into a memory care facility. The money for private care is running low even with the Medicaid subsidy. Their house is already in a trust dedicated to her care, which should be enough for an excellent facility.”
Aubrey told her that while her firm specialized in corporate law, she’d be happy to help her find a wills and trusts attorney if she needed one.
When Beca got to the studio on Monday, the contract paperwork for Club Skirts was waiting. She dropped the packet on her desk and stared at it while sipping her coffee. Finally, she took a deep breath and reviewed what Mariah had sent.
“What’s got you so intense, Beca?” Larry’s voice startled the producer.
She pushed the paperwork forward and ran a hand through her hair. “Someone approached me about some gigs for Mila when she was playing in Palm Springs. Ever hear of Mariah Hansen?”
Larry’s eyebrows arched and then looked at what Beca had been reading. He pulled the stack of papers over, flipped through a few pages, and then looked back at Beca. “She wants Mila to play? At Club Skirts? Two days?”
“Yeah, and two meet and greets.”
“Hmm.” Larry rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. “You know Mila is good. I know Mila is good. But if Mariah wants her, that says something.” He gathered the paperwork, stacking the pages on Beca’s desk to align the edges. “I’ll take this to legal to get it processed. As for you, I suggest you find Mila an agent. After her last show in San Francisco, I want her to return here and lay down the tracks for the rest of her full-length album. Now that you’ve seen this artist from start to finish, you need to pass her off and get back to what you do best. Making music.”
When her boss left the office, Beca pulled up her listing of agents and put out feelers for ones she felt might be good fits for Mina. If things went as her boss wanted, Mila would have a full-length album soon. Beca was proud of what she’d accomplished with her protege, but Larry was right. She was ready to hand over the reins to someone else so that Beca could return her focus to music.
Mila and Kommissar continued their tour up the Pacific Coast Highway and were met with success all along the way. They stopped in Santa Barbara, Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Cruz. Since all but a small portion of northern Germany was land locked, Mila was enjoying spending time on the beaches and learning more about American culture.
The weekend prior to their fifth and final week of the mini-tour, Mila and Beca were on their weekly Zoom check-in to review budget and inventory. Beca told Mila that everything was finalized for her to play the additional gigs at Club Skirt. “Larry also wants you to get an agent.”
Mariah had come through with some contacts of agents who were excellent at working with fresh, promising talent. Beca emailed the pre-vetted list. “Look over them with Kommissar. I can set up some interviews when you get back.” Beca also told her that Larry was putting her back into the studio when she returned to Los Angeles. “If you have any songs you want on the full album, make sure they are ready to go. We can work on some of the rough tracks you already started, but I’m sure you also have others.”
Larry kept pushing Beca to get Mila and Kommissar back to Los Angeles as soon as possible so she could return to the studio. He wanted rough tracks laid down before she went to Palm Springs for Club Skirts.
“Dude, the drive from San Fransico is like almost 400 miles. They will have been on the road, living in hotels, for five weeks already, which is exhausting. Then you want them to drive almost six hours back just to put Mila back in the studio. That’s harsh, man.”
“I don’t care how it happens, Beca. Just make it happen.”
Mila and Kommissar left their San Francisco hotel and were on the way to Mila’s final gig. This was the third place she’d played in San Fran, and if the audience were anything like the two previous nights, the closing date would be a smash. Kommissar pulled up to the back of the coffee shop and began to carry in the sound equipment while Mila checked in with the manager.
The artist headed outside and ran into someone carrying a box of merchandise. “Beca?! What are you doing here?” Mila took the box from Beca’s arms and dropped it on the floor so she could hug her producer.
Beca sheepishly shoved her hands in her back pocket. “I couldn’t miss closing night, could I?” She moved to pick the box back up. “Come on, the four of us can get this set up in no time.”
“Four?”
About that time, Chloe came in with two guitar stands in her hands and waved her fingers at Mila. “Hi, Mila. Surprise!”
They quickly set up the equipment and merchandise table, and then the group of women sat at a nearby table with beers Beca had procured from the bar. Beca explained that Larry wanted Mila in the studio on Wednesday but that she didn’t think Mila would be ready to start singing after driving all day on Monday and only resting for one day.
“So Chloe and I flew up and are going to drive the van back. You two have tickets to fly back to Los Angeles in the morning.” Beca slid a packet to Kommissar. “Someone from the studio will pick you up and get you a studio vehicle to use while you are there. Then you can relax a little more before starting back up in the studio.”
“It is a long drive, Tiny Mouse,” Kommissar said.
Beca chuckled. “I can’t even get mad at you anymore, Luisa. It’s okay. Chloe and I have lots of road time together.” She told them about driving to Los Angeles from Georgia. “We are going to make a two-day trip out of it. I’ll meet you in the studio on Wednesday.”
Mila’s final gig was as strong as her first. The Sunday crowd responded well. Beca was pleased to notice that Mila’s voice had seasoned on the road. The experience had done her well which meant the recording sessions would be much more productive.
The following morning, the four women met for breakfast before Beca and Chloe drove Mila and Kommissar to the airport. “See you in a few days. Make good choices.”
Chloe looked at Beca. “Looks like it’s just you and me again. What’s our first stop?”
Beca threw her head back and chuckled. “I think if we drive four hours a day, we can take the same route the girls took on the way up here, along the PCH. I’ll take the first leg. Since you are navigator, you know the drill. First stop, Carmel-by-the-Sea.”
Chapter 25: Three Things
Notes:
Note: This chapter jumps back a bit to the days and weeks immediately after the first Palm Springs gig.
Chapter Text
The Friday that Stacie and Aubrey went to Palm Springs was the catalyst for a connection between the pair. Aubrey felt much closer to Stacie after four hours of driving to and from Palm Springs. Despite Chloe’s knowledge about Stacie’s reputation, Aubrey felt that how Stacie presented herself at work might be a way for her to vent her frustrations about her home life.
The two continued to text all throughout the week, exchanging tidbits of information about themselves. One morning, Stacie messaged What’s three things I don’t already know about you?
After considering her answers, Aubrey texted her answers one at a time.
[To Stacie: Favorite color sage green]
[To Stacie: I’m fluent in French]
[To Stacie: I love romantic comedies]
[To Stacie: Your turn]
[To Aubrey: Favorite color is bright blue]
[To Stacie: Stop, stop, stop]
[To Stacie: No fair using the same categories]
[To Aubrey: ok ok, but I’m counting that one]
[To Aubrey: I began piano lessons at age three]
[To Aubrey: I grew up a tomboy]
[To Stacie: All brothers, I presume?]
[To Aubrey: Yep]
This evolved into a little game between the two, which they shortened to three things. Whenever one proclaimed three things, the other had to come up with three things to share, no matter how minut. The categories could not be repeated by the other in that round.
The week after Mila and Kommissar left Palm Springs for their trek up the Pacific Coast Highway, Dr. Richards decided the time had come to spay Diogee. Chloe did her best to assure Beca that she agreed with the decision. “Diogee has fattened up well, and her bloodwork came back pristine.” She explained that spaying the dog would be best for the dog’s long-term health.
After a short pep talk and reminders that after Beca’s dog recovered from surgery, she would have more freedom, like playing at the dog park and being introduced to a pack with a daily dog walker. “She won’t be stuck in a kennel here while you work all day.” Reluctantly, Beca agreed to bring Diogee in on Chloe’s surgery day so her girlfriend could perform the surgery.
Beca showed up as Amy was unlocking the clinic’s doors and the staff was arriving. After signing the paperwork, she followed Jessica back to help her get Diogee into a kennel. “Chloe’s going to bring you home this afternoon,” Beca crooned as she scratched the pit’s head through the bars. “You be a good girl.”
“She always is,” replied Jessica. “It’s okay to be nervous, though. But the surgery really is routine. Besides, she’ll come home with her first real tattoo. Badass dog.”
Beca’s eyebrows furrowed together. “Tattoo? Huh?”
“Yeah,” Jessica said. “Cats and dogs that are spayed or neutered get a tattoo near the typical incision point. If they find their way back to a shelter, there won’t be any question if the animal was fixed.”
“Learn something new every day. Anyway, y’all will call me when she’s done, right?”
“Of course. Dr. Beale calls all her surgical pawrents personally.” Jessica winked at Beca as she made her joke.
Chloe had several surgical procedures lined up in the morning. As usual, Flo was on anesthesia, and Stacie was helping with instruments. First up was Beca’s dog. Chloe wanted to get Diogee done first so she could call her girlfriend to ease her worries. As Flo and Chloe were getting Diogee settled on the table, Stacie was unwrapping the surgical pack on the tray next to the table.
“Stacie? Are you… humming?” Flo eyed her friend and co-worker cautiously.
Stacie gave a broad smile before responding. “And so what if I am?” She then whistled a few bars of a random song. “Would you rather I whistle?”
Flo dropped her hands from the tubing she was positioning in the dog’s mouth. “What’s going on? Why are you so happy?”
“Oh,” Stacie chuckled. “Is it a crime to be happy now?”
“Oh lord,” Flo groaned as she again began to ready the dog for surgery. “You must have gone on some escapades this weekend. I suppose we are going to hear about the hunter at lunch?” She rolled her eyes.
Stacie shrugged, knowing things would be much more interesting around the clinic if she didn’t say anything at all.
Diogee’s surgery went as expected, and Chloe helped Flo carry the sleeping dog to her kennel while Stacie sanitized and reset the operating theatre. Normally, Chloe waited until all her surgeries were complete and all patients woke up. She then called all the owners in succession. But she knew Beca would be on pins and needles until she heard from her.
Sure enough, Beca answered her cell on the first ring. “What went wrong? Why are you calling me so soon?” Chloe could tell her girlfriend was quite panicked.
“Relax, babe,” Chloe laughed. “I told you that the spaying is a minor surgery that doesn’t take long. Diogee is already finished and sleeping off the anesthesia in her kennel. She did fine.”
Beca let out an audible sigh of relief. “Are you sure?”
Stacie had come out of the surgical suite to grab some water and saw Chloe on the phone. Beca? Stacie silently asked. Chloe nodded her head. Stacie held out her hand for the phone.
“Hey, shortstack. Your pooch is doing great! We’ll call you again when she wakes up. But I need my doctor back.”
“Stacie? Wha…?”
“Goodbye, Beca. Haaaaaaaaanging up.” Stacie drawled out before disconnecting the line. When Chloe gave her a strange look, she shrugged. “What? You know how much she worries about that dog. You’d spend half the morning assuring her things are fine. We have four more surgeries. Chop, chop.”
Chloe laughed and followed the vet tech back into the operating area.
The clinic typically closed for lunch midday. When she started the clinic, Dr. Richards decided that with a small staff, having time to visit would help build camaraderie rather than stretching people thin as staff ate in shifts.
Everyone was sitting at the picnic table under the shaded area outside eating and jabbering with each other—everyone but Stacie, that is. She sat in a metal folding chair, leaned up against the corner of the enclosure with her feet propped on the bench, sandwich on her lap, and cell phone in hand. She was completely engrossed with her phone.
