#magnolias and speyburn

[lespetitesmortsde]

3, 6, and 12 for the fic asks?

3. What’s your favorite fic that you’ve written?

Oh boy. Okay. I think I gotta do it by fandom, I don't think I have an overall fave. Bechloe - Magnolias and Speyburn or What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? (which I will put on ao3 at... some point!) Imodna - I like too many of my own tbh. That's why I wrote them. When the Stars Go Out I feel has to be on here. Rizzles - Hate to See Your Heartbreak (again, which I will put on ao3 at some point). Supercorp - the next thing I post is my fave of this pairing so far. It's called Shatter Me (Again and Again) - so far, I think. The struggle of a working title. But looking at just stuff I've published? Then it has to be Slow It Down since it's the only thing for them I've posted so far. I have plans for that one.

6. Are there any fics from others you reread all the time?

Absolutely. Truly so many that I can't list them all here, but here are a few examples. mosaic broken hearts by darkdisrepair - imodna. i want something just like this from jazzfordshire - supercorp. my heart's a secret (give me the words) from KelseyO - imodna. don't let her stick it to your heart - searidings - supercorp. Keys by colormetheworld - rizzles.

12. Do you have a playlist for your current WIP(s)? Share it!

Here's a Dolcissimo playlist. Here's a general imodna playlist. There are JP Saxe and Taylor Swift playlists, too, but those have spoilers. You'll get them later, if you want them.

Are you curious about something? You can ask me stuff, too! Here's the list of questions, but my ask box is always open!

[lespetitesmortsde]

Magnolias and Speyburn: An Epilogue

Two years later

“Didn’t think I’d see you back so soon,” Mary comments as she comes up to the corner booth where Beca and Chloe are sitting. Chloe is tucked right up against Beca’s side, arm dangling into Beca’s lap.

Beca fights a blush as she looks up. “Yeah, what can I say, she’s persuasive.” She leans her head down to gently bonk against Chloe’s.

“I was being sarcastic, it’s been what, two years?”

“Oh, sorry, I mean, this is one of the smallest gaps between visits, at least for me,” Beca answers.

“Maybe so, but I usually see Chloe once or twice a year and ever since you two ran off together after her wedding, you’ve been keeping her away.”

“Sorry, I’m not sorry,” Beca says, smiling and turning to look at Chloe, the epitome of heart eyes.

Chloe looks up at Mary beaming, “Can we get–”

“–Strawberry milkshake and fries?” Mary asks, already turning back for the kitchen.

“Can you make it a zebra milkshake instead?” Chloe pipes up, looking at Beca with a knowing smile.

Mary looks back at them, “I can do that.” She takes two steps toward the kitchen, then abruptly turns back to them again. “I like this view a lot better than the last time,” she comments, mostly towards Beca, and then she finally does head back behind the counter, calling to her cook.

Chloe immediately turns to Beca, “What’s she mean?”

Awkwardly, Beca fidgets with one hand in her hoodie pocket until Chloe lays a hand overtop the wiggling lump. “Becs.”

“Well, you know, last time I was in this town, you were, you know, getting married, and, um, I came here before the wedding, you know, to have, like, a final goodbye to the Beca and Chloe we used to be or whatever.”

Chloe raises her eyebrow. “Did Mary catch you slipping Speyburn into her milkshake?”

“Pfft, no!” Beca says defensively. Then she meets Chloe’s eyes a little bit embarrassedly, “I didn’t actually do it, I just really, really thought about it.”

“You’re such a dork,” Chloe says, and she kisses Beca on the cheek.

“You didn’t get strawberry,” Beca comments, pulling her hand out of her hoodie to hold Chloe’s under the table.

“Astute observation, Becs,” Chloe replies, closing her fingers around Beca’s. It’s gentle and comfortable, like their entire relationship after their rocky start.

Beca rolls her eyes. “You know what I’m getting at.”

