#also why are you focusing on people eating cookies instead of the fact that crumbl has literally been caught using child labor

[wolf-tail]

I wanna eat a slice of ice cream cake in front of her and watch her brain explode and leak out of her ears

[samwritesforyou]

one hundred times yes

fandom: free!

pairing: reigisa

description: nagisa decides to arrange a secret swimming anniversary party to his boyfriend rei, in the end surprising everyone who’s been invited. including rei.

genre: established relationship, fluff, humour

author’s note: not beta-read.... we die like men ig✌️

wordcount: 4.2k

“Good morning, Mako-chan!” said Nagisa cheerfully when he saw a video call window open and he witnessed a very sleepy Makoto rubbing his eyes and trying his best to wake up.

“H-hi?.. Why are you calling so early, Nagisa? It’s 7am..” Just woken up friend of his sounded very soft and a bit confused, trying to focus his gaze on the phone screen.

“It’s not early for college students who’s internship is gonna start soon!” He said right back proudly, without missing a beat, now tilting his phone a little bit to the side, so that Makoto could see another dear friend of his, which was currently struggling in the kitchen with his back towards both of them.

“I’m making moral support for Rei-chan to succeed in making breakfast for us, because as we all know I can’t really cook that well and all the takeouts are closed this early,” Nagisa visibly pouted in the camera, taking up almost the whole screen on the other end where Makoto just laughed sheepishly at his words and rubbed the back of his messy hair.

“How did you even get to Rei’s place at this hour?” he asked innocently, from time to time looking to the side for some reason.

“What do you mean how? We live together,” said Nagisa and blinked at the camera a few times with big doe eyes.

“Nagisa-kun, quit the talking and better help me! What’s written in the recipe?!” yelled Rei in distress, trying to flip something like a pancake on the pan but failing miserably.

“Live together?!” Makoto literally yelped in surprise and then there was some shuffling on his end of the audio and sheets behind him moved on its own, soon enough revealing sleepy Haru, right beside him.

“Well why are you surprised, Mako-chan, when you’re apparently living with Haru-chan, hmmm,” teased the blond guy, smirking into the screen.

“Nagisa!!” Rei continued his call for help.

“Oh, yeah! Mako-chan, please tell Rei here how to flip pancakes correctly?” Nagisa made a beeline towards the kitchen where his boyfriend was battling with different utensils, trying to make it work.

Makoto looked so confused at all the new info and was blushing like a tomato, so Haru took the phone from his hands, putting it close to his face so the boys saw only a bit of his eyes and mostly his forehead.

“First, make sure that the bottom of the batter is good to flip and it won’t crumble, lift it carefully with the spatula and once you can lift it all.. flip it,” said Haru in his monotone voice of giving instructions and Rei just nodded his head vigorously, feeling very enthusiastic by being taught by his senpai.

They all waited silently until he succeeds in flipping his first pancake and when he did it, Nagisa with a celebratory yell let go of the phone, so the call ended with an abrupt amalgamation of couple’s voices.

“Do you think they’re okay?” asked Makoto silently, putting the phone away and flopping back onto their bed.

“Certainly,” said Haru, following him and getting comfortable under the sheets.

.

.

“Why do you think Mako-chan got so flustered about us seeing Haru-chan behind him?” muffled Nagisa with his mouth stuffed with pancakes from his boyfriend.

“I think Makoto-senpai is the only one from all of our friend group who didn’t really know about us living together and who also didn’t realise that him and Haruka-senpai living together is very obvious as well,” said Rei, putting food to his plate as well.

“Hrmmm,” mumbled blondie again, reaching for another piece immediately after finishing the first one, “by the way, these are really tasty, Rei-chan!” he smiled at him warmly, which made the addressed one blush.

“Thank you, Nagisa-kun.”

The shorter boy then chuckled and sprung to his feet only to plant a loud peck on his cheek.

“Don’t forget about the time, Rei-chan, we have to go soon!” he exclaimed, contradicting his own words by sitting down again and getting yet another bite.

“We?..” he said, hints of confusion in his voice.

“Owf wcouwse!!” Nagisa deadpanned, furrowing his brows and gulped the food down, “I’m going to walk you there, at least!”

And in the span of next twenty minutes the couple got ready to head out. Since Nagisa wasn’t an astounding cook, but he still wanted to prepare something yummy for his other half to have to snack on throughout the day, he handed him a box of bought cookies and crisps, followed by two medium sized bottles of water.

“Here we go!” they smiled at each other.

To get to Rei’s internship they had to take a bus and then another one, but everything went smoothly.

