Drunk in Love

A Latte to Take In

When Beca first started college, she didn't expect it to be anything special. She had no intramural activities or long-lasting friendships planned. All she wanted to do was attend her classes in the mornings and mix music in the evenings. She'd hoped to add in dinner with her dad once or twice a week into the mix, but she took what she could get. Instead of living the recluse lifestyle she'd hoped for, Beca reluctantly joined a regionally acclaimed A Cappella group with a bunch of women – women she would never be able to get rid of after college. She not only ended up with them in her life, but she ended up spending a lot of time – some could say too much time – with them outside Bellas rehearsals and performances. Whether it was a weekend, a late school night, or a holiday, one or more of the girls were always near or with Beca. Some of them, though, she spent much more time with, whether she intended to or not.

Beca rolled over in bed, rubbing her closed eyes with the back of her hands and yawning. The aroma of Korean food lingered in the autumn air, a smell she had become familiar with after spending a full semester with Kimmy Jin. Another scent wafted into her nostrils, though. An unfamiliar scent. Beca squinted hard as she tried to open her eyes. The morning sunshine peeked through the slats of the semi-open window blinds in a way that it completely violated her retinas.

"When the hell?" Beca mumbled in confusion as she sat up on her bed, examining the excessive light pouring through her window. The thick fabric of her comforter fell into her lap as she sat erect, causing the cool air to nip at the bare skin of her torso. "Jesus Christ!" Beca exclaimed in discomfort and confusion as she realized her torso was clad in nothing but her bra. The cold on her chest and back reminded her of the night she had before, causing her to shudder. She gripped the edge of her blanket and pulled it up over her chest in embarrassment.

"Shut up, Beca," a raspy voice groaned weakly from inside Beca's dorm room, causing her to gasp in shock. Wasn't she alone? She could've sworn she went to sleep alone the night before. Kimmy Jin, as well as most of Barden University's student population, were out of town for the beginning of Thanksgiving break. Who was in her room?

Beca scanned the perimeters of her room, pulling her blanket closer to her chest than before. If she did indeed have company, she didn't want to give them a show or anything. She'd made the mistake with the Bellas barging into her room one too many times.

"Hello?" She called out with a shaky voice, hoping deep down that she was going crazy and hearing voices. Beca held her breath as she sat in silence, waiting impatiently for a response. There wasn't usually an eerie vibe hanging in the atmosphere of her dorm room when she was alone, but this instance was so much different. Moments passed without a sound, giving Beca a sliver of hope that she was alone, but going crazy. She waited a bit longer before letting out a big sigh of relief.

"Shut up," the same voice groaned once more, breaking Beca's oddly comforting silence.

"Uh..." Beca's faced drained of all color as her mind computed the fact that the voice wasn't something her subconscious wanted to freak her the fuck out with. "Where are you?" A cringe consumed Beca's face as the fear in her own voice resonated in her ears. Why did she sound so scared?

"Down here, idiot," the voice sighed softly, a slender hand shooting up from the side of Beca's bed and waving pathetically.

Beca shifted her weight, peering over to the floor next to her bed. Her eyes widened as she eyed the back of a blonde head, wavy, golden locks splayed messily all around it.

"Aubrey?" Beca queried softly as she stared at the woman, clad in a green Barden sweatshirt and what appeared to be Beca's shorts, curled up on her fuzzy floor rug.