Never Fly Too Close To The Sun

Oh Mother..

Friday Evening

"Thanks for meeting me despite your busy schedule," Chloe smiled, slightly nervous, at the girl opposite her as she slid into the booth. It was located in the quietest corner of Boston Tea Party, creating a more private atmosphere. Two hot chocolates rested on the table, marshmallows melting into the liquid surreptitiously.

"That's okay," the blonde smiled back, "I'm sure the school paper can survive ONE evening without me."

"So, your messages last week confused me a little.. About Beca and I?" Chloe pressed, a small frown creasing on her forehead.

Nodding, Aubrey replied bluntly, "I'm aware of yours and Beca's.. relations. I heard you whispering your love to one another at Stacie's when we had that sleepover-"

"Actually, about that," the ginger apologetically interrupted, "I err.. I asked Beca to be my girlfriend officially, and she said yes. We're keeping it quiet (obviously) but we want our closest friends to know."

"Congratulations," the other girl was curt and a stern expression set on her face.

"No need to celebrate it," Chloe muttered, irritation scraping on her tongue with each word as her bright eyes narrowed slightly.

Sighing, the blonde looked down before making eye contact a few seconds later, "I'm sorry. I just.. I don't want to see you get hurt. Does she even know how fragile you are still?"

Fury burned its way through the ginger's body and sparkled in her eyes as she responded, "She knows all about Tom," spitting the name, "If that's what you're referencing."

"And your mother?"

The fire immediately died and Chloe's eyes went dead as she dropped her head and intertwined her fingers tightly. Observing the lack of a verbal answer and making her own conclusion, Aubrey pursued with a more gentle tone.

"I think she needs to know, Chloe."

"Why??" the ginger exclaimed, angry and upset, "Can't I just enjoy loving someone who loves me for me and not my past? Or is that too much to ask?!"

"But Chlo," the blonde sighed at the solemn words as she spoke them, "Your past is what moulds you into who you are now - into who Beca's in love with. She needs to know you're fragile."

"So that she can 'handle me with care' and treat me like a porcelain doll, you mean?" the ginger mocked.

"No," Aubrey spoke slowly in order to maintain her calm composure, "So that she knows how to be there for you."

"Can't you see that telling her that stuff is only likely to make her run?" A small tear eased its way from Chloe's gleaming eyes and the blonde reached her hand across to rest on the other girl's shaking, intertwined fingers.

"Chlo, if she runs then she's not the person you're in love with," she took a breath, "And judging by how she looks at you in awe, I don't think she's the type to run from love as soon as it gets a little tough."

"But," Chloe blubbered as tears freely streaked their way down her face, "She's the one who needs ME right now, I can't burden her with concern for me."

"I understand that she's likely to be going through stuff right now, but who the hell isn't?! Beca needs to know, otherwise how can she truly be there for you?"

There was silence other than the frequent sniffle in response. The blonde continued in her softer voice, "What about when it's the lead up to the.. 'anniversary'? Surely you want your girlfriend to at least understand why you may not be at your best. And now that you're at Barden, I won't be able to come and hug you after getting through every lesson or let you copy my notes after classes where you've left to be on your own. You need a support system."