“Oscar told me one night at the bar that you don’t actually like strawberry milkshakes that much, but that you’d always get them because I wanted them.”

“Traitor.”

Chloe gently slaps Beca’s hand. “Hey, be nice, he’s just looking out for you.”

Beca doesn’t head back to L.A. until two weeks after Chloe’s wedding. And when she does, she’s not alone. Chloe’s not moving to L.A., at least, not immediately, but the two aren’t quite ready to be apart, she has time off for her honeymoon that didn’t happen, and Beca’s due back in the studio tomorrow.

“What’s there to do for fun around your place?” Chloe’d asked in the cab from the airport.

“I don’t really go out that much, unless a Bella’s visiting,” Beca admitted. “I mean, there’s a bar I like to go to, but it’s not super popular or anything. It’s kind of under the radar, I guess.”

“Let’s go! I want to see where you’ve been spending your time,” Chloe said, and Beca didn’t even think about saying no.

When Beca knocked on the door to the nondescript bar, Chloe looked a little awed when the door slid open mere seconds later.

Oscar’s face dropped to an almost sadness when he saw Beca, but it almost immediately went back to a passive inspection once he took in Chloe beside her.

“Hey Oscar,” Beca said as he continued scrutinizing the redhead. He pretty openly looked at her left hand.

“Hey Lil Bit, I take it things went better than expected?” Oscar settled back into his regular bouncer posture. Beca saw his lips and the corners of his eyes turn up in amusement.

“Yeah, um, so this is Chloe,” Beca gestured between them. “Chloe, this is Oscar.”

“Nice to meet you!” Chloe smiled widely and stuck her hand out. “I’m glad I got to meet one of Beca’s L.A. friends!”

Oscar shook Chloe’s hand and then stepped aside to let them in.

“You still going to stop by once your shift is over?” Beca asked, fidgeting with the hem of her jacket. It was a bit more awkward an encounter than she’d expected.

Oscar nodded once. “You’ve got a lot of storytelling to do; I wouldn’t miss it.”

Beca smiled. “Alright, see you in a bit, Oz.”

“You too, Lil Bit.”

As soon as Chloe thought they’re out of earshot, she said, “Why don’t I get to call you Lil Bit?”

Beca pulled her along into the bar, heading for a four-top in a back corner that someone clearly just vacated. “Because you’re not a mountain of a man who guards the entrance to my bar of choice.”

Chloe dropped into the seat beside Beca. A server stopped by their table, introduced himself as Jack, and asked if he can get them anything.

“Speyburn, double, on an iceberg please,” Beca said, only a little stiffly. Behind him, she could make out Maura behind the bar.

“What do you guys have here? Anything signature or special or just really yummy?” Chloe asked, patting Beca on the knee as she turned a little to better face Jack.

“We make a mean Old Fashioned, if you’re into whiskey. Our pisco sour is made with Macchu Pisco, straight from Peru and distilled only by women. Other than that, we can make you pretty much anything that suits your fancy,” Jack said, grinning and tucking his serving tray under one arm. He nodded behind him at the backlit bar holding a variety of bottles. Maura seems to have noticed Beca’s there by now and gives a little wave.

Chloe thought about it for a moment, glancing over at Beca who half-heartedly put her hand in the air to return Maura’s greeting.

“You know what,” Chloe said, “I think I’m going to follow the regular’s lead.” She smiled up at Jack and gestured toward Beca. “I”ll have what she’s having please.”

“Okay,” Jack nodded. “Two double Speyburns, Titanic-style. They’ll be right up.” And he headed back toward the bar.

“Who’s that?” Chloe asked, following Beca’s gaze to the bar.

“Oh, that’s Maura.” Beca turned to face Chloe. “She was new here the last time I was in. She was pretty nice, made my drink the right way without me having to explain it,” Beca chuckles. “I blame Oscar for that, though, he warned her about my habits.”