“What’s up with Stace?” Amy asked.
Flo told them about her humming and whistling all morning in surgery. “I was braced for all sorts of tales of the hunter during lunch.” Nobody knew what had Stacie’s attention. Nobody but Chloe, of course, and she wasn’t talking.
Finally, Amy got up, snuck over and nipped Stacie’s phone from her hands. “What do we have here, Ms. Conrad? Let’s see what quest the hunter has been on.” Amy was able to see the name of the person Stacie had been messaging before Stacie wrestled her phone back.
“None of your business,” Stacie said haughtily as she plopped back down. “Besides, I don’t always give you details about the hunter’s escapades.”
The other vet techs began to cackle and catcall. “Like hell you don’t, Stacie.” Jessica spoke up first. “I’ve worked here for two years and have heard the most detailed stories of probably every escapade the hunter has ever taken you on.” Others around the table agreed and began talking all at once, giving examples.
“So,” Amy said. “Hottie Blonde Lawyer. That’s who you were texting. Spill.”
Stacie grinned. “Oh, so now that I’m not sharing, you want to hear about it?”
The techs began to clamor again. “Wait,” said Ashley as she turned to the newest vet at the clinic. “Dr. Beale, isn’t your best friend blonde?”
“And a lawyer?” Jessica added.
Stacie’s eyes grew wide as she pleaded with Chloe for something undeterminable.
Dr. Richards looked at her watch. “Lunchtime is over, girls. Back to work.” She hurried them all inside, leaving Stacie and Chloe outside.
“Thanks for not blowing my cover, Dr. Beale.” Relief was etched across Stacie’s face. “I really like Aubrey. I want to do this right.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Ashley was right, Stacie. Aubrey’s my best friend. Just don’t hurt her.”
Chloe opened the door to Beca’s apartment to the rich aroma of lasagna baking in the oven. “Hey, Becs. I brought your girl home.” She led Diogee over to one of her larger cushions and unsnapped the leash from her neck before stepping into the kitchen.
“Which one?” Beca turned and pressed her lips against Chloe’s. “Hi,” she said softly, leaning her forehead against her girlfriends. “I was about to open some wine.” She motioned to the bottle and opener, then went to see her dog.
“Hey, baby. What’s this silly cone doing around your neck?” Diogee slowly thumped her tail on the floor.
“She was licking at her incision site, so the cone is precautionary.”
The two visited about their day as Beca finished making the salad and Chloe set the table for dinner. When the timer went off, Beca pulled the bubbling lasagna out of the oven and placed the pan on trivets waiting on the table.
“Bon Appetit,” she said as she placed the food on the table.
“Smells delicious.” Chloe closed her eyes and she breathed in the aroma of the cheesy warm goodness of the layered pasta sitting between them. She reached over and cut a piece and sighed as steam came straight out of the center, releasing all the beautiful aromas of the meat, tomato sauce, and cheese escaping.
Beca cut into the slice Chloe had put on her plate and began to giggle. Chloe eyed her oddly. “Giggling? The great Beca Mitchell is giggling?”
“Oh, hush,” she replied. “I know I have finally achieved my grandmother’s recipe when the past and cheese melts so much, and the slippery pasta makes it where you can’t pick it up with a fork.”
“You’re weird. But I like you.”
Aubrey had her phone propped up in her office as she FaceTimed with Stacie. “It’s good to see you, too, Stacie. Text messages aren’t as good as the real thing.”
“Then you know that seeing me will be even better,” Stacie flashed a smile that stretched across her face, her green eyes twinkling. Come on, meet me for dinner tonight?”
“As much as I want to, I can’t. I’m working on a deadline here. You understand, right?”
Stacie’s lower lip protruded as she nodded her head. “Three things?”
Aubrey laughed, “I don’t have…” She paused and squinted at the brunette she saw on the phone screen. She held up one finger. “I’ve always wanted to be on Broadway.” She held up a second finger. “I love fashion. Had I my choice, I might be in Paris right now.”
“With my knowledge of French, we make quite a pair, hmm?” Stacie’s smile was now soft.
“My final fact for now is that I battle daily against the perfectionism I feel I need to achieve brought on by a need to please my father.”
Stacie’s smile faltered a bit as she saw the blonde’s eyes drop to her desk, away from Stacie’s gaze. She decided to go on with their little game. “My first fact is…”
Aubrey held up her hand, in effect stopping her. When she looked up, her eyes were glistening, tears threatening to fall. “I do need to go, for now, Stacie. I’ll text you when I’m home tonight.” She then disconnected without waiting for Stacie to respond.
Stacie’s heart dropped as she sat there, looking at the blank phone screen. She was startled when she felt a hand on her arm. Chloe had walked up beside her. “Are you okay, Stacie?”
“Yeah, Dr. Beale. Peachy.” The snark in Stacie’s voice gave the veterinarian a clue that something might have happened. She gently put her hand on the tech’s arm as she went to walk away.
“Hey, talk to me.”
Stacie told her about her conversation with Aubrey and how she felt that the lawyer was blowing her off. “It’s hard for me to open up,” she admitted. “I haven’t dated anyone since I began caring for my parents. Didn’t want to.”
“My second instrument was the violin, which I started learning at age 6. I’m extensively trained in ballet dancing. And I love psychological thrillers.” Stacie stood at the door to Aubrey’s office, holding a bag of take-out and a carton containing drinks.
The lawyer looked up, smiling as she raised her eyes to meet Stacie’s. “What a surprise.” She stood, shaking her purple linen trousers to fall to the top of her feet and straightening her top. She walked up to Stacie and reached up the slight two inches to press their lips together. “Hi,” she said softly.
“I come bearing food. I’ve been told another of your secrets is that you forget to eat when you get buried in work. Yet you do your best work on a full stomach.”
Aubrey quickly cleared the papers from the coffee table in her office, and Stacie unloaded the various containers she’d picked up from the deli down the street from Aubrey’s office. She called out each sandwich as she took them out of the bag. “Turkey with avocado, the classic club, and a chicken salad sandwich. I figure what we don’t finish tonight will keep so that you don’t go hungry tomorrow.” She pulled two steaming coffees from the drink container. “Fully loaded for you, decaf for me.”
The lawyer selected half of the chicken club sandwich and took a ginormous bite. She fell back in her chair once she was done with that bite. “That has to be the best thing I’ve had in my mouth in a while.” She took a sip of her coffee as Stacie tried to act offended. Aubrey brushed her off. “You know what I mean. And Chloe knows that I forget to eat when I get busy. Thank you for feeding me.”
“What makes you think this wasn’t all me?” Stacie teased.
“I apologize for being short with you earlier,” Aubrey said as she feasted on the sandwiches before her. “I do get tunnel vision when it comes to work.”
“Consider me forewarned and forearmed,” Stacie replied. “Regardless, I wanted to see you. I won’t stay long, but you did need to eat.”
The two visited a bit more. When two halves of sandwiches were left, Stacie neatly wrapped them together and stored them in Aubrey’s mini-fridge. “I’ll let you get back to work. Thanks for taking a short break. I appreciate it.”
“Saturday lunch?” Aubrey asked.
“Definitely.”
As the days marched on, time grew closer for Mila’s final gig in San Francisco. Larry was still pushing for Mila to return to the studio immediately. While Beca had sent Mila several agents to consider signing with, Beca knew she had to continue to move forward with promoting her protegee’s career.
After estimating how long Mila would need in the studio, Beca began to plan another short tour for her. She scouted some venues online and outlined a possible plan to present to the agent when Mila signed with someone. Indeed the agent would have their promotion team, leaving Beca to the music portion.
Chloe approached Dr. Richards about possibly being away from the clinic for two days. Maggie said she’d ask her husband to find a two-day temporary replacement so Chloe could fly to San Francisco with her girlfriend.
Chapter 26: Diogee's Day in the Park
Notes:
This jumps back to Chloe and Beca starting their road trip back to Los Angeles from San Francisco.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Chloe and Beca took their time winding down the Pacific Coast Highway, stopping at each beachside town where Mila had played a gig. Usually, they simply walked along the beach, picking up shells and sampling the foods of the small seafood shacks scattered along the boardwalks.
“It’s nice taking a break from all the hustle and bustle of things, isn’t it?” Chloe asked as she pulled Beca into her. She could feel her girlfriend nodding her answer against her shoulder. “I’m glad fate brought us back together on that airplane, Beca.”
Beca turned her head and pressed a kiss into Chloe’s hair. “Me, too.” They walked a bit further; the only sound was the waves crashing on the shoreline. “I’m sorry for disappearing, you know. Back then.”
“I thought we were past all that.”
“I know. I’m just not sure if I told you that I’m sorry. It’s the biggest regret of my life.”
Chloe stopped and turned Beca to face her, placing her hand on the side of Beca’s face. “Look, no regrets. If our paths had gone any differently, we might not have made it to where we are today. And I kind of like where we are right now.
Beca smiled as she kissed Chloe again. “You are pretty wise, Dr. Beale.” Beca grabbed Chloe’s hand. Come on, one more stop, and then Los Angeles awaits.”
Stacie tentatively knocked on the door to Aubrey’s house. Since they ended up returning to Stacie’s in a drunken, heated entanglement the first night, she and Aubrey hadn’t spent any time truly outside Aubrey’s office earlier in the week. She knew she shouldn’t be nervous. Stacie enjoyed getting to know Aubrey and was looking forward to some one-on-one time.
She punched the doorbell with the hand in which she was holding the bottle of Chardonnay. Stacie was carefully cradling a light purple ceramic jar containing matching purple tulips. Eventually, she figured Aubrey would tire of tulips, but for now, she was going to stick to what she knew the woman liked.
When the blonde came to the door, Stacie gave a mock curtsey and presented the flowers. “Representing royalty and elegance. For the most elegant woman I know.” She held up the wine bottle. “Oh, and wine.” Aubrey lifted the flowers to her nose, deeply smelling their fragrance. “They are beautiful. Come on in.” She stood aside to let Stacie enter and closed the door behind her. “If purple tulips represent elegance, what do pink ones represent?” she asked playfully.
Stacie stopped, turned and captured Aubrey’s free hand. “Affection,” she replied, lifting Aubrey’s hand to her lips for a kiss. She grinned, knowing Aubrey hadn’t expected her to know the answer.
“Thank you. They are beautiful. And the jar is adorable.” Aubrey sat the flowers on the kitchen island and took the wine from Stacie. “Is fish okay?” Stacie nodded. “Great. I didn’t want to start until I was sure. How are your knife skills?”
“Fair to Midland,” Stacie responded. She washed her hands and stood in front of one of the cutting boards Aubrey had out.
“Careful. This is sharp.” Aubrey laid a knife by the board and dumped a small container of sugar snap peas on it. “If you would, cut these on the bias. You know, at an angle.” She went to show Stacie what she meant, and Stacie commandeered the knife.
