The Right Place

Chapter Twenty-Five

After giving herself a pep-talk in front of the mirror for ten minutes, Beca timidly left her room and walked over to the sofa in the lounge. Chloe was sat there- eyes shut and head in hands as if she was praying or sleeping. Beca softly cleared her throat to get her attention, which caused Chloe to gaze up in disbelief.

'Have you been here this whole time?', she asked the redhead in a small voice.

'I've been waiting for you', answered Chloe, still gazing up.

Stepping over to sit next to her best friend on the sofa and holding her hands close to her stomach, Beca said, 'We got ourselves into a mess, huh?'

'We sure did'

A moment of reflection came over them as they wondered where to guide the conversation and what to do next. Solving arguments is tricky business- especially when it involves two passionate individuals who love each other more than life itself but are too afraid admit to it. This always equates to unresolved tension.

'I'm sorry for upsetting you, Beca', Chloe said, taking the first bold step.

'Thanks, Chlo'

'I totally understand why you got so mad, but you don't have to worry about Joel- that's over with'

'He obviously didn't think so...', Beca replied with careful disagreement.

'I was breaking things off with him on his birthday in front of all of his friends. He probably wanted to mark his territory or something, I don't know...'

'I didn't think you were his territory to mark'

'I wasn't, but you know how some guys can be', Chloe explained. Then, she received a look from Beca that reminded her that the brunette hadn't dated in a long time. 'Well anyway', she recovered, 'Joel and I were only a casual thing'

Managing to restrain some of her bitterness, but not all of it, Beca quipped, 'I don't think you can call it casual when you see each other every day of the week'

'Why did he matter to you so much? You know how much you mean to me, Becs', Chloe asked, turning her head back to face her.

'Because I was jealous, okay?', Beca suddenly shouted, which startled Chloe a little. 'As if I hadn't made it obvious enough...'

'I just thought that you were annoyed about me leaving you at home everyday'

'Ha. Yes, Chloe, that was definitely the reason I felt worthless every time you left with your Prince Charming'

All of a sudden blowing her top, Chloe confessed in a raised, frustrated voice, 'Beca, after years of wanting to be with you, the idea of you EVER having any kind of interest in me was so ridiculous that I never even considered it'

Retreating after hearing this revelation, Beca replayed what she had just been told over and over again in her mind. She moved forwards a couple of inches so that she was on the very edge of the sofa, and leaned her chin on an elbow for support- her fingers nervously touching the corners of her mouth.

'Years?'

Shit, Chloe thought. She didn't mean to confess that. This would probably scare Beca off forever. Still, there was no going back now. Shit. She had managed to keep her feelings a secret for the whole time they were in the Bellas, rehearing day after day together and even living together, but today seemed to be the day it was finally due to come off her chest; yet, she was totally unprepared for it.

Here goes nothing.

'Since day one', Chloe whispered, shutting her lips tightly afterwards to stop anything else slipping through.