Hold Up, I Love You?

Five.

(Beca's POV)

So our performance was good enough to get us 3rd out of five places. Which means we just made our way further into competition. Beca knew if they didn't change their set for the next competition they were fucked.
She and Chloe lay together in their hotel room, watching TV, cuddled together. Chloe would occasionally place kisses on Beca's neck, or nibble at her ear, indicating that she was in the mood, but Cake Boss was on and Beca fucking loved this show. "Babbbeeeeee! Cake Boss is on. Afterwards please."

"Did you just call me babe?" Chloe laughed. "You've never called me any kind of pet names before."

"I did not, I said Beale." I defended. "And I've called you loads of stuff, I've called you baby before."

"Yeah, but that's like during sex and shit, this was just out of nowhere." Chloe had a point. I never called her anything couplish, ever. And for good reason, Chloe and I are not a couple. I don't think I'll ever be in a relationship either. "You called me babe and we're cuddling, and watching Cake Boss. I think that's a little couplish don't you?"

"Beale, you're my best friend. My best friend who I occasionally make out with and have sex with. Don't ruin it for me." I joked.  Chloe didn't laugh. She just looked disappointed. She wasn't starting to have feelings for me, was she? "Come on, don't get upset." I turned the TV off. "Look, Cake Boss is off, I turned off the TV for you. Now come here." I pulled her tighter into me, her head lay on my shoulder and her arms wrapped around my waist. "What's on your mind Red?"

"Nothing. It's stupid." Chloe shook her head and pulled away from me, she went into the bathroom and shut the door. I sat up in bed and let out a groan. Did this girl seriously think there was a possibility of us becoming anything more than best friends? I laid down the law when this all started, that all I wanted was a FWB relationship, that I didn't want anything serious. I told her. I told her I didn't like commitment. Of course I never told her why, but after last night's heart to heart I think it's plain to see. All commitments break. Nothing ever stays the way you want it to, and everything that seems too perfect gets ruined. Dating Chloe would make us too perfect. She's too perfect. I can't handle another broken commitment, I can't handle more changes, I can't have another part of my heart ripped to shreds. If I give this girl my heart, she'll just do a Mexican hat dance all over it. 
I heard the shower running and assumed Chloe was taking one. I left a note saying that I was heading down to the bar, and if she wanted to join me look for my red leather jacket. 
I pulled on my black jeans, a black tank top, my brown combat boots, and my red leather jacket. I walked to the elevator and took it down to the second floor, then walked into the bar/casino. 

"Can I help you little miss? The arcade is down the hall." The bartender joked.

I gave him a glare. "I'll take a scotch on the rocks." I showed him my fake ID, since I'm only nineteen I can't show him my real one. He looked me up and down before pouring my drink. 
I sat there for hours, drinking one after another, until the bartender cut me off. "Dude, come on, one more!"

"Your bill is nearing one hundred dollars, and you're obviously very drunk." The bartender huffed. "I'm going to have to ask you to leave. We will charge this to your room." I rolled my eyes and got off the bar stool. I walked around the hotel aimlessly, not sure of where to go. 

I saw a flash of red, and soon there was someone supporting me. "Jesus, Beca how much did you have to drink!" I looked over to see Chloe and a huge smile plastered on my face. "Becs?"

"Hey there gorgeous!" I slurred. Chloe's cheeks became a bright pink. "Awe, there's that blush I love. What're you doin' here?"

"I came to find you, dummy." Chloe giggled. "God your breath wreaks of scotch."

"You know I think you're damn amazing, right? Like you're hot as hell, you've got an amazing voice, you're such a caring person, and you are insanely great in bed. Like holy shit. You blow my mind." I told her. I started laughing. "You blow my mind, because I don't have a dick to blow." I started laughing so hard that I felt my knees go weak. 

"Okay, Becs come on, stand up." Chloe struggled to get me back to my feet and finally gave up and pulled me onto her back piggy-back style. "Let's go back to the room."

"No! Chloe, you should totally get drunk with me, there are other bars, let's go, you get drunk, I'll get drunker, and we can see where our drunk shenanigans take us." I suggested. 

Chloe put me down and stood me in front of her. She looked into my eyes and seemed to be considering my offer. "Fuck it, I could use a drink." I smiled and grabbed Chloe's hand into mine. "But I'm not getting too drunk, okay? I'll just have a few. We need at least one of us to get us back to the room."

"Deal, Beale!" I kissed her cheek and that adorable blush returned to her cheeks. God this girl would be the one, she would be mine, she could be mine. Why am I pushing her away when she wants so desperately to be mine? I should just let myself give in to her. I knew she wanted me the way I wanted her. The way I wanted her? How did I want her? It wasn't just a sexual thing anymore. I wanted her to be mine. I wanted her to be mine for the rest of my life. I've had multiple relationships, similar to the ones Chloe and I have. The only difference is that with those other people, it was just sex. If I were to do this with Jesse, it would just be sex. But with Chloe it was more than that, it always has been. It was passion, it was a need, it was magic. Everything we do, even just casual holding of hands feels like a volcano in my stomach has erupted, and my heart is doing a 15k race. She makes me feel things in ways I have never felt before, for anyone in my entire life. Is this what love is?

---

Soon enough Chloe and I were both extremely drunk. I knew this would happen, she never has 'just a few' she always gets drunk. We walked around the hotel, arm in arm, drunk off our asses. We were laughing at absolutely everything and absolutely nothing at the same time. "Chloe, you are such an amazing friend. You're my favorite."

"I'm like you're only friend." Chloe laughed. "You're my favorite too." Chloe booped my nose and I went to bite her finger. We did that a few times, and each time Chloe laughed harder and harder. "Beca, I love you. Not like a friend, like more than a friend. I love you."

"Hold up, I love you?" That wasn't something she was supposed to tell me. We were just supposed to be friends. She wasn't supposed to fall in love with me. Chloe nodded and let out a low sigh. I looked the ginger up and down, my eyes landed on hers. We stared at each other for a while and I didn't know what to say. On one hand I knew I loved her too, but on the other hand I was too scared to say anything. What was I supposed to do? "I... I love you too."

"You do?" Chloe wondered. "But you... you said you didn't want to... you said we were strictly friends with benefits?"

"I also said I'd never fall in love, because it only leads to heart break. But here you are, and here I am, and I am in love with you." Chloe kissed me, slowly, sweetly, and sloppily. Drunk kissing wasn't our forte, but any kiss from Chloe was the best kiss. Chloe smirked as she pulled away, and I figured we should get out of the middle of the hotel lobby. I had an idea, and I knew Chloe would be all for it. "I want to do something, it may be a bad idea, but we should do it."