“Yes, I know!” She hip-checked Aubrey towards the other cutting board. Aubrey thinly sliced some radishes and dumped those and some English peas into a bowl. Once Stacie finished the sugar snap peas, Aubrey had her thinly slice some purple onion while she whisked together some rice vinegar, olive oil, honey, and Dijon mustard. Aubrey quickly diced a bit of shallot to put in her dressing mix.
“How do you know what all to put in this? You aren’t even measuring.” Stacie watched as Aubrey reserved a bit of the dressing aside and coated the vegetables with the rest.
“This pea salad is one of my favorites. Simple, bright, and light. You’ll love it.” She drained her wine glass and motioned for Stacie to fill it up while she went to retrieve the fish from the refrigerator. “This is grouper.” She made a show of coating both sides with salt and cracked black pepper while the pan heated. “If we don’t eat it all, we’ll have lunch on Monday!”
As the fish cooked, Aubrey told Stacie where to find the plates and told her to spoon some pea mixture on both plates. Once the fish rested, Aubrey deftly put a filet on top of the vegetables and spooned some of the honey mustard vinaigrette on top.
The table had already been set for two, so Aubrey brought the food from the kitchen while Stacie brought the wine glasses and the rest of the wine. As they settled in to eat, Stacie took her first bite. “Oh. OH! Aubrey, this is magnificent.”
The blonde beamed with the praise. “I’m glad you approve.”
“The best thing I know how to make is reservations,” Stacie chuckled. She laid down her utensils for a moment. “Will you teach me?”
“Of course I will. But it comes with a price.” Aubrey had an evil glint in her eye.
Stacie ate another bite. “Oh no, should I be afraid to ask?”
“Three things. You still owe me a round.”
Stacie laughed. “Let’s see.” She made a show of pondering her answers. “I can play the violin.”
“No fair,” Aubrey protested. “I already knew that.”
“No,” teased Stacie. “I told you I started piano at age 3. Violin lessons began when I was 6. My strings instructor wouldn’t take students that didn’t yet have a full year of school because he felt school gave children the necessary structure needed.”
“Do you still play?”
“I haven’t in a while, but I’m sure it’s like a bicycle.” Stacie took another bite. “Let’s see. I’m extensively trained in classical dancing.” Aubrey’s eyebrows arched in surprise. “Yeah, my parents were staunch supporters of the arts. Did you know that children who start learning a musical instrument before age 7 may have greater neuroplasticity, which is the brain's ability to change, grow, and heal itself?”
“Woah, seriously?”
“Yeah, you’d be amazed at all that is impacted by learning an instrument. Brain health, mental health, academic performance, cognitive development,... I could go on.”
“And that’s why you are such a brainiac.” Aubrey fondly put her hand on Stacie’s forearm and hooked her leg around Stacie’s.
“Not even… Anyhoo, one more thing.” She thought for a moment. “When I’m alone, I enjoy listening to Aubrey Graham.” Aubrey furrowed her eyebrows, trying to place the name. “Drake,” Stacie laughed.
Chloe and Beca took their time driving south on the PCH, stopping where they wanted and eating at beachy places that looked good. They timed their arrival in Los Angeles well after rush hour traffic and drove directly to Beca’s studio to exchange the van for her car.
“Have you heard from Aubrey?” Beca asked. “I wonder if taking you home is safe,” she chuckled.
“Stop it,” said Chloe as she swatted Beca’s arm. “I know they were supposed to have lunch together on Saturday, but that’s about all I know. Then again, I haven’t exactly been pressing her for details.”
Stacie’s car was in the driveway when Beca pulled in. She parked behind the house, where she and Chloe could go in through her private entrance. After tossing Chloe’s bag on the bed, Beca tip-toed to the door and made a show of acting like she was listening. “Do you think it’s safe?” she stage whispered.
“Hush! Come on.” Chloe bravely opened the door but called out as she did. “Aubrey, we’re back. Whose car is in the driveway?” She very well knew what Stacie drove but didn’t want to make the vet tech nervous.
“Stacie and I are in here,” Aubrey’s voice rang out.
Beca and Chloe found the couple in the living room, sprawled out on the floor in front of one of the couches with scrapbooks and school yearbooks stacked around them.
“What’s up?” Beca asked as she plopped down on one of the other couches.
Stacie grinned devilishly and picked up one of the high school annuals, flipping to a page she’d marked earlier. She slid it toward Beca. “Damn girl, you were totally emo.”
Beca’s eyes widened in astonishment. “Aubrey Posen! This is our freshmen year. How dare you.”
Both Aubrey and Chloe began to laugh. “She was pretty emo,” Chloe admitted. “Even though she was one of my best friends. Total opposites when we hit high school. But I loved her.”
Aubrey explained that they had been just going through old yearbooks from school and scrapbooks that she and Chloe had put together during college. “Stacie wanted to see what we were like younger.”
“I’d say I hate you…” Beca started.
“But you’d be lying,” Chloe finished.
“So you all knew each other growing up and then went to Barden University,” Stacie said, and the others agreed. “Beca, I don’t see you in any of these pictures.” She motioned to the scrapbooks Aubrey and Chloe had assembled during their college years.
“That’s another story for another day, my friend. What’s important is that I’m here now.” She stood up. “Except, I need to get home. My pet sitter is probably ready to be off the clock, and I have a dog to give some loving to.”
When Beca got to her apartment, Diogee was quite ecstatic to see her. The dog's stitches weren’t supposed to come out for a few more days, so Beca decided to take her pooch on a short walk to give her a bit of attention and exercise before returning to the apartment.
Beca found a bench to sit and watch the other dogs romp and play as they approached the dog park. Diogee sat obediently at her feet, eyes riveted on the action in the field. “Doesn’t that look like fun, buddy? Hopefully, Dr. Chloe will clear you this week so you can go and meet some new friends.”
Because the weather was nice, Beca decided to hang out a bit longer. Her mind drifted back to what Stacie had said about Barden University. Knowing that Aubrey and Chloe’s bond extended past high school, through college, and into adulthood made her wistful of decisions she’d made her senior year of high school.
She knew that Chloe had assured her that things were as they were meant to be. To change anything from the past might change where they are now. Despite longing for what could have been, Beca decided to move forward with what was.
Mila and Kommissar showed up bright and early at the studio on Wednesday. Beca had put together a checklist for Kommissar to organize and inventory the remaining merchandise after the tour. Then, Beca could reconcile the numbers to not only see how profitable the tour was but also determine what would be needed for Club Skirts in Palm Springs.
Once Kommissar and two interns were busy with their tasks, Beca took Mila to her office to plan the rest of her album. They discussed which songs they would include from the EP and which others could be added to round out the LP.
Finally, Beca pushed back from the desk, announcing she was happy with the plan. “Oh, agents. Who do you want me to set up interviews with?” Mila gave her the names of two of the agents she thought would work well. Beca told her she’d arrange to have interviews set up before Club Skirts. Then, the pair, along with a few other junior producers, went to one of the recording studios. They had decided to use all but one of the songs on the EP, so those didn’t need any additional work.
Previously, Mila had also partially recorded some of the others, so they weren’t starting from scratch on the rest. Beca worked her artist hard, but she knew that the set deadlines needed to be met if they were going to stay on schedule.
After recording for most of Wednesday, all day Thursday, and half of Friday, Mila almost hit a wall. Fortunately, on Friday afternoon, Beca had arranged for her to meet with the two agents who would soon be taking over Mila’s career so that Beca could get back to making music.
Once both interviews had occurred and Mila made her selection, Beca sent the paperwork to human resources for them to finalize. She then called the agent and set up a meeting for the following Monday afternoon.
Beca cut out of work early and headed to the Van Nuys clinic to pick up Diogee. Chloe had taken out the dog’s stitches and given her the all-clear to be 100% dog. “She can now do all those things you had in mind when you got her - go to the dog park, walk in a pack with one of those fancy Los Angeles dog walkers, everything.”
The techs surprised Beca with a bone-voyage party for Diogee. Stacie squatted and scratched the pit’s head. “I’m going to miss seeing you at work,” she crooned as the dog wriggled and licked her chin.
“Won’t miss picking up those huge dumps!” Everyone laughed as Diogee meandered over to Ashley.
“Thanks for taking care of her all this time,” Beca said to the group. “Her number was almost up at the shelter, and you helped me save her.”
After everyone said their goodbyes, Beca clipped Diogee’s leash to lead her to the car. She looked at Chloe. “Dinner later?” The vet nodded. Then, Beca called out to Stacie. “See you Saturday, Stretch!”
As the producer left, everyone began whispering, conspiring about what Beca had said to their colleague. Stacie’s lips were sealed, and nobody noticed when Chloe slipped out of the room.
Beca couldn’t wait to get to the dog park when she got home. “I’ve been waiting for this since I got you, girl,” she excitedly said while changing out of her work clothes. “You are going to have so much fun! And I got you new toys.” Beca had picked up a dog frisbee, a few different types of balls, and a ball launcher to take to the park. She dropped them and a collapsable water bowl into a sling-back bag and grabbed Diogee’s leash.
Diogee could feel the excitement from Beca coming down the leash and seemingly prancing alongside her. The techs had been working hard with her, and the dog stuck by Beca’s side, frequently checking in with her. When they reached the bench Beca normally sat at, Diogee pulled Beca around to sit. “No, girl,” Beca said. “Today, we get to go in!”
She went to the first of the double gates and went in, securing the gate behind her. She crouched to snap off the leash. Chloe told her to release Diogee in the inner enclosed area and let her run without being leashed. The other dogs would greet her and do their thing. “You are going to do great, Doge. Go make yourself some new friends.”
Beca opened the inner gate to the dog park and Diogee shot into the open space like a bullet, several dogs close on her tail. She stopped for a moment while some other dogs curiously sniffed her before she dropped on her front legs, showing that she wanted to play and began running around with the other larger dogs. Watching her have fun made Beca happy. Diogee had come a long way since Beca had rescued her from death’s literal doorstep.
Her dog seemed to have endless energy. Periodically, she’d check in with Beca, sitting at her feet and tongue lolling out. Beca put out the water bowl she’d brought and filled it with water. Immediately, she had plenty of guests helping themselves to the water. “You are a bunch of thirsty guys, eh?” She dug one of the tennis balls and launcher out of her bag. At the sight of the ball, many dogs crouched, trembling with anticipation.
Beca threw the ball as far as she could, and the pack took off like lightning. Unsure of exactly what was happening, Diogee chased after them, quickly catching up. As the producer entertained and exercised the dogs, a few of the owners meandered up to introduce themselves. Periodically, someone would ask Beca to stop throwing so that person could retrieve their dog and head home for the day.
When Beca’s phone vibrated in her pocket, indicating an incoming call, she nearly ignored it. Juggling the ball thrower, she dug her phone out of her pocket and answered it without looking at who it was. “Hello?”
“Hey, Becs.” Chloe. Shit, she’d forgotten about their dinner plans. “I’m here at your apartment, which seems to be completely empty. Either you and Diogee are playing an excellent game of hide and seek, or have you forgotten about dinner?”
