Belong To Me (Bechloe)

ten.

Chloe's POV

"So... can we pretend that never happened?" Beca asks from across the table. I take a sip of my milkshake, shrugging. We decided home-cooked food probably shouldn't be on Beca's cards... ever, so I suggested we went to a diner I saw on the way here, for breakfast instead.

"We could... but it's really tempting not to. I have to admit, I did quite enjoy having my hero moment."
And to be honest, it's true. Throughout my life, everyone has always convinced me I'm the one who needs looking after. And stupidly, I've always gone along with it. But not every girl wants to play the damsel in distress, so fuck gender roles, I'd happily be Beca's knight in shining armour any day.

Beca rolls her eyes, almost as if she sees what I'm thinking.
"Yeah, but it's embarrassing. I almost burnt the apartment down," she mutters, chewing her lip. In that moment, it's weird but I swear we completely swap personalities. Or maybe Beca and I are just more alike than I ever knew we were. Either way, I'm hardly complaining. I mean, Beca basically owes me her life.

"So what do I get in return for saving you?" I wink, sucking milkshake up through the straw. Beca's smile returns instantly.
"I don't know, I guess I can pay for this?" she suggests, gesturing at the milkshakes and the food. I almost agree but then stop myself.
"No, you paid yesterday. I'll pay today, it's only fair."
"Fine," Beca says reluctantly. "I don't have anything else to offer though."

If this was one of those cheesy movies, this would be the point where I say 'Oh, but you do.' and Beca would instantly realise what I mean and she'd lean in for a kiss and it would all be perfect. And maybe she'd even declare her undying love for me.

But we're not in a movie. And I'm just delusional.

"It's fine. Seeing you alive and not burned to ashes is enough of a reward for me," I say cheesily. Okay, so maybe I can always incorporate some Hollywood cheesiness into my otherwise average and not-in-any-way-glamorous lifestyle. But realistically, I doubt I could ever be in a movie. Funnily enough, there's not really a demand for delusional, anxious, ginger a cappella singers.

"So, before I tried - and failed - to provide you with some food, I thought about a few places we could go today..." Beca says, finishing her drink.
"Explain away," I say, gesturing for her to continue.
She shakes her head, a smug smile briefly gracing her lips. I doubt she knows how crazy that look drives me - even if I know it's the look of a girl only half-convincingly acting as if she knows exactly what she's doing. How do I know that exactly? Well, it's Beca. And Beca never makes proper plans.

"I'm not telling you. It's a surprise."
"Oh, aren't you a girl of mystery?" I joke, leaning towards Beca. Nowadays, she seems to move away from me a lot less often. I'd like to say it's because she feels the same way as I do, but that'd probably be a lie. In some aspects, she's actually really not an open book.
"Well, no," Beca replies bluntly and laughs. "You know more about me than I probably do. So I'm not exactly mysterious."
"Hmm." I pause to consider that statement. "I'd beg to differ."
"Oh, would you?"
"Yes."
"But why?"
"Because."
Beca rolls her eyes.
"That's really detailed."
"Well, I didn't need to give an explanation. I'm right so there'd be no point providing an argument."
"You're an idiot." She laughs.
"No, you're an idiot," I reply childishly.
"Why are we doing this?" Beca looks up at me with one eyebrow raised. I notice it's the first time she's directly looked at me since we got here. Otherwise, I would've come into contact with the intense shards of cobalt in her grey-blue eyes way before then. I think she was too embarrassed to meet my gaze before, even though she knows the appreciation was there for trying to make me happy. Even if all she ended up with was a pile of disintegrating pancakes.

"Because..." I struggle to find an explanation other than 'we both have the combined mental age of about 7'. "You haven't told me everything about living here." I raise an eyebrow, mirroring Beca's actions.
"What is there to say? There's some buildings, some roads, a bit of water... trees?"
"I wasn't asking for an estate agent's description of the area, Beca."