“Don’t cause any trouble, alright?” Nagisa said, chuckling to himself.

“I’m not a child!” Rei exclaimed flustered, but still ruffled his blond hair and then hurried into the building, looking back one more time, “see you later!”

“Have fun, Rei-chan!” once Nagisa was sure that his boyfriend was out of sight he took out his own phone, tapping away a familiar number and putting it to his ear.

After a few beeps he heard a lovely voice on the other end.

“Go-chan, I’m ready when you are!”

.

.

“So if we really want to organise a secret swimming anniversary party for Rei, we need to get down to business and do some serious planning, Nagisa-kun!” Red haired girl exclaimed and rose from her chair, carried away with excitement.

Then she sat back down and smiled enthusiastically, nodding to her blonde friend.

“Okay-okay, I gotchu!” Nagisa started nodding too, catching her drift.

“We definitely need to make it big, like maybe have it in a restaurant or something, or maybe on a cruise ship, or maybe making it a whole week long trip around the world—“ little guy passionately flapped his arms around, trying to show the scale of it all but his friend quickly calmed him down, making him sit again.

“Hey, hey, Nagisa-kun, easy..” she laughed nervously and then sighed in relief when he just started wobbling from side to side on his seat like a penguin, looking at her with a big smile plastered on his face, waiting for the response.

She took a handful of noodles between her chopsticks, slurping on them.

“Look, the restaurant idea doesn’t sound that bad,” Go said with a mouthful, smiling at her friend.

“Okay, great,” Nagisa concluded the end of their serious meeting, because after that phrase they just continued eating delicious food in their favourite diner and later they crashed karaoke room, both coming out of there pretty in the mood, still singing even on the street.

.

.

The following days Nagisa has been doing preparations, calls to restaurants, he phoned people in their friend circle and asked about their availability to be able to put together the best time when to book the place.

He was also thinking about the fact how he can show Rei his love once again through yet another action, because let’s face it, everyone will have a speech or something of that sort. So Nagisa desperately wanted to be different and surprise his boyfriend by doing something that nobody that evening will do.

And then it hit him.

Powerpoint presentation.

He shot a glance with his light eyes towards the living room where Rei was sitting crouched behind the desk, staring into the only computer their household owned, typing away.

He was deeply focused on his task so he didn’t even notice Nagisa’s intense stare in his direction, when he was frowning and putting a pencil to his mouth, thinking hard about his options.

I’ll have to visit someone who has a laptop, because if I try to do it at home, Rei-chan will definitely see it and then there will be no surprise, mused to himself the blond guy, already forming a flawless plan in his own restless mind.

So on another fine evening Nagisa took his backpack and said to Rei, already standing in the hallway, “I’ll visit Go, Rei-chan! She said she needs help with that one project she’s doing for school!”

He was expecting for his boyfriend to just hum an indecipherable “hm,” in his direction, but instead he hear a rustle from the chair and a quick progression of steps towards him.

Purple haired guy was standing there without saying a word, clearly nervous, clutching his fists and looking away.

After a while he gathered up some courage and looked in Nagisa’s beautiful pinkish eyes.

“Is there something wrong, Nagisa-kun?!” he almost yelled, probably from bottling up all his worries about this topic.

That took the other person in the room by surprise as his mouth hung open in a shape of an “o”.

“What? Rei-chan, what are you talking about?..” Nagisa’s tone was careful and soft, as he came closer to him and put his hand on his boyfriend’s triceps, squeezing it a little, making their eye contact more intimate.

“I just..” he was blushing now and his lower lip was shaking, “it just feels like this whole past week you’ve been weirdly busy with something and you don’t even want to tell me about what..” as soon as he said it, Rei hugged his partner tightly, closing his eyes shut really hard, trying not to cry.

The taller guy was always emotional about any mishaps in their relationship and was heavily emotionally involved in everything. Nagisa knew that and still didn’t realise that Rei would take this whole “secret celebration” this close to heart.

“Look, I’m working on something for *you*, okay?” he said with a warm smile as he pulled back, looking into his purple amethysts and then stood on his tiptoes to connect them with a passionate kiss.

“Alright, Rei-chan?” he asked, winking at him playfully, after he already went into the doorframe, still looking at him.

“Alright!” he beamed at his lover, now already glowing and waving him goodbye.

.

.

“Good evening, Go-chan!” he said enthusiastically with a huge smile and once the door opened, his expression fell for a brief second, when the person who opened the door for him wasn’t the one who Nagisa expected.

“Rin-chan!!!” smaller guy’s exclamation was now even louder than before and he was ready to throw himself into his arms, only to collide with a closed door.