“Shit, Chloe. Diogee and I are at the dog park for her first outing. I completely lost track of time. Let me cool her down, and we’ll be home soon.”
“No, no. It’s okay. I’ll come to you. Surely there’s a place around here with a dog-friendly outdoor patio. I’m on my way.” Before Beca could protest, Chloe disconnected the phone call.
Realizing how long they’d been playing, Beca decided Diogee had enough and tucked the launcher back into her bag. A Doberman had dropped the tennis ball at her feet and looked up at her expectantly. He then nudged it with his nose. Another dog came, snatched the ball and ran off with the others in pursuit. Beca knew that retrieving the tennis ball was probably a lost cause. Luckily, tennis balls were inexpensive, so she let the other dogs have their fun.
Beca headed to the gate and called Diogee to follow her. Inside the inner gate, Beca snapped her dog’s leash on and headed to the bench they normally sat on. Diogee immediately lay down, hind legs splayed out behind her, lapping more water from the bowl Beca put by her head.
When Chloe arrived, Diogee’s tail quickly thumped, but she didn’t get up to greet the vet as usual. “Oh, I see how it is now.” She squatted and scratched the dog between her ears. Diogee rolled over, exposing her belly for more scritches. “Hi, babe.” Chloe pressed a kiss against Beca’s cheek. “How’d she do?” Chloe asked as she motioned towards the dogs still frolicking in the dog park.
“She had a blast, as you can tell from her exhausted state.” Beca pointed out the ‘friends’ her dog had made and the pawrents that had introduced themselves as well. “But as much fun as she had, I’m starving!”
After a quick Yelp search, Chloe found a small cafe not too far from where they were, with a dog-friendly outdoor patio.
While eating, the couple caught each other up on their shortened week, things they hadn’t shared in messages and when Beca dropped off/picked up Diogee from the clinic. “Mila signed with an agent,” Beca said. I have a meeting with her late Monday so we can do an official handover.” She explained that a lot was still in the works that Beca still needed to be involved in, such as Club Skirts and the second part of Mila’s tour.
“Oh, Mariah contacted me to see how many rooms we needed. I thought the contract was only for Mila and Kommissar, but apparently, Mariah has a few open rooms left in her block. I know you just took some time off, but how would you feel about going to Club Skirts next week? It’s Wednesday through Sunday. We don’t have to go the entire time, but it might be fun to see what all the buzz is about. Mila is playing Friday and Saturday.”
Chloe clapped her hands together in excitement. “Yes, yes, yes. Remember, I’m a temp employee. I’m sure Dr. Richards will understand. She adores me.” She pulled out her phone and texted Dr. Richards to give her husband a little extra time to find a sub for her on Friday.
“Will she adore you if Stacie comes along?” Beca gave her a crooked grin. “I want to invite her and Aubrey, too. Maybe push their relationship forward a bit.”
The two decided to head to Palm Springs on Thursday after work to attend all the major events. The following day, they were supposed to have brunch with Stacie and Aubrey. Beca would ask if they were interested so she could get back to Mariah as soon as possible.
Notes:
I'm trying to decide to expand Stacie and Aubrey's storyline extensively in this fic or make it a new fic and wrap this one up. Thoughts?
Chapter 27: Reliving College
Chapter Text
Beca headed back to her apartment, Chloe in tow. Diogee followed along, worn out from her romp in the park. While the dog was eating her dinner, the couple relaxed. Beca stretched her arm across the back of the couch while Chloe leaned against her. The redhead peered up at her girlfriend, who seemed to be lost in thought.
“Penny for your thoughts,” she said softly.
“Mmm?” Beca’s mind snapped back to the present, and she looked down at Chloe, who asked her where her thoughts were just then. “Thinking about the past again. That’s it.”
Chloe sat up and turned to face Beca. “We’ve been through this, Becs. There’s no use crying over spilled milk, and I wouldn’t want to change the past anyway.”
Beca explained that she didn’t want to change the past; she just wanted to know more about it. “When we returned home Monday, Aubrey and Stacie were going through all our old annuals and y’all’s scrapbooks. I guess I just want to know more about your time at Barden, etc. I know I wasn’t a part of your life then, but it’s part of what made you who you are today. When I saw Aubrey sharing everything with Stacie, I guess I got a bit jealous that Stacie knows more about you than me.”
“Babe, Stacie will never know more about me than you. I’ve known you since you were that little shy, introverted girl under the playscape at the park.”
Eventually, Chloe was able to drag out of Beca she wanted to go through Aubrey’s scrapbooks, hear Aubrey’s stories about Chloe, anything so she could soak in more about Chloe life when they’d been apart. Chloe promised that they could definitely do that. “We’ll make a day of it. But I need something from you. Something that gives me insight into your life during the years we spent apart.”
“Deal. Hang on a minute.” Beca got up and went to her office. After a few minutes, she returned with a USB drive and a notebook, offering them to Chloe. She tapped the notebook. “You’re an audiophile. This is one of my oldest songwriting notebooks. Some of the first songs I ever wrote are in here. And on this,” she pointed to the USB drive, “is one of my favorites. I mean, it’s obviously a rough cut with me singing and all. I produced it as a project in college, so when I say rough, it’s rough. Of course, that song was turned in for a grade, but there’s lots in there,” she tapped the notebook, “that nobody has seen before.”
Chloe’s eyes sparkled as she accepted the notebook and drive. She knew that Beca’s sharing this with her meant their relationship had taken a turn to a new realm.
The following day, Beca and Chloe met Stacie and Aubrey at Poppy + Rose, a casual spot with decent brunch. Beca asked them if they remembered the woman who had approached her when they had all gone to see Mila’s gig in Palm Springs. “Well, she invited us to go along. Ergo, I’m inviting the two of you to join us.” She further explained that Club Skirts was known to be the largest lesbian circuit party in the U.S.
Chloe pushed over the flyers and schedule that Mariah had included in the press kit. “Here’s the events. We’ll have a platinum wristband with VIP passes that will give us access to everything as well as the special areas. Plus, Mila is playing two of the pool parties at one of the smaller pools.”
Stacie looked at Aubrey. “I’m going to defer to you on this one, babe. That’s a lot of almost naked women.” When Aubrey’s eyes widened, Stacie quickly continued. “Of course, I only have eyes for you, but I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”
“It is a lot of women. But it’s also a lot of music, dancing, and fun in the sun. We’ll all be there together,” Chloe added, hoping to persuade her friend to go. “The pool parties do have a lot of skin, but the party nights are nothing more than huge club nights. The Black & White Party, Hollywood Night, … I’ve heard it’s definitely the place to be for women loving women.”
Aubrey studied the faces of the three women staring at her expectantly. “Our hotel room is at the venue?”
Beca nodded. “For the pool parties. The evening parties are a short walk away.”
“So, I can go to the room if I get uncomfortable?”
“Absolutely,” Stacie said. “And I’ll go with you without question.”
Finally, Aubrey relented and agreed to go. Beca banged the table with her first. “It’s settled. I’ll let Mariah know.”
On Sunday, Chloe dragged out Aubrey’s scrapbooks. “We made these together, of course. When I went to vet school, I didn’t really have room for them. So, she’s been keeping them safe.” Chloe drifted her fingers along the spine of some of the books. “I haven’t looked at these in ages. Are you sure you don’t want to wait for Aubrey?”
Beca shook her head. “She just relived many of her college years with Stacie. “I’ll give her a pass. But don’t think I’m above asking her to share your secrets.” Beca grinned.
Chloe sorted the albums and laid them out in order. She and Beca sat side by side as she opened the first scrapbook into her lap. “I know it’s cheesy, but we had a really good time at Barden. I wish you had been there.” Her voice dropped with the last sentence.
“I was,” Beca replied. “Just not with you guys. But remember, we can’t dwell on the past.” She reached over and flipped to the first page.
The couple went through the albums, which chronicled everything from the first dorm room she and Aubrey shared to the off-campus apartment they lived in during their senior year. Most of the pictures, though, centered around a specific group of women.
“Are those… flight attendant uniforms?” Beca laughed. “What the…” They were looking at pictures from the first performance of the acapella group Aubrey and Chloe had joined their first year. “I still can’t believe you did acapella. How lame!”
Chloe swatted her arm. “The Bellas were not lame! We sang covers of songs, but we did it without any instruments. It was all from our mouths.”
“Yikes.” Beca made a mental note to ask Aubrey about the Bellas.
“These girls were like our family. Well, not so much for our first three years, but we had an incredible group during our senior year. Aubrey and I were co-captains.” Chloe pulled out her phone, opened YouTube, and searched for a particular video before handing it to Beca. “Here’s us at the ICCA Finals the year we took the trophy home.”
Beca caught herself bobbing her head to the music. When the clip ended, she admitted that the concept was pretty cool. “Y’all had a good sound. Could have used some songs from this century… just saying.”
The couple spent several hours pouring over the albums. While Beca learned so much about what she missed by not being a part of Chloe’s life then, she was pleased to see that Chloe had a great life. She’d built an amazing support system with her Bella sisters. Most of all, Aubrey had been standing by her side the entire time.
When Beca returned to work on Monday, Mila was waiting to finish laying down tracks for her album. “We should only have a day or two more. I’m hoping to wrap your end up tomorrow so you can leave for Palm Springs on Wednesday without this hanging over your head.”
Mila was excited about the hubbub surrounding Club Skirts. While catering to this demographic might not have been what she’d planned, she understood it would help add to her growing fanbase and build contacts within the industry.
“After Palm Springs, I figure you can probably take a few weeks off. Rest your voice, etc.” Beca was talking as she readied the recording equipment. “I have a handoff meeting with your new agent this afternoon. I’m going to see if she has enough contacts to send you on a longer tour to promote your EP. By the time that’s over, your LP should be finalized.”
While Chloe felt that her relationship with Beca was becoming closer, she didn’t want to smother the producer by always going to her apartment. Knowing they’d be spending the entire weekend together excited her. During lunch on Monday, Chloe visited with Stacie about their plans.
“We all need to go shopping,” Stacie said excitedly. “I need a few new bikinis and clubbing clothes.”
Chloe frowned. “Beca will never go for that. She hates shopping.”
“Then you go with us.” Stacie wrinkled her brow as if that should have been Chloe’s first thought anyway.
“Okay!” Chloe replied brightly. “Let me know when. Beca normally works late, so any time after work is fine. I’ll get her some cute things, too.” Chloe winked as she entered the treatment room for her next patient.
Later that day, Chloe messaged Beca that she, Aubrey, and Stacie were going shopping on Tuesday after work. She let her know that she was going to pick out Beca’s outfits, too, and wouldn’t take no for an answer.
When Chloe got home, she spied Beca’s notebook and the USB drive on her desk. She’d forgotten about the trade she’d made with her girlfriend. Grabbing the notebook, she went to the kitchen for a glass of wine and then made herself at home in one of the oversized, overstuffed chairs in the living room.