Beca sits back in her seat.
"Well I don't know, there's my work here, I sometimes go to the drive-thr-"
"You go to the drive-through by yourself?" I find myself laughing out loud.
"Yeah, what's wrong with that? A girl needs food."
"But you're like, sat in your car, just by yourself? That's so sad." I stifle my laughter.
"Oh thank you, Chloe, for reminding me I'm hopelessly single, what's your point?"
"It's just funny." I chuckle. "I can't imagine you doing that."
Beca folds her arms over her chest.
"Because...?"
"It seems lonely. I thought you didn't isolate yourself as much now."
She scoffs a little, shaking her head.
"You would've liked to have thought. But no, it's not exactly friendship central here." She sighs. "But there's no point talking about my situation, it can't change."
"Bec, I-"
"Chloe, it's fine. Besides, we're working on that song. So hopefully living here will come to fruition eventually."

I raise my eyebrows in surprise.
"I can't pretend I know what that phrase means, but it sounds good."
Beca smiles suddenly and takes my hand.
"It basically means it will be good. Come on, let's go," she says, pulling me up out of my seat.
"Wha-?" I reply, chucking a couple of notes on the table to pay before I'm dragged away completely.

Beca keeps hold of my hand as we walk along a street. I have absolutely no idea where we're going, but honestly I don't care. She could be leading me to my death and I'd still keep her soft hand clasped against mine.

"Bec, as much as I appreciate this dramatic getaway, why are you so excited? Not that it's a bad thing. It's just, I haven't seen you this excited since Fifth Harmony announced they were coming to Brooklyn on tour. And that was... well... interesting." I smile, thinking back. "You literally screamed and ran around the apartment, which was really just weird. I never put you down as a girl-group kinda girl until then."

Beca laughs and shakes her head.

"Well, you can't blame me. But only you and Amy are the ones who know that." Beca shrugs. "Fifth Harmony just have catchy songs. And like, they seem cool."
"Yeah, I know. I mean, Lauren Jauregui... wow," I say, absent-mindedly exposing my privately sapphic crush.
"She is pretty cute." Beca laughs, before continuing. "Anyway, I just had a thought. Something I said reminded me of something else I thought before. So that's why we're here." She lifts her hand up to gesture at the huge tent situated in the middle of this massive park we've just walked into.

"That's not a circus tent, is it?" I say uncertainly, turning to Beca. She laughs again.
"No, of course not. I know you hate clowns and, contrary to popular belief, I do actually care about people. So I wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable like that." Beca keeps walking towards the tent, looking through the opening on one side. "Dude, it's a marquee," she explains, glancing back at me. "It's got an ice rink in it. And people. And skates. It's not scary. Well. Sometimes people are scary, but usually avoiding human interaction sorts that one out."
"Wow," I say, approaching Beca. "You're such a dork. You're not even bad at interaction, you know that."
"Doesn't mean I have to enjoy it."

I roll my eyes at Beca's attitude.

"Chlo, I don't think you realise, last time I interacted enough with someone to make an acquaintance, he almost tried to kiss me," she elaborates.

My mouth drops open.

"Theo?"

Beca nods somewhat grimly as we join the queue.

Oh my God, so I didn't entirely misinterpret the situation! Wow, maybe I'm not actually completely stupid.

"I hate that some guys think that as soon as a girl shows even the tiniest bit of friendly interest, it means they're automatically in love with them. Why is it that all the guys I know are complete douches?" Beca says as she pays for our ice skates.
"I don't know, Bec," I reply sympathetically as she passes me a pair of skates.
"Size 8, right?" she asks quickly. I smile.
"Now who's the one who knows everything about the other person?" I laugh, smirking at Beca.
"Dude, shut up!" She laughs. "I'm no stalker," she justifies, but I swear I can see traces of a blush creeping up on her face.

-
I loved writing this chapter aw my bechloe children 😍😂