“Rin-chan!” he immediately started banging on the door, demanding to be let in.

“I didn’t invite you,” Rin mumbled under his breath and went away from the hallway, heading straight to the kitchen.

The banging and yelling outside continued.

“Rin? What are you doing, didn’t you want to go to sleep?” lower voice came from the other room and footsteps stopped in the middle of the kitchen open space, person clearly noticing the blasting at the entrance to the apartment.

“If we’re gonna have to handle that little angel at the doorstep then I’d better make myself coffee, Sosuke,” sighed Rin, brewing himself some beans by the counter, a light smile appearing on his face nevertheless.

“Oh?..” his friend arched his brow and then went towards the hallway, finally opening the door for poor Hazuki.

“So-chan!!” Nagisa wasn’t even surprised at the change of the characters on the other side anymore, jumping into strong guy’s chest.

“H-hey, Nagisa,” Sosuke got flustered a little, patting the smaller friend on the back.

Soon the blondie finally let go of Sosuke, looking around the apartment as if it was his own.

“Rin-chan, where is Go-chan?.. We were supposed to meet about.. me using her computer?” Nagisa smiles innocently, grinning wide.

“She’s in the shower, she’ll come out soon I think,” he said, finally turning around and sipping on his drink, looking clearly amused by the whole ordeal.

“Oooh, okay! Also, I didn’t know you’re living with So-chan together? At Go-chan’s place?” Nagisa sat by the dining table, making himself comfortable. He kept looking from one friend to another.

“Well..” Rin cleated his throat and looked at Sosuke for a brief moment, then turning his gaze back to Nagisa.

“Go wanted to live on her own, but couldn’t afford to achieve that, and we wanted with Sosuke to move in together in Tokyo together anyways, so we decided to help her out and for the time being we’re all roommates. It’s kinda fun, actually. She travels home on most weekends anyways,” he smiled, shrugging and going somewhere with the cup in his hand.

When he came back, he had thin laptop under his arm, setting it on the table in front of his friend.

“Here, bud. You can use mine for whatever.”

“Really?!” his light eyes were sparkling with excitement, “do you have powerpoint?” he asked shyly, biting his lower lip and smiling.

“Sure,” Rin started the computer up, opening the desired program and leaving the scene to Nagisa.

He immediately started working on his passion project while Rin and Sosuke were talking about something by the same table, creating the perfect atmosphere for the small guy to get inspired and focused.

Soon enough they all heard the water stop and doors to the bathroom creaking open, Go wrapped in the red towel coming out.

“Oh my god, Nagisa, hello! I’m sorry I completely lost track of time back there!” she laughed heartily and then sat behind the table as well.

“I see that my brother already lent you his laptop? Is that alright?” she looked at him, worried.

“Of course, Go, you two don’t go to sleep late, okay?” he then stood up and kissed her top of the head, wishing them both goodnight.

Sosuke got up right after him and they went to their separate rooms.

“Huh?” peeked Nagisa from the monitor screen, as their doors closed, “They don’t sleep in the same bed?” he asked as if it was the most unnatural thing ever.

“Why would they?” blinked at him Go in disbelief, holding her breath, “do you think they’re?..”

“Of course! Oh my god, Go-chan, you’re so silly sometimes!” Nagisa shook his head and then without another word continued editing.

.

.

He ended up sleeping over at Go’s place, making their couch his sleeping space and main fort of action.

First thing in the morning he had a whole calling session, starting with Rei and apologising to him, ending it in almost singing him a serenade.

Then he had to dial Makoto (therefore Haru as well) and ask them for help, because everyone from Matsuoka household has already vanished somewhere.

Soon enough his two childhood friends were already ringing into the doorbell.

Nagisa got up and ran to open the door, hugging both of them as they arrived.

“I didn’t even know that Go lives with her brother now,” mused Makoto aloud, looking around the place just like Nagisa did yesterday.

“Not only! With So-chan as well!” he said, grinning at the pair, pointing at the kitchen.

“Guys, if you’re hungry, feel free to cook yourself something!” small guy said, sitting back by the laptop screen.

“But I need you to help me write this and that,” he started a waterfall of requests, making Makoto just widen his eyes, while Haru started understandingly nodding along.

.

.

And a week later, everything was finally set in place. The date was set, day offs were earned, booking was made, presents created and speeches taught of.

As Rei and Nagisa arrived at the restaurant, the taller man slowly started to realise that he might’ve underdressed.

It did seem weird to him that his lover would take a pink suit to a “normal date”, as he described the event for Rei.