“Well hey there, stranger,” Maura greeted as she approached the table. She mockingly inspected Beca. “Now, I would assume you’re Beca, but you’re not sitting at the end of my bar and drinking Speyburn like you’re trying to practice being an oak cask.”

Beca kind of shrugged towards Chloe.

“Oh, I see!” Maura said, eyes alight in amusement. “Well you must be the one who got away, or almost, I should say, considering you’re here now,” Maura had turned to Chloe, but now she turned back to Beca, “How’d you manage that?”

Just thinking about it made Beca blush. “Um, you know, nothing big.”

Chloe rolled her eyes, and gestured Maura to one of the chairs. “This one,” Choe jabbed a finger in Beca’s direction, “decided that she’d take her Speyburn-drinking show on the road. Left in the middle of my ceremony, so of course I had to go after her.”

Maura raised an eyebrow, but Chloe just waved her off. “I’d been in love with her since forever and she was always supposed to be at my wedding — one way or another. She basically confessed her love across town in a park we used to play in as kids.”

“That seems uncharacteristically romantic of you, Beca,” Maura said. Beca flipped her off.

“Oh no, she’s totes mushy, just, only around me,” Chloe beamed.

“Can we stop talking about me now?” Beca asked, grumpily.

Maura stood up as Oscar approached the table, “Yes, but only because your partner in crime is here.”

They switched places, Oscar sitting where Maura had been, “Bring me whatever they’re having, will you?” Oscar asked as he shifted and got comfortable.

She flipped him off as she walked back to the bar.

Oscar honed right in on Beca. “Alright, Lil Bit, spill the beans. Last I saw you, I was dragging your punk ass back to your place you were so lit.”

If Chloe could tell Beca blushed in the rather dim lighting of the bar, she didn’t let on.

“Yeah, so, you know, I went to the wedding and then I dunno man, had to split,” she shrugged and Oscar nodded sagely, like he knew exactly what she meant. And maybe he did, Chloe wasn’t sure. “Chloe followed or chased me or something and I thought that, you know, Stacie had spilled the beans because she’s been bugging me to do it forever, so I guess I kind of confessed, and then yeah, Chloe got a little mad–”

“I did not!” Chloe defended. Beca raised an eyebrow in her direction. “Okay, so I was a little surprised and frustrated, but I was not mad.”

Beca rolled her eyes. “Anyway, so she was mad, but then she said that she loved me too, blah blah blah, and now we’re here and together. So it all worked out.”

Oscar turned to Beca. “Maura’s definitely told Jack not to bring our drinks, so why don’t you go get them? For you girl, of course.” He smiled widely, too innocently.

“Ugh, I don’t even work here!” Beca said as she got up with a huff and headed toward the bar.

“Okay, love of Beca’s life, a few things you should know. First and foremost, I don’t know if you’ve been around her when she’s in the middle of a record, but she forgets how to be a basic functioning human being, so make sure she eats and drinks water, and doesn’t survive on Red Bull alone…”

Chloe listened with rapt attention as Oscar told her all the things Beca never would.

“And finally, I know it’s a thing or whatever between the two of you, but for the love of all that is holy, please don’t make her drink strawberry milkshakes anymore. We went to a diner once and that was somehow the only flavour they had left, and she was basically drowning it in tears the entire night, so please.”

“Looking out for me or not, if it was a big deal, I would’ve told you.” Beca says, convincing exactly nobody.

“It never really mattered to me which flavour of shake we got, Becs, I just wanted to share it with you.”

Beca blushes as the distant  sound of the blender trails off. Mary lumbers back over, a beautifully striped milkshake in one hand, a basket of fries in the other.

“Here you two go,” Mary says, placing the items in front of them. “So, what brings you two back to town?”

Chloe grins, “I’m trying again.”

“Trying what again?”

Beca turns to Chloe, “Why do you keep saying it like that, Chlo?” Then she turns back to Mary. “We’re engaged,” she says as Chloe pulls her hand out of Beca’s lap to show Mary her new engagement ring.