As she read song lyrics, Chloe absent-mindedly spun a pen around her fingers, a habit she’d picked up at vet school when she was concentrating on her studies. She became startled when Aubrey came in the front door and quickly sat up to keep from spilling her drink.
“Are you reading a dirty book?” Aubrey teased.
“No, silly. Beca wanted to see our scrapbooks from college. I traded for one of her song notebooks. She has some pretty good stuff in here.”
“Ooh, show me?”
Chloe hesitated, remembering that Beca had told her she hadn’t shared but one of those songs with anyone else. “No. Not without Beca’s permission.” She explained that she didn’t want to break the woman’s confidentiality. “She gave me a song she produced in college, too. For a class. I’m excited to listen to it. I’ve only heard bits and pieces of her original work. Of course, I’ve heard what’s she done with Mila. I’m sure her own work is equally as fabulous.”
Beca used the ball launcher to throw the ball for Diogo one final time. “This is it, girl. Then we need to get home.” Her dog took the circuitous route back, playing with others as if she had understood exactly what her mom had said and didn’t want to leave. “Doge, come on,” Beca called.
Finally, the happy pit bull came galloping up, deposited the tennis ball at Beca’s feet, and greedily lapped at the water poured for her. Beca packed up the toys, emptied the water bowl, and headed to the gate with her dog. “Did you have a good time, baby girl?” Beca felt silly talking to her dog in a sing-songy voice but decided she didn’t care who heard her. She loved Diogee and wanted to be sure the dog knew it!
Once home, Beca dumped some food into Diogee’s bowl and opened the freezer to see what she could fix for herself. She pulled out the last of the homemade lasagna she’d stored after she’d cooked it for Chloe the week before and tossed it in the oven to thaw and heat. While she waited, she decided to call Chloe.
“Hey, babe. How was work?”
“Fabulous,” Chloe beamed. “This customer came in with a litter of the most adorable French Bulldogs for their first round of shots and deworming. Their faces were all so squishable, and they had Frito feet!”
Beca screwed up her face. “Frito feet? Gross.”
“Actually, it is gross. The odor is caused by bacteria and yeast commonly found on dogs’ feet. But on puppies, the smell somehow makes them cuter.”
“Ooookay. I’ll take your word for it,” Beca chuckled.
Chloe asked about Beca’s day, and she told her that Mila only had one more day of recording. “And I met with her new agent today. That woman has hella contacts. She thinks she can get Mila a nationwide tour in small venues similar to what we did starting a few weeks after Club Skirts. Better her than me. All that planning wore me out!”
“Oh! I started reading your songbook. I love everything so far,” Chloe exclaimed.
Beca shrugged. “Musings of a young college student.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, Becs. I can’t wait to listen to your song.”
“It’s not all that, so I wouldn’t get too excited if I were you.” Beca looked over her shoulder at the timer on the oven. “Hey, my dinner is almost done. I gotta go. Love you.”
Chloe knew that Beca’s song was probably a lot better than she was letting on. Excited to hear it, she booted her laptop and slid the USB drive into place. When the folder popped, there was a single folder named ‘Have You Ever’. Inside was a Word document and an audio file. She launched the audio file and listened.
Tuesday after work, Aubrey, Stacie, and Chloe all went shopping. They picked out clothes for themselves and for each other. They even each took turns picking out clothes for Beca. Eventually, they decided they had what they needed for the long weekend. Stacie declared they would be alluring without being overly seductive. “Hot, ladies. That’s what we’ll be!” She announced. “Plain and simple.”
They stopped at an adorable little bistro on their way back to Aubrey’s house for dinner. After ordering, Chloe said, “Can I ask you guys something?”
“You just did,” Stacie said, being a wiseass.
“Seriously.” She explained how Beca had given her a notebook of lyrics she’d written in college, along with a song she’d produced. “It’s her song; I saw the lyrics in the notebook. And I know her voice - it’s her singing it. Y’all, it’s good. I mean could be something good.”
“Is there a question in there, Chlo?” Aubrey knew that Beca had given her the book and USB in confidence.
“I don’t think she should keep them to herself. I think she should let Larry hear what she did in college.”
“I don’t know. Beca’s pretty private,” Aubrey said.
“Why don’t you just ask her?” Stacie didn’t know Beca as well and didn’t see the problem with just asking the producer flat out.
After a bit of discussion, Chloe decided she could poke around the topic a bit and see how Beca responded. “Depending on her reaction, I’ll go from there.”
Chapter 28: Club Skirts
Notes:
After this chapter, there is only one more. I have another idea in this universe, maybe two. But alas, this one is about to go to bed.
Chapter Text
Before long, the two couples headed east on Interstate 10 to Palm Springs. They’d decided to take Beca’s Jeep because it would be a weekend of fun in the sun. Once they got out of Los Angeles, they put the Jeep top down and blared the music as loud as it would go. Beca had put together a playlist for the trip that included many of the artists that would be playing that weekend to get them in the mood.
When Beca pulled up to the Hilton Palm Springs, Stacie hopped out to get a luggage trolley. Everyone’s heads were on swivels, eyeing all the scantily clad women around them. “I feel over-dressed,” Chloe tittered.
Once they unloaded the luggage, Beca tossed her keys to the valet and gave him her name. “We won’t be needing it.” He chuckled and told her that nobody ever did and promised the Jeep would be well taken care of.
After they checked in, the receptionist informed them that the welcome reception was in a larger meeting room. She directed them there after they put their luggage in their rooms. Luckily, the couples had adjoining rooms, so they wouldn’t have to be far from each other.
Chloe immediately ran to the balcony and threw open the door. “Beca, look. We have pool view rooms. We can see everything!” She looked to her left and saw Stacie watching everything in amazement. Vendors were setting up the ground floor patios, and the sound stage across the pool area was going through various sound checks.
Stacie looked over at Chloe and grinned. “Ohhhh yeah, this is going to be epic.”
Beca stuck her head out. “Come on, guys; let’s go to the reception.”
When Beca signed in at the reception, the woman pulled her packet from a box and withdrew four silver cloth wristbands. She motioned for each woman in turn and fastened the band, pulling it snug but not too tight. “This is the Platinum VIP wristband, which gives you access basically everywhere.” She emphasized that they should not try to loosen it or take it off, that wristbands would not be replaced. “Not even for VIPs.” She handed Beca a packet that included schedules as well as a more detailed timeframe for Mila.
The foursome looked around the crowded room and realized many of the faces they saw were the talent they’d be seeing and hearing throughout the weekend. After getting a beer, Beca saw Mariah across the room and decided to say hi.
“Hey, Mitchell. I heard your girl signed with Kennedy. Good choice.”
The two visited about Mila until Chloe, Aubrey, and Stacie joined them. Beca introduced her friends and said, “And this is Dr. Chloe Beale, my girlfriend.”
“Ohhh, a doctor. I’m impressed,” Mariah teased.
Mariah welcomed them and assured them they would love the entire weekend. “Your first will always be special. But everyone always comes back.” Some new people came in, and Mariah excused herself to greet them.
Chloe swatted Beca on the arm. “Why did you introduce me like that?”
Beca playfully flinched. “What? I’m proud of you! You’ve earned your title and should use it more often.”
Interestingly, mingling amongst these strangers wasn’t difficult for Beca, as many were in the music industry. She could talk their talk and make conversation with the best of them. The newer artists were interested in getting to know the producer, and the more seasoned ones were glad to have someone who was a bit experienced behind the scenes. Chloe stayed glued to her side, smiling and nodding at the appropriate times.
Eventually, Stacie and Aubrey saw Mila and Kommissar and flagged them down. “Wild, huh?”
Mila grinned. “How do you say… an experience!” She proudly showed off her platinum wristband that said Talent. “Look, that’s me.” She was completely over the moon.
“You got that right. An experience,” Stacie agreed. “Beca seems to know a lot of people. I didn’t realize she was this outgoing.” The music producer was standing a short distance away, talking to one of the singers.
Chloe laughed. “She’s just in her element. We all have places where we shine; apparently, this is hers.”
Because they had to wait until after work to drive to Palm Springs, the two couples arrived at the end of the welcome reception. Soon, people filtered their way out to get ready for the opening party at Reforma Nightclub. Beca ensured that Mila and Kommissar would meet them outside the hotel around 9:15 or so. “An Uber XXL will fit all of us to go to the club.”
When they arrived, Mila said that she and Kommissar would mingle on their own and find their way back to the hotel. Beca knew Kommissar would take care of Mila and not let her get too intoxicated since she had to perform the next day.
While railings separated areas of the club, there weren’t many tables except a few with built-in seats. “I guess the seating had to go to make room for more people,” Beca shouted over the DJ’s blaring music.
“I’m okay with that! Let’s go get some drinks,” Stacie replied.
The four women traveled together in fear of being separated, but only Stacie pushed her way to the bar to order. She was the tallest by far and could more easily stretch over the crowd for drinks. Once everyone had a drink in their hand, they began to meander around the club to find the best vantage point to people-watch.
After finishing her first drink, Aubrey surprised everyone by announcing she was ready to dance. “What? Don’t look at me like that. Isn’t that why we’re here?” She threw her head back and laughed. The others quickly finished their drinks and went to the dance floor.
They settled into a cycle of dancing for several songs and then taking a breather to get more drinks. At one point, Chloe said, “I think this place has an outdoor patio. Let’s see if we can find it.”
After walking the perimeter, they eventually found a door leading to an outside area enclosed by a tall fence. This meant they could take their drinks, sit outside, and cool off. “Damn, I’m glad we’re in the desert. Cool nights. Thanks for the idea, Chlo.” Beca leaned over and kissed her girlfriend.
The women danced for hours on end. As 1 am approached and went, Beca suggested they go ahead and get an Uber home. “I don’t want to be fighting a bunch of drunk lesbians for a ride back to the hotel.”
The following day was the G Spot pool party from 1 - 6 pm. The two couples met at 10 am to walk to a little cafe two blocks down. Mila went on at two at the side or ‘quiet’ pool, and Beca wanted to ensure she was back in plenty of time to help set up. Kommissar wouldn’t be selling merch at the pool. After playing for 45 minutes, Mila would go to one of the downstairs patios, sell merch, take pictures and pose with fans. Beca hoped there’d be a crowd, so they planned on helping there.
After breakfast, everyone returned to their rooms to change into their swimwear. When Beca walked out of the bathroom, her mouth hit the floor. Chloe was wearing an all-white bikini that left little to the imagination.
“You like?” the redhead asked. Beca dumbly nodded. Chloe gave a coy smile, put on her white cover-up, and firmly placed her broad-brimmed white straw hat on her head. “Is that what you are wearing?” she motioned to Beca, who had a bikini top but board shorts.
“Yup,” replied Beca. “Be lucky you got me to wear this much!”
They both slathered on copious amounts of sunscreen to ensure they didn’t get burned, and Chloe dropped the bottle in the pocket of her cover-up. “What? I’m not taking a bag out there,” she exclaimed. “I’ve seen pictures of how many people can get pressed into that pool area.” Neither were taking their phones either. They decided to depend on their Apple Watches and use the water lock feature if they wanted to get in the water. Beca’s watch would open their room as well.