“Nagisa-kun..” he said carefully, as they were getting out of the car.

“Nu-uh!!!” He chirped excitedly, shaking his hair, blonde hair moving with him in motion, “No asking questions, Rei-chan!”

Rei just pursed his lips, following his boyfriend into the restaurant in his regular purple shirt and some denim skinny jeans.

When they came in, everything was already prepared. Nagisa led his partner towards the biggest table in the room, where already a dozen of their friends was waiting for the main guests.

“W-what is this?” Rei mumbled, eyes wide as he scanned every detail of the prepared corner.

There were balloons that formed a phrase “happy 5th anniversary of swimming!” and everyone who was waiting for the two of them were smiling in their direction, waving and greeting them.

“Hey, Rei, happy anniversary!” said Makoto, warmly smiling at him.

“Rei, this is so fun in here!” said Go, waving and jumping up and down in her seat.

“Wow, I..” said the man in question, turning his head slightly to Nagisa, “I didn’t expect something like this,” he laughed nervously and then Nagisa just shoved his boyfriend to the table, making Rei awkwardly greet everyone back with a smile.

Everyone was there. Makoto, Haruka, Go, Ikuya, Hiyori, Natsuya, Nitori, Sasabe, Miho, Momotaro and Nao.

Maybe only a few people were missing, but Rei was definitely overwhelmed with this whole event, just sitting down silently as the head of the enormously big table and it was buzzing with chatter.

After some time Nagisa settled on the seat next to his partner and everyone started to have some meals first, all of the present people talking to each other, happy and good energy being exchanged here and now.

Suddenly Rin and Sosuke appeared, making their way towards the party.

“Hey, hello!” said Rin loudly, announcing their entrance, waving everyone by one hand while in the other he had his laptop with something like a projector.

“Hey, Rin-chan! Why are you late?” genuinely asked Nagisa, looking at his friend questionably.

Rin scowled at the very memory of the reason why, putting his equipment on the ground.

“This whole time we were driving slowly like some.. turtles behind this slow ass blue car! We couldn’t get past it and it kept slowing us down until we finally made our way through and floored it, as a person is supposed to do on a highway,” concluded Rin and plopped himself on the seat next to them, crossing his hands on the chest.

Sosuke just shrugged and nodded, visibly agreeing with his flatmate.

Soon enough another two late comers made their way to the table, both waving enthusiastically at the group.

“Hello! Sorry we’re late,” said Kisumi and Asahi, with whom he came, took it away and started talking about it himself;

“We were just riding on a highway, then some crazy red car made it past us and with their speed they literally shook our little baby into the side, so Kisumi really had to do his best not to have a car accident!” he stated with furrowed brows, Kisumi just awkwardly laughing and rubbing the back of his neck.

Nagisa’s eyes met with Rin’s as they were listening to the story and then he just loudly hollered, making both of them sit down as well.

“Hahhaha what a terrific story, guys! Be careful next time!”

And with all the guests finally present, little blond guy finally stood up and ringed into his champagne glass with a knife, making everyone quiet down and give him their full attention.

“Hello everyone, again. I want to, kind of announce, why we gathered here today, because it was all a big surprise for Rei-chan and he didn’t know a thing until we arrived here ten minutes ago!” Nagisa smiled warmly and turned his gaze to his boyfriend, “This is a party to celebrate your 5th anniversary since you’ve joined our swimming club and learned how to swim for the first time after so many failed attempts,” he said sweetly, with the last sentence making Rei blush with embarrassment.

“So I would like everyone to give a toast every once in a while, complimenting my baby’s skills! Or whatever nice things you have to say! I’ll show a surprise that i prepared towards the end of the party,” concluded Nagisa and then received a round of applause with some laughs from their friends.

After Nagisa has sat down, Rei didn’t waste a second and captured him in a tight hug, smiling happily.

“Thank you for this, Nagisa-kun... I love you so much,” he said in their embrace, eyes closed.

“I love you too, Rei-chan,” blondie answered, a happy feeling of accomplishment and success of the party giving him an incredible serotonin boost.

The night was going smoothly and every single one of their friends have said beautiful or hilarious speeches, to lighten up the atmosphere, almost all of them making Rei’s purple eyes sting. He was just overwhelmed with emotion that night.

Towards the end main organiser stood up from his place and went over to the projector near the wall, turning it all.

The chatter was quieter now, some people needed to be at different places already, so the number of guests was smaller too.

He didn’t need to draw attention to himself, because everyone was already looking his way, but he was most interested in staring back into the amethysts of his partner, smiling warmly.

