"Hey, try on this dress!" Beca said, handing Chloe a black floral dress.
"I don't know, I like the same one in blue, I think. Why do you want me to get this so bad?"
"I don't know, you'd look cute in it. What were you thinking for bridesmaid dresses?"
"Bec, you're the bride. I don't care, I'm just the maid of honor. What color were you gonna do?"
"Black and white, so I was thinking we do black lace dresses for the bridesmaids, and my dress will be white lace?"
"Don't go with all lace. I think your dress should be big and fluffy with tons of layers and beads."
Beca rolled her eyes. "Really cause I was thinking tight mermaid dress with not a lot of beading."
"Whatever you say, Mrs. Future Swanson."
Beca changed the subject. "So Nick seemed really nice."
Chloe's face brightened. "You know how sometimes you just know things, Bec? Like it's one of those things where you know it'll work out or that sort of thing, like Anna knew you were going to be ok after the accident?"
"Yeah... Why?" Beca sorted through more dresses.
"That's how it was with Nick. We clicked right into place, Beca. He was so sweet and considerate, and his smile could just light up a room."
Beca smiled. "Kind of like yours," she said quietly.
"We're meant to be. I just know it. He loves me, and we haven't even had an official date yet. We're going out tomorrow."
Beca smiled again. She was really really happy for Chloe. "I know Chlo. But have you told him about the baby? What if he doesn't want a kid. He wouldn't even be the father, Chlo."
"I know, I'm gonna tell him tomorrow. Do I have a bump yet?"
"Just a little bit. Do I?"
"Same. We're due around the same time too. Our kids might share a birthday."
Beca smiled. "Yeah that would be pretty cool. Hey, gimme that blue dress."
Chloe handed her the dress. It was the dress that she loved more than anything. Beca ran to the checkout and bought her the dress. She handed her the bag. "Wear this on your date tomorrow."
"Becs, you didn't have to do that! I'll pay you back. Thanks so much."
"I bought it for you, Chlo. Consider it your 'I just found my future husband' gift. You look gorgeous in it."
Chloe gave her a hug. "Aw thanks Becs!"
********************************
"Hey, Nick," Chloe said as she gave the tall guy a quick hug. They had decided to meet at the park and have a picnic because if there was one thing Chloe Beale loved more than anything, it was a picnic.
"Hey, Chloe!" He returned the hug and spread out the blanket.
"Listen, there's something I gotta tell you..." Chloe started. Her heart was pounding.
"It's ok," he said, rubbing her shoulder. "What's going on?"
"Um, this is really hard for me to tell you," Chloe said with an awkward laugh.
"You're cute when you're nervous," he said.
"Ok, so I'm pregnant. Wow. I did it." Chloe took a breath.
"Um ok," he said.
"It was an accident at a club and I don't know the guy at all, I haven't been able to track him down, but Beca is also pregnant...with her 2nd and she's been a great help, we've been best friends for like ten years and we've always been there for each other, and I helped her raise her daughter when her fiancé left her and now they're back together and I know it's never gonna be like that for me, and it's so hard an-"
"It's ok, Chlo, I'm here for you. You'll have me and Beca." Nick noticed Chloe had a tear rolling down her cheek and he wiped it away. "You know you look beautiful today?"
Chloe smiled. "Thank you. It's just been so hard, knowing that beca's has her hands full already, and I'm putting more stress on her."
"Ten years. Wow. You know, I don't think Beca minds. I mean that's what friends do, and Beca seems so calm and collected."
"Yeah, she really is. I'm blessed to have such a great friend."
"Tell me about her."
"What?"
"It seems to calm you down, talking about people. It's the same with me."
"Ok, so I met Beca her freshman year and it was my sophomore year. We became best friends the next year, and she doesn't know this, but I intentionally failed Russian lit just so I could stay with her. I was so scared to leave, but she helped me a lot. I got nodes again, so we moved to New York and bought a condo. And then things were ok until we were in a car accident and she was in a coma for 4 days. That was the hardest 4 days of my life. I stared at that heart monitor all day and all night. I thought I was going to lose her, and she ended up making it, with only a broken wrist and ankle. Her fiancé left her when she was 6 months pregnant. He didn't show up for the birth of his daughter, Harper. She named her after my middle name. And then she and
Jesse got back together, and they're getting married in 2 weeks."
"Wow. This girl, she's been through a lot, and she's so young."
"Nick, she's 30. I know, she looks like a 5 year old. It's just she's a little ray of sunshine and no one sees that. They see an alt girl with a scary ear spike, but she's more than that, and she knows it. That's why she's my best friend. And to be honest, I don't know what I would do without her."
"Aw that's sweet, Chlo. Oh also, tell her I'm sorry that my friend Ross tried to flirt with her."
"Ok. She was really pissed. Hey, wanna go on a double date tomorrow? With Beca and Jesse"
"Yeah! That would be fun."
Chloe smiled, and Nick noticed how her eyes shined in the sunlight, and her hair was gently blown by the wind. "You're beautiful."
Chloe looked up at him, and her heart turned to mush. "Thank you baby."
They sat in silence, looking out at the pond, and smiling. Chloe couldn't have been happier.