Beca yelled to the adjoining balcony and asked if their friends were ready to go. Stacie leaned out backward, grinning, and said, “Almost.” Suddenly, she swiftly disappeared into the room like she’d been jerked in. Beca chuckled and turned to Chloe. “I guess they can find us.”
Chloe and Beca used their VIP wristbands to get into the pool area early and went to the quiet pool. There, they found Mila and Kommissar, who were checking out the stage. “Just in time. The sound system is already set up. We’re about to do a sound check,” Mila announced. She had her guitar in hand and was tuning it.
Mila went through a song, periodically stopping to have the sound crew make adjustments. “I kind of like not having to do any of the setup myself.” As she continued playing for the sound check, several vendors stopped to watch her. After that song, they all began clapping, which made her smile proudly. She motioned to the sound crew for one more song.
After finishing the sound check, she stored her guitar in its case, and Kommissar went to put it safely in their room until it was time for her to play. Mila walked around and looked at some of the goods from the vendors watching her. She posed for pictures and visited with all who approached her.
“She knows how to work the proverbial room, right?” Beca was proud of her protegee. “It comes naturally to her.” She turned to Chloe and kissed her. “I got lucky with that one.”
Chloe returned the kiss and said, “Well, I got lucky with this one.” She tugged on Beca’s shoulders to bring her in for a tighter kiss.
Aubrey and Stacie showed up to the back stage just before Mila began her set. Chloe had messaged Aubrey and told her she wouldn’t talk to them the rest of the weekend if they didn't show up. Aubrey couldn’t look her friend in the eye when the taller couple arrived.
Beca motioned to the couple who’d just joined them and smirked. “Glad you could join us, ladies!”
Despite being the quieter pool, Mila’s music brought a large crowd. Larger than Beca had expected. She knew the pop and rock music Club Skirts was famous for and wasn’t sure Mila’s folky sound would be a good fit. But she’d trusted in Mariah. And sure enough, the women came to listen. Mila’s time on stage went quickly, but she assured all the women listening that she’d be in the main pool area for an hour-long meet and greet.
Beca took the artist's guitar and followed Mila to the meet-and-greet patio area. Kommissar was already there with the table set up and merchandise displayed. A large banner with Mila’s album cover was hanging as a backdrop for pictures. After making the sale, if a woman wanted her CD personalized with an autograph, Kommissar would carefully print their name on a sticky note and affix it to the case so Mila wouldn’t have to ask them how to spell it. Everything was pretty organized, so Beca unloaded additional merch as needed.
After the line had finally died down, Mila collapsed on the provided chair and gulped down an entire bottle of water. “Wow! What a rush.” Beca could tell she was giddy at all the new fans she’d acquired and how well her music had gone over.
“See what happens when you put yourself out there? Did you ever see yourself doing something like this that night you went to play at the open mic?”
“Never.”
Mila decided to go to her room and shower so she could change clothes and enjoy the rest of the pool party. Kommissar boxed up the remaining merch, took down the banner, and stored them in the meet and greet hotel room for the following day. She then said she was going to the room as well. “Maybe we will see you later, Tiny Mouse.” She grinned down at Beca, who had long since gotten over Kommissar’s use of the nickname.
Stacie and Aubrey suddenly appeared with four ice-cold Stellas, water dripping down the sides of the bottles. “I come bearing refreshments.”
After Chloe and Beca reapplied sunscreen, the couples meandered around the pool area, checking out all the booths and enjoying the music.
“So, where were you two earlier? You barely got to Mila’s session on time.” Chloe studied her friend’s face and laughed as a blush crept up from her chest.
“Leave them alone, Chlo. They don’t answer to us.” Beca didn’t want Aubrey to feel uncomfortable about being put on the spot when they knew where the couple had been.
“Beca to the rescue!” sang Stacie as she changed the subject.
They continued to walk when suddenly, Beca was hit by a squishy object. The balloon burst, and she was soaked in water. “What the…” She looked up and saw Kommissar on one of the balconies laughing. “Yeah, come down here and do that, Louisa.”
Kommissar asked if she could hang a few of Mila’s t-shirts off the balcony and display them. She thought it could be like advertising. “If someone sees them and yells up to get our attention, maybe I’ll toss one down. But only if they promise to come to the gig tomorrow.”
“Yeah, and bring three friends,” Beca replied.
“Now that’s networking,” Aubrey laughed.
The rest of the weekend went great. Aubrey had a surprisingly good time and did not feel uncomfortable around the hordes of lesbians. They are all just women having a good time, right? The black-and-white party on Friday night was to die for. They had never seen an entire club full of women dressed only in black or white. Fabulous.
Mila’s second stage appearance during the L Word Pool Party was twice as popular. They ran out of all the merchandise they’d brought during the meet and greet. Mila still visited with fans, posed for selfies, and signed anything the women wanted. One woman even had Mila autograph her washboard abs. After Beca made a few phone calls, they told fans that the merch store on Mila’s website would be up and running by Monday.
On Saturday night, the Holiday Party was held. All the performers, Mila included, and celebrity guests entered the club and walked along a wall on a red carpet. They stood against a white backdrop adorned with the logos of corporate sponsors while people took photographs, both press and attendees. Kommissar was eating up the attention because her tall, blonde, chiseled look drew quite the crowd. When she addressed the crowd in German, everyone went apeshit.
Mila wasn’t slated to play at the Sunday Fun Day Pool Party. Beca staked out one of the VIP cabanas with misters, a shade and lounge chairs for everyone. Best of all, some waitresses would bring them drinks and food. Periodically, one or two of the women would move right outside the cabana to lay in the sun, but for the most part, they were sun-drenched and enjoying the shade.
While Chloe packed their things on Monday, Beca went to see if she could find Mariah. The social butterfly was usually easy to find. As the event organizer, she made herself readily available in case problems arose. Beca located her talking to another person and waited patiently for her to finish the conversation.
Mariah glanced up, saw Beca and motioned her over. “Beca, I’d like you to meet my good friend, Doria. She used to be on a radio show on SiriusXM before the bastards closed the gay channel. Doria, this is Beca, the woman I was telling you about. Mila’s producer.”
Beca shook the woman’s hand. “Nice to meet you.” She would tell Mariah what an excellent time she and her friends had and thank her for the invite. But Mariah had a different agenda. “While Doria may no longer be on a radio show, she still has connections on SiriusXM.”
“I heard your girl, Beca. She’s good. Like really good. I bet I could get her an interview on one of the channels that play that type of music.”
Beca was stunned. “Seriously?”
Doria dug a card from her pocket and told Beca to have Mila’s agent contact her. She’d see what she could do. “You have a winner there!” With that, Doria said bye to her friend and left.
“So that just happened,” Beca said, shaking her head in disbelief. “Wow. Well, Mariah. I’m not sure what to say. Thank you doesn’t seem to be enough for everything you’ve done. I mean, the gigs here, the agent referrals, the trip, Doria… Yikes. But thank you is all I have.” She reached out for Mariah’s hand and furiously pumped it up and down.
“I know good music when I hear it, Beca. And apparently, you do, too. Tell you what. When you find your next artist, hit me up. Well, if they’re female. I’ll see what I can do.” The two visited a bit longer, and then Beca excused herself to get back to the room.
Chapter 29: All's Well that Ends Well
Chapter Text
The trip back west to Los Angeles wasn’t quite as rowdy as the trip east. Beca kept the top of the Jeep on, and the women chattered amongst themselves rather than listen to dance mixes. As the founder and organizer had promised, the four were already making plans to attend the following year.
Beca pulled into Aubrey’s driveway, and they all began to unload the Jeep. Beca and Stacie dropped their bags by the door while they got everything else out to make sure nothing had been left behind. Aubrey pulled some cold cuts from the refrigerator and made sandwiches for everyone's lunch.
“Damn, air conditioning never felt so good,” exclaimed Beca. “Did you guys notice that the AC would cut off if you left the patio door open?”
“Fuck,” said Stacie. “Is that why our room wouldn’t cool off?” Everyone laughed.
“So, Beca, what’s next for you?” Aubrey was curious what Beca would be doing since her life had been nothing but Mila since she’d come back from Germany, where she had run into Chloe as a fluke.
“I guess I go on another artist search,” Beca said. “Maybe back to Germany? I’m not sure.” Chloe looked at Aubrey and then looked at Beca. “What? Do I have something on my face?”
“No,” Chloe replied. “Just thinking.”
“Care to share with the group?” Beca stared at Chloe, who shook her head. The vet wasn’t about to put her girlfriend on the spot in front of everyone.
“I can’t believe we all have to go back to work tomorrow. Who didn’t suggest we take Tuesday off, too,” moaned Stacie.
“Dr. Richards was gracious to give both of us off Friday and Monday as it is.”
Stacie shrugged. “I never take off work. I’m entitled. And you are just a spare.” Chloe tried to act offended but admitted that when Dr. Madison was ready to come off maternity leave, she’d have to start looking for a job again.
“How much longer is that, babe?”
“A few weeks, I guess. I haven’t looked. I’ll ask Maggie in the morning.”
After lunch, Chloe convinced Beca to go to the back of the house with her before going home. “I know you have to get Diogee from the sitter, but I wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Am I in trouble?” Beca was concerned.
“No, sweetie. I listened to your song. Last week before we left.”
“Oh. Why didn’t you say anything? You hated it, right?”
“No, I loved it. And the other lyrics in your book. Beca, those are amazing. You need to do something with those.”
“Chloe, please. I was in college. Young. Inexperienced.” Beca was blowing off what her girlfriend was saying. “That stuff is garbage. Believe me, I know.”
“What did you tell Mila this weekend? I believe it was, ‘See what happens when you put yourself out there?’ I think you have something here.” Chloe couldn’t get Beca to see her side. Finally, she just outright demanded. “Beca, I want you to go to work tomorrow and play this for Larry. How about we let Larry decide whether it’s good or not? He’s objective, right?”
Beca knew that Chloe wouldn’t give up until she got her way. Reluctantly, she agreed to let Larry listen to the song she’d produced in college. Chloe assured her that if Beca didn’t, she’d know.
The next day, Chloe and Stacie dragged into the Van Nuys clinic about the same time. Chloe handed the tech a carton of cold-pressed coconut water. “For electrolytes.”
“Mmm, thanks. I have a feeling we’ll be chugging Gatorade all day. But it was well worth it.” Stacie told Chloe that Aubrey had an incredible time and felt much more comfortable in her own skin. “Funny thing, I thought being around a bunch of lesbians with swim trucks and pasties on their nipples would freak her out. But she had a blast. Thanks again for the invite.”
The morning started busy as Amy pushed more appointments onto Dr. Beale’s schedule since she’d been gone for two days. The receptionist claimed she didn’t trust the ‘substitute for the substitute.’ When Chloe finally got a break between patients, she found Maggie in the office.