“Well, congratulations,” Mary says, smiling and taking a few seconds to inspect the ring. “Nice work with that one, I thought the other was a bit too flashy for Chloe’s style.”

“We picked it out together, and because everyone now knows that I want to get married in this town, we’re here making plans and booking things,” Chloe explains, happily driving two fries through the top of the shake.

“Speaking of,” Beca says, adjusting herself on the booth bench. “We were wondering if you’d kind of cater part of it?”

Mary seems a little taken aback. “While that’s a lovely thought,” she says and hesitates, possibly for the first time in either Beca’s or Chloe’s recollection, “don’t you think your wedding should have something a bit, I don’t know, fancier than diner food?”

Chloe smiles up at Mary as she finishes her mouthful of fries and shake. “We’re not having this wedding to be fancy, Mary, we’re having this wedding to celebrate how much we love each other and, you know, how well we know each other, how long we’ve circled around each other. We will have some other food, but we both agreed that having you and having your shakes and fries there would be a really great way to celebrate.

“After all,” Chloe continues, “there was no other food, no other spot around town, really, where Beca and I spent most of our time together. We want to commemorate that, because this place, the food,” Chloe gestures to the food in front of them, “they helped shape who we are and who we are are two dumbasses who finally got their shit together.”

Beca can see an extra watery layer in Mary’s eyes, and it makes her happy that Mary seems to be touched by Chloe’s speech. They did have a wavelength moment when discussing food for the wedding, Beca saying, “So I know it might be untraditional, but I was thinking that Mary and the diner have made such an impact on our lives…”

Chloe had said, “I couldn’t agree more Becs.”

But now, Mary looks away for a moment, off and up towards the ceiling, and when she turns back, Beca can no longer see the beginnings of tears. “Well we’ll have to settle some details, but the diner and I would like nothing more than to help y’all celebrate.”

Choe reaches down to squeeze Beca’s hand. “Aca-awesome.” Beca looks around the diner to make sure no one’s watching them before giving Chloe a kiss.

“So romantic, making sure no one can see how in love we are,” Chloe rolls her eyes and digs back into the fries.

Beca squirms a little in her seat. “Reflex, you know I feel weird about PDA what with all the paparazzi around L.A.”

“Yeah,” Chloe shrugs, “but they’re not here.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised if they followed us,” Beca grumbles, but kisses Chloe again without looking around first. Then she jumps into the fries and milkshake with vigour, trying to catch up to Chloe.

She’s always been trying to catch up with that woman, always loved it, and now, she thinks while looking down at her own engagement ring, now she gets to spend the rest of her life doing the thing she loves. She smiles at how well the fries go with the layered shake.

[lespetitesmortsde]

Magnolias and Speyburn

PART TEN

"This is all wrong," Beca whispers in Stacie's ear as they each add gifts to the growing pile of presents. Beca's is the only one wrapped in a tie-dye shawl.

"I don't think you can say that. It's her wedding. This is what she chose."

Beca shakes her head. "No. Where are the magnolias? The classic wrought-iron arbor? Guests in fun summer colours? She wanted a small wedding. Where's the single cellist?"

The distress in Beca's voice is palpable. "Stace, it's all wrong."

Stacie takes Beca's arm and runs a hand over her back. "Relax, Becs, maybe Chloe changed her mind. She definitely chose all of this, she was telling people last night at the rehearsal."

Beca shrugs Stacie off and wanders to the side of the enclosure. She pretends to admire a tree as she sips from her stash of scotch.

When she turns back to face the spectacle, to once again marvel at the incorrectness of it all, Beca's mind is filled with the worst thoughts.

I could try to find her.

I could get this off of my chest.

I could tell her.

I could play it off like it could be a joke, just not a funny one.

No.

I can't mess it up.

Beca wanders back over to Stacie, actively pushing down on the dumbass thoughts flitting through her head.

