Meant To Be

12.

Author's POV

They spent the night at the bar with Beca and Chloe making soft glances at each other. Every now and then the group would laugh about something and Chloe would feel the need to look up at Beca and see her smile and for a moment, just for a moment, she felt at ease. As if Beca's eyes were something she took comfort in, her attention, her gaze. It felt like when Chloe looked into Beca's eyes, the words danced around her again, "I love you". Beca would return a smile to Chloe and they would snap back to reality and join the group.

The next morning was filled with groans of hungovers and grogginess. Everyone was cranky and racing to the kitchen for coffee. "I'm really getting to old for this", Chloe yawned and poured herself a cup of coffee before passing Alice a mug as well. "Boo, Professor, you're no fun", Fat Amy said to Chloe who just rolled her eyes in response. "Don't we have a party tomorrow as well?", Aubrey asked. "You guys are crazy", Chloe added. "Don't worry it's just a small thing, a little get together for Emily's 18th!", Stacie smiled and hugged Emily. who rolled her eyes. "Oh yea, I forgot that you're younger than them!", Chloe said. "She's just a baby", Beca added before she pat Emily's head. "I'm taller than you", Emily told her before Beca jokingly gasped.

Unfortunately for Beca, she has another off day and everyone's out.. well except for Chloe and the Mrs. Burying herself in her work at the dining table, she tries to ignore the lovebirds' giggles and laughters.. and sometimes their kisses. "Hey lovebirds, mind keeping it down a bit?", she let out bluntly not turning away from her laptop. "Sorry", Chloe muttered. "Come on, you get to fuck as loud as you want every night, give us some space", Alice said. Beca took her headphones off and stood up to walk towards them, her fists clenched. "I have an idea! Why not, you go to the room which again- I let you stay at for free- and get your space there?", Beca told her not breaking eye contact with Alice. Before anyone else could say anything- or punch anyone, the door bell rang and all their heads turned to the door before Beca rolled her eyes at Alice and walked to the door. She opened the door to see Cindy holding a few bags. "Oh- Cindy, here let me help you with that. Chloe's just inside, come in", Beca said while taking the bags from the older woman's hand. "You've gone skinnier, Beca, I got some lunch in one of the bags, eat up", Cindy said with a smile before turning to the living room to see Chloe now off the couch and Alice sitting down on her phone. "Hey, what are you doing here?", Chloe asked her mom before pulling her in for a hug. "I come here every now and then and drop them some groceries, do you see them?! They need to eat more!", Cindy laughed. "We're fine, Cindy. I told you, you don't have to do all this", Beca approached the two of them with a smile and an apple in hand. "But thank you", she added on and bit into the apple, earning a small pat on the shoulder from Cindy. "Uh, mom, this is uhm- wait", Chloe whisper shouted at Alice who's still on her phone, "Alice! Come here!", Alice shot up and turned her phone off which made Beca snickered.

"This is Alice, my girlfriend", Chloe smiled. "This is my mom, Cindy", she added on and Alice offered a handshake to which Cindy accepted hesitantly. "It's nice to meet you, ma'am", Alice smiled. "Well then, is it just the three of you here?", Cindy looked around with a weird look and turned to Beca who nodded awkwardly. "I see. Why not I stay over and make dinner?", she asked. "No, you don't need to that", Beca smiled. "Please, I've been cooking for one and sometimes two, I am a natural host", Cindy joked and walked to the kitchen. "I'll lend you a hand", Beca followed behind her.

"You okay?", Cindy asked not looking back at Beca who's behind her dicing the onions. "Yea, it hasn't triggered the tear ducts yet maybe you bought a fake onion", Beca joked which made Cindy laughed. "I meant, are you okay with- you know, this whole thing? With Chloe?", Cindy finally turned to Beca. "I'll be okay", Beca replied. "I don't care what that girl says, she's in love with you, Beca. I know it", she said. "A bit hard for me to believe that, if I'm being honest with you", Beca replied. "Can I help you with anything?", Alice came with Chloe in her hand. "No, I'm okay dear, Beca got everything covered", she smiled. "Mom, I'm sure we can help you with something", Chloe said with a slight hint of direct. "I'm actually done with the onion, why not you guys take it from here? I need to use the restroom anyways", Beca smiled awkwardly and nodded at Cindy before leaving the three of them in the kitchen. The kitchen was filled with deafening silence. Cindy was not interested in knowing more about Alice and has always wondered how Chloe could do such things to Beca. "So, what are we making?", Alice broke the silence. "Just pasta", Cindy replied bluntly. The next 30 minutes was just Alice attempting at making small talk with Cindy while she just shot it down with a few words, showing no interest in the conversation. 

"Ma, be nice to her. She's trying to talk to you", Chloe said to her mom when Alice went to the toilet. "I am being nice, I'm answering her questions, aren't I?", she replied. "Yes, but you're replying bluntly. At least try and look interested", Chloe rolled her eyes before Alice came back down.

"Smells good in here, Cindy!", Beca shouted as she walk down the stairs on her phone. "Thank you, darling. Come, give it a taste", Cindy gestured for Beca to walk towards her and the tiny brunette made her way over, squeezing in between Alice and Chloe. "Mmm, amazing. Do you want to move in?", Beca joked earning a light slap from Cindy. "Wow, mom, you didn't tell me you have a new daughter!", Chloe said before pushing Beca away from Cindy and stood next to her. "Rude! Did you see what she did!", Beca yelled out which made Cindy laugh even more. "Enough, you two. Beca, help me set the table will you?", she asked to which Beca responded with a 'Yes ma'am!' and a salute. "Oh my god, it smells amazing in here. Cindy, is that you!", Emily yelled out when she walked in before running into the kitchen. "God, I'm suddenly starving", she added when she saw the woman scooping out their dinner. "They're all quite close to your mom, huh?", Alice whispered to Chloe who just shrugged it off. 

"This is amazing, no offense, Emily. Your dinner is also- mwah!", Beca let out as she eat her dinner and everyone just laughed. "How are you girls doing?", Cindy asked. "Emily's turning 18 tomorrow!", Stacie said. "Excited?", Cindy asked again. "Ehh, I'm okay", the younger brunette replied. The group exchanged a few more small conversations from how the store's doing, Beca's gigs, Fat Amy's new one-woman show? "Chlo, you've been quiet", Beca brought out and everyone looked at each other weirdly, unsure of what to say or add on. "Just- listening to you guys", Chloe smiled. "Uh, why not you guys tell us about- y'know- how'd you guys- meet?", Beca said awkwardly.