The Bully

25

The stomach bug hit Chloe's family like a crashing wave, making the end of February brutal for all five of them. It was toughest on Kelly, who couldn't even get out of bed.

"Maybe we should take you to the hospital." Paige suggested.

"I'm fine." Kelly said. "It's just the stomach bug."

"What about the baby?" Paige asked.

"Stop worrying." Kelly said.

Chloe had been the first to get the virus, so after she had recovered, she stayed at Beca's house to get away from all of the vomit.

"Did you like it?" Chloe found herself asking one day.

"What?" Beca asked in reply.

"Did you like having sex with Maisy?" Chloe clarified.

"I don't know." Beca said. "It was different."

"Good different?" Chloe asked, her voice full of hurt.

"She was really rough, you know what I mean?" Beca asked.

"I guess so." Chloe sighed.

"You could be like that though." Beca said.

"You think?" Chloe asked.

"Yeah. You just need to be less concerned that I'm okay." Beca said.

"I don't want to hurt you though." Chloe said.

"I love that about you." Beca said. "But I'm pretty tough."

"Sure." Chloe said sarcastically.

"Hey!" Beca said. "I bet I could do more push ups than you!"

"It's on!" Chloe said.

They both dropped to the ground and got ready to do push ups.

"Ready?!" Beca asked.

"Born ready." Chloe replied.

The two began their push up race. At three, Chloe went on her knees and held her arms up showing off her muscles.

"Ha! I win!" Beca said. "You stopped."

Chloe smirked and tackled Beca in a kiss.

"You're so hot when you try to act tough." Chloe giggled.

"I won though! You were too busy showing off your muscles!" Beca replied.

"At least I have muscles!" Chloe laughed.

"Shut up!" Beca said, laughing along.

- - -

"Dear Beca,
I am so glad we are back together. Today was a great day and I hope we remain this happy forever. Thank you for realizing your mistake and coming back to me. My life would be pointless without you.

I will love you forever,
Chloe 2/25/18"

"Chloe? Where did you go?" Beca called from the living room.

Chloe slipped the letter back into her overnight bag and made her way back to the living room of the apartment.

"Where were you?" Beca asked.

"None of your business." Chloe smirked.

"Chloe." Beca whined. "Tell me!"

"No." Chloe laughed at Beca's childish behavior.

"Then I'm not cuddling with you tonight." Beca pouted.

"Your loss. I'm an amazing cuddled." Chloe said.

"That's true." Beca agreed. "We'll still cuddle, but I really want to know!"

"You can't know now." Chloe said. "You'll find out someday though."

"When?" Beca asked.

"You'll just have to wait and see." Chloe said.

- - -

Once the stomach bug was out of the household, Chloe returned home. They had decided to sign Reno up for ice skating lessons, which she was very excited about.

"I'm gonna be just like that!" Reno said, pointing to the video Chloe had been showing her of Polina Edmunds.

"It takes time, but if you work hard, you can be like her." Chloe said.

Reno smiled at the screen then at Chloe. She couldn't wait for her first lesson.

- - -

Reno watched from the back of the line as the rest of her class got in the ice. They all flailed their arms and fell to the ground, but a select few were able to get on without falling. She knew that she could get on without falling because she had been able to skate on the lake.

She cautiously stepped on while a woman held out her arms to help. Reno reluctantly grabbed on to her arms. The woman steadied her on her feet before pulling her across the ice and out of the way.

A few minutes later, after the instructors explained the rules, the kids were put into groups based on ability. Reno was upset to be put in the lowest group.

"Look at her go!" Chloe said to Beca. They were sitting in the stands watching the little redhead learn to skate.

"She's g-g-g-good." Beca stuttered. It was freezing in the ice rink and she hadn't brought a jacket.

"Aww, are you cold?" Chloe asked.

"N-n-n-no." Beca replied.

"Yes you are!" Chloe said and wrapped her arm around Beca. "I'll keep you warm."

When Reno's lesson was finished, Chloe helped her untie and pack up her skates. On the way home, they stopped for hot chocolates and everything was back to the way it should be...for now.