Remind Me I'm Alive (Bechloe)

The Mess You'd Wear with Pride

It wasn't unusual for Chloe's life to be dictated to her. The redhead was used to other people making decisions for her, whether it was her mother, Jamie, or Aubrey. There was always someone there making her decisions for her. And for the most part, the redhead didn't mind. She was a people pleaser and was willing to sacrifice if it made someone else happy. Plus, it was easier letting someone else figure out the specifics.

However, today Chloe despised her passive nature as Aubrey forced her to go shopping with her. The blonde had insisted that they need to find matching outfits. But Chloe wasn't interested in shopping. The redhead had spent the better part of two weeks cooped up at home, hoping for Jamie to show up. Now that he was on the road, Chloe was hoping to spend some quality time with Beca. But Aubrey had insisted the redhead come with her.

Beca: I think I might have sacrificed my alone time just so I can hang out with you a little more haha

Beca's text was fixed in her mind.

She wants to hang out with me, Chloe thought.

Chloe's mind wandered as they shopped. She couldn't stop thinking about the tiny brunette, who had politely declined Chloe's invitation to go shopping with her and Aubrey. It was like every time Chloe felt she was about to make a breakthrough; the smaller woman ran off or isolated herself from the world. But they had made some progress, and Chloe was determined to break through to her one way or another.

"Is there a reason we brought the peanut gallery with us?" Aubrey asked, motioning to the two younger women who were playing on the other side of the store.

Aubrey had been annoyed that Chloe had also asked Emily and Cora to join them. However, Chloe quickly reminded her that Emily was the team's captain, and she should be included.

"Well, I just thought it would be nice to bring them along and get their input on the uniforms," Chloe replied. "Plus, they remind me of how we used to be back in the day before we got old and boring."

The blonde easily stood out in the store as she wore a bright yellow dress, which perfect matched her hair. While Chloe was more causal in a dark blue top with matching jeans. In the past their outfits would've matched better, but lately the pair were out of sink.

"You sure it's not the fact Emily is Beca's sister?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Please, Chloe, I see the way you two act around each other. 'This ginger needs her jiggle juice,'" Aubrey said, doing her best impression of Chloe shaking her hips and slapping her ass in the same manner as the redhead had done to Beca just a few days earlier. Her actions caused the redhead to blush.

"I was just teasing her," Chloe said, justifying her actions as much to herself as to Aubrey.

"You were trying to get her to stare at your ass," Aubrey tooted confidently. "Which totally worked, by the way. She was staring at it all night."

"You're imagining things."

"I know what I saw," Aubrey defended.

"We're...."Chloe stuttered, not sure what the right word was. "Just friends."

"Really? Because I'm pretty sure Beca wants to rip your clothes off," Aubrey said. "And I'm not surprised by the way you are constantly flirting with her."

Chloe was speechless. She wasn't expecting to be grilled by her best friend.

"I don't intentionally flirt with her."

"Oh yeah? Then how come when Jamie is in town you don't text any of us 'because you don't want to start another fight,'" Aubrey said using air quotes around Chloe's statement. "But you have no problem texting Beca day and night."