When she asked when Dr. Madison planned on returning, the owner became frustrated. “I just got off the phone with Dr. Madison, in fact.” Chloe and Maggie discussed what had Maggie so bothered and tossed around some solutions.
“I’ll let you know,” said Chloe, leaving the office to attend to her next patient.
“I heard the weekend was a smash hit.” Larry stuck his head into Beca’s office.
The producer leaned back in her chair and told him about everything that happened, including the possibility that Mila might get some airtime on a SiriusXM channel.
“That’s spectacular. I knew I did right by bringing you on board, Mitchell.” Larry beamed with pride. They talked a bit longer, and then he asked, “Now, isn’t there something you are supposed to give me?”
“Ummm, I’m not sure what you are talking about,” Beca replied.
“Oh. Well. I got an email from Dr. Beale, who said that I should come to you if you didn’t come to me this morning with something.”
Beca rolled her eyes. “That little shit. I can’t believe she told you.” She shook her head. “I am embarrassed to give you this, but I told my girlfriend I would.” She dug into the pocket of her jeans and handed him the USB.
“A new artist, I presume?” Larry turned the drive over in his hands as if the outside would give him clues about its contents.
“How about you listen with fresh ears and no commentary? Then we’ll discuss. Just don’t be too harsh.”
Larry agreed and retired to his office.
Half an hour later, he burst back into her office. “You found one? You found another artist? Already? You’ve been swamped with Mila. How the hell did you find her?”
Beca contorted her face in confusion. “What are you talking about, Larry?”
“That song on the drive. Please tell me that the artist is available to sign. How’d you fit this in with all the work you’ve been doing?” Her boss was literally shaking with excitement.
“Larry! Chill! That was a college production project I did like when I was 22. At Barden.”
Now Larry was confused. “Beca, that song was amazing. Yeah, we’d need to re-record it in a better studio and take the edges off. I also read the music sheet and lyrics. Phenomenal. Are you still in contact with the artist?”
Beca narrowed her eyes, waiting for the punch line. “Larry, not funny.”
“What? I’m excited.”
“Larry.” Beca crossed her arms. “That’s my song.”
“And the singer?”
She rolled her eyes and pointed at herself. “This guy. It’s all me. The writer, the singer, the shitty producer. Me. All for a college project. I think I got a B.” She rolled her eyes.
“Are you telling me that all this time you’ve worked for me, you never told me you could sing or write?”
“I don’t want to be a songwriter, Larry, or a singer. I want to make music. I want to produce.”
“Beca,” Larry said matter of factly. “Without songwriting, singers can’t sing. And without singing, there is no producing. All of it - everything is about making music. You do know you can have it all, right?”
“Yeah, but it’d be butt-hard.”
“Okay, so I could fire you as a producer and force you to shift to songwriting and singing.”
“No, no, no,” Beca protested. She ran her fingers through her hair and blew a frustrated breath. “Okay, what do you want?”
“What else do you have?”
Beca explained that the song was the only fully fleshed-out song she had. “I have books upon books of lyrics and melodies. But nothing put together.” She wasn’t sure she was ready to let her boss see her inner thoughts without some editing. Beca felt her songs were personal and sharing was intimate.
She finally agreed to let her boss loose with that one song to see if he could find someone else to record it with the promise she could produce it. Then, if that venture proved fruitful, she’d consider sharing a few of her other works.
“Meanwhile, you need to work on those other songs.”
Beca grudgingly agreed, which was enough to satisfy Larry for now. Once her boss left the office, Beca texted her girlfriend.
[To Chloe: Ratfink.]
[To Chloe: You emailed Larry?]
[To Chloe: Well, you got what you wanted]
[To Chloe: And for that, you’re making me dinner.]
[To Chloe: Diogee and I will be there at 7]
About an hour later, Beca got a return text with nothing but smiley faces and starbursts.
After work, Beca went home and took Diogee to the dog park to wear her out. The dog had gotten used to playing with her friends in the evening after Beca came home and would pace the apartment if Beca didn’t take her. When they returned, Beca put down a bowl of food so the dog could eat while she showered.
When Beca pulled into Aubrey’s driveway, Stacie’s car was there, so Beca decided to go to the front door instead of going back to Chloe’s entrance. Apparently, the vet tech was joining them for dinner, which was okay with Beca.
After she rang, Aubrey answered the door. “I’m not sure why you still ring the doorbell, Beca. You practically live here.”
“Politeness?” Beca made her point as she pushed back Aubrey. She offered the bottle of wine she carried. “Not that Chloe deserves this. I’m still trying to decide if I’m mad at her for emailing my boss.”
Aubrey’s eyes softened. “Go easy on her. She was excited about what you gave her. I wanted to listen, but she said not without talking to you. Chloe only wants what’s best for you; that’s all she’s ever wanted.”
Hearing that nobody else had heard the song helped ease Beca’s grumpiness, so she went to find her girlfriend in the kitchen. “Hey you, " she said, greeted Chloe with a kiss, and Chloe mock flinched.
“You aren’t mad at me?”
“Naw,” Beca replied. “I’m going to say this only once, but you were right. Larry loved it. He’s going to shop it around to see if anyone is interested. I’m sure he’ll want to see some of my other songs even though they aren’t even cobbled together. He wants me to start working on them.”
Chloe clapped her hands together and squealed. “That’s great. I knew he’d like it.” She then schooled her face into a serious look. “Aubrey’s been dying to listen, but I wouldn’t let her.”
“Meh.” Beca shrugged her shoulders. “It’s cool. Maybe after dinner.” She saw Aubrey’s eyes brighten up. Beca looked around the kitchen. “What’s for dinner? You’ve made a mess!”
“Creamy Lemon Pappardelle With Crispy Prosciutto,” Chloe said, pulling a ball of wrapped dough from the refrigerator. She’d already prepped the other ingredients, which sat in small bowls and were ready for use.
“And you felt making your pasta was the way to go?” Beca chuckled as Chloe began to roll out the pasta before cutting it into broad strips.
“Of course. The rest of the recipe is simple, and you just can’t beat fresh pasta.” Chloe put water for the pasta to boil and started making the lemon cream sauce. She asked Aubrey to drop in the pasta when the water was at a rolling boil. “The sauce is about ready, too.” After a few short minutes, Chloe turned off the heat beneath her sauce, dipped out the pasta and stirred it into the sauce, ensuring all the strips were coated entirely.
The pasta dish was transferred to a serving platter. She pulled a pan of roasted carrots from the oven and deposited them into a serving bowl. Aubrey and Stacie had already set the table, so once the dishes were ready, Chloe announced it was chow time. “Bon Appetit!”
Beca had skipped lunch and was devouring dinner. “Babe, this is fabulous. All of it. Apology accepted.”
Chloe laughed. “Oh, this was an apology dinner, was it?”
“Yeah, for emailing Larry about my song.”
“I prefer to call it an announcement dinner. That’s why Stacie is here.” All four women stopped eating, looking at Chloe expectantly. “I thought I’d tell you all at once. I talked to Maggie today.”
Stacie narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms. “Let me guess. Dr. Madison’s maternity leave is up, and she’s returning to work. And here I was beginning to like you, Dr. Beale.” They all laughed.
Chloe explained that Dr. Madison would not return to the Van Nuys clinic. “She has decided to spend more time at home with her newborn. She doesn’t want her job back.”
Stacie let her head fall back. “Well fuck, now Dr. Richards is going to hire a new vet that we all have to break in.” The tech wasn’t excited to hear this news.
“On the other hand, I got a job offer today,” Chloe announced. “I’m not sure if I’m going to accept it.” She looked at Beca. “I wanted to talk to you first.”
“And the news just keeps getting better,” Stacie complained sarcastically.
Aubrey was torn between trying to comfort Stacie and being excited for Chloe. “A job offer so soon? Where are you going?”
“This cute little clinic not too far from here. It’s over on Van Nuys.”
Stacie’s head popped back up, and a cautious smile crept on her face. “Seriously? You’re permanent?”
“Most likely,” Chloe said. “After this one, I will talk it over.” She squeezed Beca’s hand.
Beca looked at her girlfriend. “I don’t see that there should be any question about this, Chlo. I know why you decided to start with the temporary vet route. But I think you’ve found a home there.”
“Then it’s settled.” Chloe went to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of champagne. Stacie jumped up to get some flutes. “Let’s officially celebrate my new job.”
The following week was strange for Beca at work. She didn’t have Mila to manage, and Larry hadn’t yet tasked her with finding a new artist. Beca worked on Mila’s remaining songs until she’d done all that she could do. But nothing else was assigned to her, so she begrudgingly started working on her old music.
She’d gotten her notebook back from Chloe and gone through some of the other ones she’d kept all these years. Beca pulled out the ones that contained the most promising songs and dropped them in her work satchel. Since Larry hadn’t given her anything to do, she began to pour through the lyrics and melodies she’d written so many years ago.
Slowly, Beca began to piece together bits of songs. They were by no means finished, but she was getting her works organized. And once Beca got started, she couldn’t stop. She’d forgotten how much she’d been into this part of music back in her younger years. Since graduation, she’d focused so much on one side of the craft that she’d lost sight of her first love, the actual creation.
Periodically, Larry would walk by her office and see Beca furiously scribbling in her notebook with a guitar on her lap or sitting at a keyboard. He would simply chuckle and continue without interrupting her. The only time they talked was during the morning meetings. He caught her one morning as she was about to leave and handed her a folder.
“What’s this?” Beca opened the folder and began to flip through the contents.
“Mila’s next tour. That agent you set her up with booked her quickly. The dates got pushed back a bit because of the interview at SiriusXM here in L.A., which will be incredible, might I add.”
After looking at the dates, Beca quickly figured in her head. “Yeah, she doesn’t start as soon as I hoped, but what do I know? The tour ends at about the time her new album is ready. I wonder if her agent has found her a regular promoter.”
“One thing for sure, she won’t be as good as you!”
Beca brushed off his compliment and returned to her office.
A few days later, Larry did, in fact, stop by Beca’s office to speak with her. He told her the recording she’d given him on the USB drive had degraded over time. “Would you do me a teensy favor and re-record the song?”
Beca tried to act offended, but in truth, having gotten back to songwriting lately had put her in the mood to get in the studio. She’d never recorded herself in a real studio, and this would be the perfect excuse. She knew she’d have to listen to the song and practice quite a bit before she was ready, especially to get her voice into shape for a decent take.
The following week, Beca’s stomach did flips when she opened the door to the recording. With Larry’s encouragement, they were able to lay down the tracks they needed in only a few takes. Beca didn’t want any of her colleagues to work on the song and insisted on doing all the production work herself. Eventually, Larry declared the work suitable enough for a demo and let her go back to her songwriting.
When Chloe told Dr. Richards that she would be delighted to accept the full-time position, Maggie immediately held a celebration at a karaoke bar after work—her treat. The techs were all delighted that Chloe was staying around, as they had all heard rumors of the other vet returning or Chloe leaving to take a position elsewhere. She assured them that the Van Nuys clinic was her home, and she was there to stay.