The ceremony should start any minute. They tried to time it so Beca wouldn't have to spend any more time than strictly necessary watching the love of her life get hitched.

It's fine. Well, it's going okay. Until they are ushered into their seats and the recorded music plays.

Chloe walks in, positively beaming, looking so amazing, so beautiful, so heavenly in her white dress with a purple orchid in her hair.

When Chloe passes the row that Beca's in, Beca smiles as widely as she can, forces her eyes to crinkle at the corners. Chloe grins a little wider, showing more teeth, and does a little finger waggle as a wave before she's moving farther up the aisle. When did she decide to put a flower in her hair?

Beca takes a sip of scotch, trying to blur out everything but Chloe's face as the bride stops in front of the podium and lets her dad take his seat in the front row. She takes another when Chloe turns to face her fiancé. Another when Grandpa Beale welcomes them all and thanks everyone for being here to share this milestone with Chloe and Chicago.

She lasts all the way through Grandpa Beale's rendition of 1 Corinthians 13, even though tears collect in the corners of her eyes.

Beca knows what's coming. She watched enough romance movies with Chloe in her teens and double checked the Internet before coming here today. She squeezes Stacie's hand, mouths I'm sorry when Stacie looks at her in concern.

While all the attention is still focused up front, Beca decides it's her time to make a move. Her resolve can only bear so much and she doesn't trust herself to keep quiet when objections are called for. After all, it's not a real question, just a technicality to be included.

"Good luck, Chloe," Beca murmurs. She gets up while Chloe's grandpa is still talking and quietly lets herself out the back entrance, making herself as stealthy as possible.

It's not rocket science to know that she should not in any way be allowed to drive, but she does drop off her empty flask on her way past the car.

God, why did she think coming to this was a good idea?

Oh right. She didn't. Fuck her goddamn awful sense of duty. She should have claimed an unavoidable work event and gotten drunk at home. At least then she wouldn't feel the ridiculous, stupid urge to walk three miles to the other side of town, chasing memories of when she could pretend Chloe was hers.

She takes a swallow.

But of course she's going to do it. Of fucking course. Because the wedding festivities will last at least another couple of hours and if she can't be close to perfect, funny, loving, present Chloe, she'll settle for being drunk in their place and hope past Chloe comes to haunt her.

She knows it's possible. It's happened before, when she's really drunk and really sad, and if that criteria isn't filled today of all days, then Beca's at a loss.

So she walks. She walks and she thinks of Chloe and when it starts to hurt too much in her chest, she tips back her flask.

Even in her current state, it feels like it takes way longer to reach the playground than it should.

With almost half her liquor left, Beca slumps into a swing, toes barely scraping the wood mulch. She sways in the seat, and tucks her drink away. She's nicely buzzed, at least for the moment. Her eyes flit over to the monkey bars and her eyes fill with tears.

[lespetitesmortsde]

Magnolias and Speyburn

PART ONE

"Becs!" Chloe admonished, slapping Beca lightly on the arm. "It's 'love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous,' not 'lettuce!'"

Beca nodded emphatically and smiled, two teeth missing in the bottom of her mouth. "Right, Chlo, I'm sorry. I don't know why it keeps coming out as 'lettuce,'" Beca blushed at her mistake. She vowed to get it right this time. After all, she was only filling in for Chloe's grandfather who had to work today. She'd lost track of how many times Chloe'd stated that her grandaddy would preach her wedding service.

Beca didn't care. She was just glad to be there in an active role. Usually Chloe would have her stand behind or beside her grandfather while he officiated. It never made much sense to Beca, but whenever she'd ask Chloe, the bride-to-be would just smile and say that it was her wedding, and that's where she wanted Beca to stand. So that's where Beca stood.

Chloe gestured her head toward the teddy bear, Landon, standing in as Chloe's groom.

