Belong To Me (Bechloe)

six.

This is my favourite chapter I've uploaded so far, I hope you enjoy it! It's kinda crazy long, but I thought it would work better if I didn't split it up so I guess here it is 😄
This chapter is dedicated to my good old friend milevenstufff bc she always gets so excited when I update and I appreciate her support 😂
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Beca's POV

"This looks fancy," Chloe comments as we pull up to an Italian restaurant I picked earlier. I laugh and turn to face her.
"Dude, do I ever do anything 'fancy'?" I say, raising an eyebrow.
"I don't know, maybe?" Chloe replies as she follows me inside.

The restaurant is mostly empty, apart from a few couples up one end. I feel Chloe suddenly tense up beside me and quickly look at her to see what's wrong.
"You okay, babe?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just anxieties." She shrugs a little before looking down.

I mean, she doesn't seem fine.

"What's setting them off?" I ask gently.
"Just... it's so empty. Sorry, it sounds stupid," she mutters.
"No, it's okay. I'll get us a place at a table at the side, don't worry."
I leave Chloe briefly to talk to a waiter and explain the situation to him. He nods, leading us over to a table for two in a corner of the restaurant.

After a few minutes, Chloe seems to calm down a bit.
"Sorry about that. Sometimes new places stress me out. It's stupid, I know."
"Hey, no, don't say that." I reach over and take her hand. "It's fine, Chlo."
"Okay," she says softly. "I need a drink."

"Hi, are you ready to order?" A waiter suddenly appears beside our table.
"Yes," Chloe replies instantly. "I need some wine."
I laugh a little in disbelief.
"Wine? Dude, seriously? It's barely lunchtime."
"Since when were you such a killjoy?"
"Uh, no, I-"
"I'm joking. You're not going to stop me though. Alcohol can fix anything."
"You're sounding like an alcoholic. It worries me," I say slowly.
"Well I'm not."
"Whatever you say, sweetie," I doubtfully chuckle for a few moments.

"Drink with me then," Chloe says suggestively, raising an eyebrow.
"Fine, I will." I smile and poke my tongue out at Chloe. "But I'm not carrying you out to the car over my shoulder if you get drunk - I'm too small for that - so don't drink too much."
"Okay, okay, mother." Chloe laughs.
"Oh, I'm sorry for looking out for you." I turn to the waiter. "Some red wine please. Preferably a low percentage, I want to be able to remember things that happen today."

Chloe laughs again and shakes her head as the waiter walks away.
"You don't have to be so uptight about it, Beca."
"Well I still want to get some work done this evening. Drunken compositions aren't gonna sell, Chloe."
"Ooh, when am I going to hear these sober songs on the radio, then?"
"Oh, soon I guess. Everything in the studio's going great. I'm sure it won't be long now," I enthuse, but from the look on Chloe's face, I can tell she doesn't believe me.
"Really?" Chloe says, signalling her evident disbelief.
"Yeah, of course," I attempt to insist.
"Beca... I know you."

I sigh. I really can't hide anything from her. Considering I haven't had anyone to properly talk to for the last 6 months and now Chloe is here, offering to listen to me unconditionally, like she's always done before, I can't lie to her. I'm so grateful to have her, especially right now, because ultimately, no matter what I project outwardly, I really just want someone to break down the hard walls I always put up to protect myself. And in the past, Chloe has always been that person. Neither of us are the people we were 6 years ago, but everything's so much better now. I don't need Jesse, I have Chloe and although she's hardly a boyfriend, someone's actually there for me and I'm hardly going to let that go.

I shake my head as the waiter comes back over with the wine.

"No, then," I mutter. Chloe takes the drinks glasses and fills them up with wine before passing one to me.
"Explain, Bec," she says gently. I sigh again, staring at the wine in the glass, purposely avoiding Chloe's gaze.