Mila’s interview on SiriusXM spiked her followers on all social media platforms and drove a great deal of traffic to her website. Before she left on her tour, she and Kommissar insisted on taking Beca and Chloe out to eat. “It’s going on an expense report,” Kommissar said when she beat Beca to the check. She shook her finger at her long-ago ex-girlfriend, now friend. Besides, we wanted to show our thanks for all you’ve done. For both of us.”
Beca promised she’d try to catch one of Mila’s shows but couldn’t commit to which one. In reality, she was sad to see her protegee head out on her own. Beca had been happy to hand over the reins to someone else. She felt satisfied she’d done the best she could.
As Mila’s tour progressed, she and Chloe followed her journey on all her socials. The success she was achieving was phenomenal. Beca was still writing songs furiously but had returned to producing as Larry assigned her projects here and there.
When Chloe got to Beca’s one Friday after work, they leashed up Diogee and headed for the dog park. “Mila’s going to be playing in Barden next weekend. Did you know that?” Chloe looped her arm in Beca’s and leaned against her as she walked.
“Really? I guess I didn’t look that close. Did you want to go?”
“I thought you might want to see your dad. I still have a few friends there. We could invite Aubrey and Stacie, too.” After agreeing they would go, Chloe insisted on making all the arrangements so Beca wouldn’t have to do anything. “I love to plan; you know this about me.”
Aubrey jumped on the chance to return to Barden, and of course, Stacie was easily convinced to join them. The two couples arrived in Atlanta a few days before Mila was supposed to play. Once they had loaded their luggage in the rental car, they headed towards their hotel to drop everything off. This gave Chloe and Aubrey time to visit their friends from university who still lived in the area. Beca also planned to take her father out to eat.
The women were seated at the restaurant as he was walking in. The producer trotted over to greet him. “Hey, Dad. Glad you could meet us.” She pulled him over to the table. Suddenly, her throat became dry, and she got extremely nervous. “Umm, you remember Chloe, right? And Aubrey. I went to high school with them.”
Ben chuckled. “I believe you went to all of school with this one.” He pointed to Chloe as he took a seat next to his daughter. “Aubrey, good to see you. I also believe both of you took my comparative literature class at Barden University. Something my daughter didn’t do.” Beca laughed. “And this is…” He motioned to Stacie.
Aubrey introduced Stacie as her girlfriend. Ben threw his head back and laughed. “I guess we do have a lot to catch up on.” Fear struck Beca’s face as she looked at Chloe. They hadn’t talked about how to tell her dad they were dating. “Chloe are you seeing anyone?” he asked.
“I am,” Chloe chirped. “Your daughter.”
Ben almost spit out the drink of water he had just taken. “Last I heard, you two weren’t even on speaking terms.”
“Dad,” Beca chided. “That was high school and quite a long time ago.” She tried to blow it off like the spat she and Chloe had many years past had been nothing. “Chloe’s a doctor now. A vet.” She deftly changed the subject. Soon, the conversation started circling around Chloe’s work and how Stacie was a tech at the clinic. Beca was fine as long as the spotlight was kept off her.
At one point, Ben asked about their visit. “You said one of your artists is playing here tomorrow?”
“My only artist, really,” Beca chuckled. She explained how she’d discovered Mila in Germany and fully developed her as an artist from start to finish. “I guess it was the boss’ way of showing me the ropes in the industry. I’m excited to see her play. She’s going to be so surprised.”
Chloe quickly ducked her head and looked guilty. “Not so much. We have lunch with her and Kommissar tomorrow.” Beca narrowed her eyes and mock glared at Chloe. “What? It’s not like it’s a secret. I had to get good tickets somehow.”
The reunion between Mila, Beca and the rest of the women was joyful. Mila could not stop talking about how fabulous the audiences had been. She also was excited about how much of the United States she was getting to see. “Now, Kommissar and I are new adventurers. She hasn’t even been to these cities.”
“Well, I wouldn’t exactly call Barden a city,” Beca chuckled. “It’s more of a town.”
“But you grew up here, yes? And Chloe and Aubrey?”
Beca admitted that the three of them had indeed grown up in Barden and even went to college there. So, Mila pronounced Barden the most important stop on her tour. “I am excited for you to come tomorrow. I am playing new songs now.”
Presuming Mila meant songs off her soon-to-be-released LP, Beca said she was looking forward to hearing them live. She thought she caught a conspiring wink between her artist and her girlfriend but thought nothing more of it.
The venue had primarily first-come, first-served, standing-room-only tickets. Apparently, Mila had arranged for an additional area to be roped off for Beca and her friends, with actual seats, a small table and a good view of the stage. Aubrey and Chloe got settled and sent their girlfriends off to get drinks.
“Do you think she suspects anything?” Aubrey asked when the other two were out of earshot.
“Not a thing,” Chloe giggled.
Soon, the music started, and the four were singing at the top of their lungs to the songs they enjoyed most. Mila was hyping up the crowd. After the first set and Mila’s break, a hush fell over the crowd as the singer settled back on her stool with her guitar ready.
“Good evening, Barden!” She yelled. “I’m Mila! Barden is a special place, you know. No, no, I don’t say that at all my gigs. But Barden is where it’s at. You know it! You see, my producer is from Barden. She grew up here. Went to college here. Everything. Beca, where you at?” She shaded her eyes with her hand so she could see into the audience. “Stand up! Oh, you are standing.”
“Ho, ho. The short jokes never get old, Mila.” Beca sat back down.
Mila gave a shortened version of how Beca found her playing at an open mic and her journey to playing on this stage that night. “So Beca Mitchell and Barden. I thank you. This one’s for you.”
She began to strum her guitar softly.
Have you ever
Have you ever wondered what would happen
What would happen if you’d taken a different path
Have you ever wondered where you’d be
Chloe stole a look at Beca and found her slack-jawed and listening in awe.
What is life if not a series of decisions
Standing at a fork in the road
Could have turned left instead of right
What would have you faced then
Have you ever
Have you ever wondered what would happen
What would happen if you’d taken a different path
Have you ever wondered where you’d be
Next decision is that hill or the stream
Climb over or get your feet wet
Which leads to where you want to go
Haven’t you wondered?
Clip yourself to that balloon
Be lifted into the air
See where all the paths lead
Make your decisions there
Would you do that if you could see
Or would you rather wonder…
Beca didn’t say anything through the rest of Mila’s set. Once Mila finished playing, Beca immediately rushed backstage to try to catch up with Mila. Her protegee was wiping the sweat off her face and neck with a towel. When she saw her producer, a broad smile appeared on her face. “What did you think?”
Beca pulled up short, not quite sure what to say. She hadn’t thought that far ahead. “Did Chloe put you up to this?”
“Not really. Well, kind of. She let me know you guys were coming. My agent gave me the green light to add it to the set tonight.”
“Your agent?” Beca was thoroughly confused. “How… when…”
Mila explained that Larry had sent the demo to her through her agent, and she’d loved it. “You know I write my own songs but haven’t had time. And this one. This one was perfect. So… we bought it.”
“You… you bought my song?” Beca was stunned.
By now, Chloe, Aubrey, and Stacie had found them backstage and were watching the interaction.
“Yes. Beca. This is a good thing. Soon, I will be on tour again. I will still have no time to write. You write songs for me, yes?”
Beca was quiet. She felt Chloe come up next to her and grasp her hand. “I loved the song, Mila. You did the original justice.” She squeezed Beca’s hand. “Tell her what you thought, babe.”
“I- I- I loved it!” Finally, Beca’s stupor broke. She pulled free from Chloe’s grasp and wrapped her arms around Mila’s neck. When she pulled back, tears were streaking her face. “Chloe will tell you that I keep my music extremely close to my chest.”
“But you will write songs for me, yes?”
“Yes, Mila. For you. But only if you keep me as your producer.”
When Beca returned from her short vacation in Georgia, her first order of business was to set up a meeting with Larry. Mila was the only artist he had in mind when he had Beca remake the demo. He knew the song would fit her sound and that her agent was looking for a songwriter who could work alongside Mila for more material since the artist was so busy with her tour.
“You aren’t too mad at me, are you?” Larry grinned as he brought out a bottle of scotch hidden in his desk drawer.
“It depends on what you’re pouring,” Beca chuckled.
He gave Beca an idea of where he felt she fit into the studio’s mission. Right now, she’d concentrate on songwriting and scouting new talent. “You can go back to Germany if you want. Alaska, Bangladesh, for all I care. You have a good ear, Mitchell. I know that writing isn’t something you can sit down and do. The mood must strike you. But if you promise to hone your songwriting, you have free reign to scout yourself another protegee.”
Beca agreed to the plan and told him that she had a few more songs that might be almost ready to try to record. But she wouldn’t let him hear or read anything until she was comfortable.
A few months later, Chloe unlocked the door to meet a wriggling Diogee at the threshold. “Beca? Are you ready?”
“In here,” Beca called out from the bedroom. She tossed the final few items in her suitcase and closed the lid. “All done. Is Stacie coming up?”
“She was right behind me.”
Beca dragged her suitcase to the front room and double-checked the contents of her work satchel. She started checking Diogee’s things when Stacie came in. “Hey, Stace. Thanks for taking care of Diogee while we’re gone. Everything she needs should be in this bag. You know the drill, though.”
Stacie snapped the lead on the dog’s collar and grabbed the dog’s things while Beca got her suitcase and work satchel. As they exited, Chloe made sure the apartment was locked up tight. They took the elevator to the parking garage, where Aubrey was waiting with her car. Once everything and everyone was loaded, they were off to Los Angeles International.
Traffic was unusually light, so the trip to the airport did not take as long as expected. Despite arriving at the airport with plenty of time to spare, Chloe and Beca decided to take advantage of their status and take the escort cart to their gate area. They didn’t have time to go to the Executive Lounge, but that was okay with them.
Soon, their plane boarded, and the couple was seated in side-by-side business class seats. “I can’t believe we are going back to Germany, where it all began.” Chloe had a wistful look on her face.
“Where what began?”
Chloe looked over at Beca. “This.” She motioned to the space between them. “And Mila.”
Beca looked at her girlfriend and shook her head. “Maybe where everything with Mila began. But not this.” Her eyes softened as she motioned to the space between them. “This started under a slide when we were six years old. A precious little redhead found me in my hiding space and the next day proclaimed we would become fast friends.”
Chloe looked like she was going to tear up at Beca's sentiment and changed the subject. “So, we are on a hunt to find you another artist, eh?”
Beca mumbled something she hoped sounded like an affirmative answer. She ducked her head down and dug around in her work satchel until she found what she was looking for. After a quick glance told her Chloe’s attention was elsewhere, she tucked the small, black box into her pocket.
She stood and went to the forward cabin to talk to one of the attendants, then returned to her seat. Her plan had been set into motion. All she could do was sit there, be nervous and hope with all her heart that Chloe would say yes.
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