Grimacing only fractionally, Beca sighed and turned to the stuffed animal. "I'm sorry to you, too, Landon," Beca muttered, feeling ridiculous. Any embarrassment evaporated as soon as Chloe turned to her, clearly pleased, and beamed at Beca in mega-wattage style.

"Okay," Chloe said happily, tugging the bear towards her again. "Let's take it from the top!"

Chloe marched back to the beginning of the makeshift aisle. The girls had spent their morning decorating their favourite playground to look more matrimonial. Dutifully, Beca took up the bouquet of magnolias again from where Chloe had accidentally dropped them in her excitement to marry Landon. She followed Chloe and put them back into the redhead's arms. Then she sprinted back to her place as the officiant of the wedding and started humming the wedding march.

Slowly, Chloe walked toward Beca, and Beca could tell from the way Chloe's mouth crinkled around the edges of her tight-lipped smile that her best friend was using every ounce of willpower that she possessed not to break into a full, toothy grin.

In Beca's eyes, Chloe's never looked more beautiful or more perfect than when she was six years old and walking towards Beca with the promise of a loving future spilling out of the stars in her eyes.

Beca is six years old and in love with her best friend.

[lespetitesmortsde]

Magnolias and Speyburn

PART EIGHT

It would be easier if Chicago was a dick, Beca decides, as she sips from her flute and leans against the bar. But she watches them make their rounds, arm in arm, and he is all dashing smiles and polite grace, and hell. Beca's a five on the Kinsey scale, but Chicago would be one of the few men she'd get down with. He's just that amazing.

And Chloe deserves someone amazing. Beca has always said that, always believed that, and it just kind of sucks that someone that amazing exists and he did what Beca never could — he asked Chloe Beale on a date.

So she should just be happy for them because clearly, they're perfect for each other, and she shouldn't have this growing bitterness inside of her, seven exact inches below her sternum. She's measured. It appears more often than she'd like to admit.

She should be pulling the sleazy best friend move and try to find a bridesmaid to enjoy for the next two days, but her heart isn't in it. It's always easy to find someone more than willing, especially when they find out who she is at her day job, but it's never satisfying. Ultimately, those kinds of flings just remind her of what she's missing. It's been about three years since she figured that out, much to the dismay of many an up-and-coming star.

Beca glances at the clock, wondering if she can sneak out now without being rude, or even better, seen. She catches Stacie's eye from across the room and slumps when she sees Stacie very pointedly shakes her head.

Whatever. She can last a while longer. They've already gone through the mock ceremony, without Beca thank God, and are now approaching hour two of the rehearsal reception. The dinner aspect went fine, people hit their cues, Beca stayed seated. Wins all around.

Chloe's passed by a couple of times, but always gets dragged away to the next long-lost relative before she can really talk to Beca.

Even though it's disappointing, it's for the best. She puts her empty glass down on the bar. It would be so, so easy to get lost in the bottle tonight. But Beca's done that more than enough, and Stacie told her she could only become a mess on one of the days. Either she gets toasted at the rehearsal or at the actual wedding.

Beca really wanted to say that she'd get loaded at the rehearsal and then be fine during the wedding, but good lord, she was going to need her scotch tomorrow. She'd just make sure to leave the wedding before she got too out of hand. If she ruined Chloe's wedding day, Chloe would never speak to her again, not when she's been planning the event since she was a child.

The little shit part of Beca's brain wonders if that'd be the worst thing. Like, maybe Beca was never able to get over Chloe before because Chloe still wanted to talk to her and be friends. But if Beca fucked that up enough… maybe Beca could finally jump that last hurdle.

Beca turns and asks the bartender to refill her glass. She could feel Stacie's eyes on her as she turned around.

"Jesus!" Beca says loudly, steadying her champagne with one hand and her chest with the other. How Stacie crossed the room in five seconds, tops, will forever remain a mystery.

Stacie didn't seem to care. "I'm watching you, Mitchell. Remember, I'm only taking care of you one night, so if it's tonight, tomorrow you're sober, you understand?"