“Start already, Nagisa-kuuun,” moaned Go, hands extended on the table as she was plastered comfortably on her chair, back crouched.

That brought him back to the reality and he chuckled, finally interrupting their gazing game with Rei and started to push different buttons on the projector, to get the damn thing working.

Soon enough it lit up on the wall, showing a messy desktop with iwatobi-chan, running to the pool, all blurred, with different captions left and right.

Don’t ask.

He finally clicked on the powerpoint and started up his presentation, starting off very proudly and enthusiastically, showing off different pictures of Rei’s progress, making his boy embarrassingly cover his face and yell from time to time.

“And then we filmed this commercial and Haru-chan did an astounding job!” Nagisa said, excitedly jumping up and down and then got gently reminded by Makoto if it’s still the presentation about Rei.

“Oh, yes! Of course, next slide, please!” he demanded and clicked on the keyboard on arrow key himself, showing a photo set of pictures that could as well be sold to someone as professionally taken ones.

“This could go on a cover of the magazine,” Kisumi mused with a smile on his face, supporting his head with his palm under the chin.

“True, haha,” agreed and chuckled Asahi, gently slapping his companion on the back.

“Thank you,” only quietly said Rei, all red with color.

Then Nagisa included their races and tournaments, that made tear up even Rin and Makoto and Haru smiled very warmly, which was enough to show how much everyone cared about their collective history.

And when he got towards the last slide, showing just a collage of their pictures together, little blondie that was always so outgoing got a bit quiet, looking at the screen intensely, not willing to meet anyone’s eyes. Especially not his loved amethysts.

“And with this ending part I would just like to say that...” he was fidgeting with his hands, playing with the fingers, “generally, before I met all of you again in highschool, guys, my life has been kind of bleak, even when I didn’t show it..” smile stretched on his features, a little wobbly, “and especially after meeting Rei-chan.. he has opened my heart in a way I didn’t expect anyone to open,” he finally lifted his head and tears were flowing down his face, but a wide smile was there as well, and his dark rosey eyes were looking right into the purples, creating a wonderful explosion of colours and feelings inside of both of their chests.

“I am the happiest person by your side. You always—,” it was kind of hard to speak for him now, sobs escaping his throat every once in a while, “You always understand me and never judge me.. Rei-chan..”

Nagisa has suddenly after these words climbed on the mostly empty table meant for the projector and sat on his knees, now looking directly at his love.

Go was already crying too, Makoto was on the verge and others were kind of confused, but certainly intrigued, watching what was unfolding in front of them.

“Will you..” he fumbled with something from his pocket and took out a small violet box, opening it in front of Rei, “ Will you marry me?”

After he choked these words out he started crying even more and his boyfriend’s eyes widened with shock and then realisation, and he immediately stood up and rushed to him, scooping him up in his arms and starting kissing his cheeks and light hair.

“Nagisa-kun... one hundred times yes,” he almost couldn’t speak anymore either, his emotions getting the best of him and they just hugged and cried together.

It took everyone a few seconds to stomach everything what just happened and every single friend of theirs at once got their butts up and came to the happy couple, hugging them as well.

“What a nice date, isn’t it?” laughed weakly Nagisa, seeing everyone around him, still scooped in his boyfriend’s arms.

“Truly.. thank you,” said Rei, looking into his red eyes, what seemed to be like forever.

[beca-mitchell]

i could let you go if i wanted to (1/1)

Summary: Between the two of them, Beca is the hasty one on the phone. She never lingers or dawdles, but with Chloe, she makes exceptions. Or 5 times Beca calls Chloe and one time Chloe calls Beca.

A/N: This was inspired by my friend @summersailedin who essentially prompted me to write something else, then I decided to do something completely different. Sorry bud. 

Some mention of drinking here. I don’t encourage drinking nor do I discourage it. I think everybody should be able to make their own decisions about whether they want to drink or not (at an appropriate, legal age). In short: don’t shame people for wanting to drink a little now and then and don’t shame people for never wanting to drink.

Song is “glisten (interlude)” by Jeremy Zucker.

Word count: 2585

Read on AO3 or below.

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But I could let you go if I wanted to And I don't know these roads but I know you Called you here just to watch you cry That's life when you compromise Cause I could let you go if I wanted to

Beca gets chatty when she drinks. For Chloe, it’s a little amusing and mostly concerning to see Beca’s walls come crumbling down right before her eyes.

It makes Chloe want to protect her more than ever because a vulnerable Beca is the last thing Chloe wants, though that particular notion is in conflict with Chloe’s desires because she wants to get to know Beca so much more than she did before.