Beca glares, but nods anyway.

"When can I go?" Beca asks, taking a sip and staring pointedly away from her friend.

Stacie shakes out the watch on her wrist. "Last thirty more minutes and we can go."

"No," Beca says immediately. "Dude, totally stay. The Bellas are here, there are plenty of army guys for sampling, you deserve to be here." She sighs. "I'll be fine. I'll finish this one, final drink, run the clock out, and then head back to the hotel room. No need for a babysitter."

"I'm not going to leave you, Becs," Stacie says, crossing her arms.

Beca rolls her eyes. "Yes, you are, and you're going to have a damn good time." She waves off Stacie's disbelieving stare. "I'm serious. I'm just gonna go back to the room, maybe have a bath, and go to sleep. I'm not looking for any drama. And I'll put earplugs in just in case."

Stacie sighs. "Look, Becs, what if you just–"

"No," Beca shakes her head. "I've said 'no' the last twenty times you've suggested it, I'm not going to stop my streak now."

"But, Becs–"

"No, Stacie," Beca says with her tone of finality. She hardens her stare at Stacie. "You've been great, but I'm not going to fuck up her wedding by telling her, okay? I'm not going to do it. If I was ever going to tell her, I should've done it years ago. Not now, not when she's happy, not when all it would do is make me feel better at the expense of her feeling worse, okay? So keep suggesting it, if you really want to, but it's not going to happen, Legs."

Stacie climbs onto the stool beside Beca. "Okay, Beca. I'm here for you."

Beca's eyes soften. "I know, and I appreciate that."

"You know," Stacie whispers conspiratorially, "all the Bellas were rooting for you, if it helps. Even Aubrey."

Beca snorts. "Sure, Stace."

But Stacie just nods emphatically. "Yeah, we were. We all had bets on how long it would take for you two to get together. Aubrey lost early at two weeks. We all lost and gave back the pool money after Jessica's two years deadline passed."

"Wow."

"You're great, Beca. Even if it's not with Chloe, you deserve to be loved by someone. You deserve to be happy, too."

Ignoring the moisture gathering in her eyes, Beca nods stiffly. "Thanks."

"Which is why," Stacie sighs, "you can leave now. If anyone asks, I'll cover for you."

Beca's out the door in three minutes flat.

So she tries to have a nice night in. She runs a bath using the overly fragrant bubble bath provided by the hotel. When she gets hungry later, she orders a snack from room service and eats it wearing fluffy pajamas and the super soft hotel robe. In the name of taking care of herself, she's in bed by eleven without once being distracted by her mixing equipment looking forlorn in the corner.

She only lightly stirs when she hears Stacie come in around midnight, but chases the tendril of sleep before her brain gets too geared up.

[lespetitesmortsde]

Magnolias and Speyburn

PART 6

When Oscar stumbles into Beca's apartment a few hours later with a passed-out Beca in his arms, Stacie's up and on the couch.

"Who're you?" Stacie asks, surveying the situation.

"Oscar. Just bringing her back then I'm out of here," he knows a protective friend when he sees one.

Stacie's glare softens. "How is she?"

Unceremoniously, Oscar drops Beca onto her bed and turns off her phone. He takes the charge cord from beside her bed back out to the living room where Stacie is. "Not great," he admits, and plugs her phone in on the kitchen island. He pulls the invite, now wrinkled, out of his pocket and tosses it onto the coffee table in front of Stacie.

"What happened?" Stacie asks, sitting on the arm of the couch. Oscar sighs.

"Not much. We drank. She didn't really want to talk, and I get that, so we drank more instead. Lil Bit can hold her liquor when she wants to. It took forever to get her to the crying stage, but I think it helped her in the long-run." He chuckles a little sadly. "It usually does. She should be good now for a couple of weeks at least, if history's anything to go by."

Stacie's noticeably blanched. "She cried? In a bar? In public?"

Oscar nods like it's no big deal.