“Woah,” Chloe says. She catches Beca when she stumbles. “Easy.”

It’s a typical end of year party – now also doubling as a celebration of the Bellas’ victory over the Treblemakers at the ICCA Finals.

Beca is drunk .

Chloe is so cognizant of that fact, so she focuses on making sure Beca and all the Bellas are safe.

Besides, she’s not expecting Aubrey to take on that role - Aubrey, who is happily talking Amy’s ear off.

Aubrey deserves some time off.

“So, you and Jesse?” Chloe asks, leaning over the counter to pour some beer. She swirls it in with some Sprite. A hasty radler. “Glad that worked out.”

Beca peers at her over the rim of the red solo cup she’s nursing, like she’s scrutinizing Chloe. Chloe is not unfamiliar with such a look, having been on the receiving end of it multiple times over the year. “Yes,” Beca finally agrees. “Me and Jesse.”

“That’s great,” Chloe says lightly.

“Aubrey’s rule was dumb.”

“A little dumb,” Chloe agrees.

“I like Jesse.”

Chloe ignores the unpleasant sensation in her stomach. “You do.”

Beca scowls, then. “Stop...repeating everything I’m saying.”

Chloe tilts her head to hide her smile behind her cup. “I’m not, though.”

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Incoming call: Beca Mitchell Duration: 3:41

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“Chlo,” Beca says softly. “Chloe, I have something to say.”

“Okay,” Chloe says, pausing in her facial care routine. “Do you need me to come back? Where are you?”

“No,” Beca says quickly. “I’m back at my room. I just.” She heaves a breath.

Chloe glances at her clock, wondering if she should just hang up - wondering if Beca even knows that she called. She has her dumb Russian Lit final the next day.

“I like you,” comes the whispered confession.

Chloe isn’t stupid enough to construe that as anything but romantic because Beca doesn’t mince her words. Doesn’t play with meaning. Still–

“You do?” she blurts.

“Yeah, I mean, it was kind of obvious.”

Was it? Chloe thinks to herself.

“I...like Jesse too.”

“Okay,” Chloe says.

“I’m sorry,” Beca continues, speaking as if Chloe hadn’t interrupted her.

Chloe thinks of the future and all that could hold for her. She thinks of life without Beca - thinks of life where Beca could choose her, but it’s so hard to materialize and so hard to conjure up in her mind.

“Would you have chosen me? In any scenario, would you have chosen me?” Chloe asks finally after at least a minute of quiet breathing.

Maybe it’s a little unfair because Beca is barely eighteen, verging on nineteen. She’s young and has her entire life ahead of her – has so much to look forward to. Beca is also intoxicated and this could prove to be the worst kind confession if Chloe isn’t careful.

“I...I don’t know,” Beca says, mumbled like she’s been chastised.

Chloe knows she isn’t safe. She actually thinks she isn’t anybody’s first choice when it comes to this kind of thing. Boys usually only want her because their first choice was emotionally unavailable and she’s there to catch the overflow of hurt ego. Girls rarely choose her first – they’re always intent on late night hook-ups.

Chloe isn’t sure what about her invites that, but Beca is not the first to not choose her.

Somehow, she’s fine with that. Somehow, she chooses to hold on.

“That’s okay,” Chloe says faintly.

It kind of happens during one of Jesse and Beca’s break-up. They break-up frequently enough that Chloe’s never really sure of Beca’s relationship status. She just knows that she never wants to be the other party to a cheating scenario, no matter how much it kills her that Beca consistently stillchooses Jesse over her.

Jealousy and guilt taste a little like wine, especially as it slips across her tongue by way of Beca’s lips on hers.

“But–” Chloe starts to say.

“We broke up,” Beca says quickly, making equally quick work of Chloe’s jeans. She grunts in frustration when she fumbles in pushing them down over Chloe’s hips. “About two weeks now.”

They’ve been dancing around this for the past two and a half years. This being some kind of back-and-forth pining. Chloe’s too afraid to come within close distance of it.

Beca’s too stubborn.

They’ll never meet in the middle, unless you count the way Chloe’s hands start at the center of Beca’s body, making her cry out her name into the empty Bellas house.

It is of course, no surprise to Chloe that Beca doesn’t call her once when she leaves for Spring Break the next morning. Chloe busies herself with cleaning the kitchen and the hallways, ignoring the way her heart pounds when she passes her own bedroom.

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Missed Call: Beca Mitchell

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Okay, so she does call. But she doesn’t leave a voicemail and Chloe figures that’s enough to sum up their relationship.

She never finds out what Beca wanted to say.

Jesse and Beca get together again and again, but with each passing break-up it’s less and less serious.

Chloe keeps her distance.

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Incoming call: Beca Mitchell Duration: 0:53

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“I think we should live together,” Beca says immediately when Chloe picks up her phone.

She almost freezes completely, but remembers that she stayed late at the gym and perhaps flying across the room right off the treadmill wouldn’t be the best way to celebrate graduating (finally).

“What?” she asks for clarity. She hits “pause” on her work-out, touching her headphone to make sure she’s listening carefully. Looking at the time, she sees that it’s only 9:45 in the evening and that the Bellas would have probably started up their party about half an hour ago. She’s late, but she’s been consciously avoiding Beca.

“I think we should live together,” Beca repeats, like that’s enough. There’s some rustling and then crunching, like Beca’s eating cookies or chips. She sounds alert and steady. “Is that okay?”

“In New York,” Chloe asks just to clarify.

“I promise I’m a good roommate.”

Chloe isn’t sure what drives her to make this decision.

“Okay, yes.”

I have nowhere else to be.

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Incoming call: Beca Mitchell Duration: 40:31

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It’s all harsh breathing for a little while.

That’s the first thing Chloe hears when she picks up the phone.

“Hello?” Chloe asks again, concerned. She tries to wipe the dredges of sleep from her eyes. A quick glance at the clock tells her that it’s just past two a.m. and she could really use more sleep.

Beside her, Chicago stirs.

Guilt coils in Chloe’s gut.

Returning to the limp phone in her hand, she presses it closer to her ear, her heart beating intensely for some unknown reason.

(A very known reason, actually.)

Chloe figures (hopes) somebody misdialed.

“Chlo,” Beca’s voice sounds softly.

“Beca,” Chloe replies, sitting up.

“Why’d you kiss him?” Beca rasps down the phone.

A million reasons float through Chloe’s mind. She could tell Beca everything – how long she waited, how long she so desperately desired Beca.

What she thought of at night.

What –

The way Beca had felt against her, like a phantom memory.

Instead, she’s just tired and the late hour has little to do with it.

Instead, it’s a different kind of time. Time has a funny way of making a person realize their own self-worth and she was just tired .

None of that comes out however. Instead, Chloe finds herself pulling on her shorts and t-shirt. “Are you drunk?” she asks. She pulls the hotel room door closed behind her, wincing at the quiet click. “Where are you?”

“Here,” Beca says cryptically. Chloe twists, wondering if Beca is somewhere down the hallway.

“Beca,” she says, warning in her tone.

Beca mumbles something in discontent. “Amy’s room,” she says, finally. “Her balcony’s really nice.”

Chloe counts the doors – three of them – and knocks lightly. She pushes on the door a little, noting with horror that the door was barely closed properly, so it gives way easily. She lowers her phone when Beca twists from where she’s standing on the balcony.

“No,” Beca calls quickly, still holding the phone. “You weren’t–” even in the low light, Chloe can see the frown on Beca’s face. It would be cute if Chloe weren’t so concerned. “You weren’t supposed to come. Get back on the phone.”

“Get back on the phone,” Chloe repeats, lifting her phone slowly.

“I have to tell you something,” Beca says. She makes her way back into the room, leaning on the door for support briefly. Chloe notes that Beca doesn’t necessarily look (or smell) drunk. She just looks kind of tired. Exhausted.

Her hair falls in curls around her face, messy from how she had been done up for her performance. She’s wearing a plain white t-shirt and jeans.

“What did you have to tell me?” Chloe asks, leaning carefully against the dresser. “Why are you in Amy’s room?”

“She wasn’t using it for the night.” Beca sits heavily on the bed, leaning back a little on one arm. Chloe’s eyes track across Beca’s relaxed posture. “Why did you kiss him?”

“It’s complicated. Why do you care?”

Beca groans, echoed and amplified by the phone.

“I slept with him,” Chloe blurts, unable to keep it inside any longer.

Beca’s breath picks up for a moment and Chloe thinks there’s something cruel about pretending that all she has to hear is Beca’s auditory reaction. Instead, she has to see it as well – has to see Beca’s confusing display of hurt and pain and every other emotion that flashes across her face.

“That’s not an answer,” Beca mumbles.

“I kissed him because I thought I was…” Chloe trails off. “I thought you and I weren’t…”

“You and I weren’t…?”

Something about this Beca seems emboldened. More confident.

“I can’t do this on the phone,” Chloe says, swallowing nervously when Beca stands from the bed and takes two steps closer to her. Her hand lowers of its own accord and she very well could drop her phone, with how numb she feels.

“Why not?”

I think you know why.

“He and I aren’t anything. We’re not together,” Chloe finally rushes out in a whisper. “I told him as much before we–”

She actually does drop her phone when Beca’s hands find her hips surely and confidently and she’s pulling Chloe in for a kiss.

They forget about their phones, until at some point during the night, Chloe pushes Beca back against the bed and they both kind of end up sitting on Beca’s phone, ending the call effectively.

They don’t sleep together that night - and they actually don’t again for a while.

But it’s enough - it’s enough that Beca finally chooses her and wants her.

Chloe has waited long enough.

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Sometimes Beca calls Chloe for no reason at all now. Just to say that she misses the sound of her voice.

Countless phone calls pile up and just like that, they’re that couple who spends too much time on the phone.

Mostly due to Beca’s job, but still.

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Missed call: Beca Mitchell (4)

Voicemail (1): Beca Mitchell

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“Chloe, I’m so sorry. You know I hate it when we fight. I didn’t mean what I said. I love you so much and I’m really so sorry about everything. You deserve the world and I’m going to do better. You don’t deserve a distant girlfriend who messes up all the time. Please call me back.”

Relationships are hard, especially lived through the phone.

Chloe thinks that it’s tiring to play phone tag with her girlfriend, but eventually she grows to become accustomed to having a famous girlfriend. An in-demand girlfriend.

Beca is steadfast, however. Beca is loyal and loving. And she chooses Chloe everytime, without Chloe having to ask.

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Incoming call: Beca Mitchell Duration: 15:53

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“Are you trying to have drunk phone sex with me?” Chloe asks, amused.

Now she’s awake.

“Maybe,” Beca says. “Though I’m not drunk.” A pause. “Drunk on you , maybe.”

“Okay, you’re at least tipsy,” Chloe says laughing. She stretches, leaning back in their bed. “What are you up to, Trouble?”

“Thinking about how much I miss you. And what you taste like.”

Oh.

Chloe raises her eyebrow. “Really?” Unconsciously, her hand drifts to her midsection, conscious of every last sensation, like how her clothes feel against her gradually warm skin. “Do you miss what I taste like?” she asks, battling past the flush that rises in her cheeks.

“I was just thinking about it,” Beca says casually, like she’s talking about the weather. “But I could miss it.” Her breathing increases slightly as she shifts. “Whenever I think about you, I miss you.”

“I’m right here,” Chloe says softly.

“I know.”

“But,” Chloe says, directing their conversation back to more interesting territory. “What were you saying about missing me?”

“I miss the taste of your skin. How soft you are. The feel of your lips against mine. That thing you do with your tongue when you’re going down on me.”

Chloe fumbles with her shirt. “I’m hanging out. Get on Facetime.”

Beca gasps like the thought never occurred to her. “ Facetime ,” she repeats, in awe. “God, I love technology.”

And she hangs up without a word.

Incoming Facetime Video: Beca Mitchell

Chloe grins.

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Incoming call: Chloe Beale Duration: 1:51

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“Hey!” Chloe exclaims. “Hey, Bec.”

“This has to be bad luck,” Beca says immediately.

“No, I’m pretty sure that’s if you see the bride before the wedding.” Chloe smiles. “Well, send me a picture then.”

“No! I mean – Aubrey would kill me,” Beca says in a harsh whisper.

“So it’s not you who’s superstitious suddenly.”

Beca scoffs. “No, just want to make sure your best friend doesn’t skin me alive.”

Chloe clicks her tongue. “So vivid, Bec.”

“Oh yeah?” Beca’s voice lowers nearly an entire octave as she whispers. “What’s vivid is what I dreamt last night. You’re very talented, Beale.”

“That’s Beale-Mitchell to you,” Chloe corrects, skimming over the way her body heats at Beca’s words.

“This is our last phone call as an unmarried couple,” Beca says lightly.

“I can hardly believe it,” Chloe says dramatically.

“Same,” Beca replies, though it’s softer and with more motion.

God, she loves her .

“I love you,” Chloe says after a pause. “I love you so much and I can’t wait to see you.” She stifles a giggle. “ Wifey .”

Beca gasps. “Not yet. ” Some rustling. Chloe tries not to think about how beautiful Beca probably looks in her dress. “This dress is suffocating me. The things I do for you.”

Chloe snorts.

Beca sighs. “I love you. So much.”

Chloe cradles her phone to her ear, wanting to remember this forever. “Say it again,” she implores.

Clear as day, no static whatsoever, Beca responds as steady as ever. “I love you, Chloe Beale. And I cannot wait to marry to you.”

end.