"Fuck," Stacie breathes out.

"Just give her some ibuprofen and water in the morning before her coffee and it'll be fine. Been here before," Oscar explains. "She'll be okay. She'll get over the redhead."

He walks away and closes the door behind him before Stacie can correct him.

"No, she can't," Stacie whispers, and then goes to fetch the meds and water for her friend.

[lespetitesmortsde]

Beca and Chloe have been best friends since childhood. Almost twenty years later, Chloe’s getting married and Beca’s having a hard time dealing with it. Angst warning, but it’s also cute. Updates are small, but frequent. They occur during natural breaks in the story instead of via word counts. Recommended listening: “Marry Me” by Thomas Rhett. Also, “Happier” by Ed Sheeran.

[lespetitesmortsde]

Magnolias and Speyburn

PART 4

"No," Beca says again, this time with her arms crossed and her brow furrowed.

"Come on, Becs," Stacie tries. "We're in L.A., we should live a little!"

This part of Stacie's argument, Beca can't counter.

"Besides, what better way to hit the L.A. club scene than with a goal to get laid?" Stacie continues, reiterating an argument they've had three times already since Stacie landed the other day.

That is the portion Beca takes issue with. "I don't want to get laid by some random, Stace."

Stacie rolls her eyes, flipping through the hangers of clothes in Beca's closet. "Look, Becs, I'm sorry. But you know that the best way to get over somebody is to get under someone else."

Almost violently, Beca shakes her head. "No. I do not know that. Not at all."

It takes another couple of seconds, but Stacie turns to face Beca clutching a sexy dark blue button up. "You should wear this."

Beca glares.

Stacie rolls her eyes. "Beca Mitchell, I know where you got this shirt, and you are wearing it tonight while I try to get you laid. You need to move on, girl, Chloe has."

If Stacie thinks that comment would somehow magically persuade Beca that going to a club was a good idea, then she is dead wrong.

"Look, Stace, I don't expect you to understand, okay?" Beca says. "What I do expect, from my friend, is to be listened to. I. Do. Not. Want. To. Get. Laid." Beca says very clearly, a little louder than truly necessary. "I can wear the shirt, we can go to a club, and you can find someone to get down with, but if you try to find someone for me, I'm out. You hear?"

Looking a little apologetic, Stacie nods. Beca takes the shirt from her and turns around to peel off her v-neck tee. She pulls on the blue shirt, buttons it up two shy of the top, and turns around.

Stacie's still looking appreciatively. "Damn, Becs, you've got a nice back."

Beca rolls her eyes. "Okay, weirdo, get changed and we'll go."

[lespetitesmortsde]

Magnolias and Speyburn

PART 5

To be fair, Beca's impressed it took almost two hours for Stacie to come up to where Beca was leaning by the bar, a twin on either arm, and try to set Beca up. True to her word, though, Beca politely declined and wished Stacie luck. Then she downed the last of her drink, slipped into her jacket, and left the thumping bass behind.

She walks most of the way home before turning down an alleyway and knocking loudly on a steel grey door. It slides open a moment later.

"Didn't expect to see you tonight," Oscar says, stepping aside to let Beca in. He looks as tough and menacing as he did the first time Beca stumbled upon the speakeasy-style bar.

Beca shrugs and pulls out the embossed card.

"Oh shit," Oscar says, and lets out a little whistle. "Sorry man."

Beca shrugs again. Oscar nudges her over to the bar. "Go and mope for a bit. When Felix switches with me, I'll come make you feel better."

"Thanks, Oz," Beca claps him lightly on the arm and wanders over to her preferred seat at the end of the bar. She drapes her jacket across the back of the empty stool beside her for whenever Oscar is done.

It's a little embarrassing, but she has to do a little hop to get up onto her seat. She somewhat stealthily manages to get up without drawing attention to herself and hooks her feet around the legs of the stool. Again, she pulls the wedding invitation out and lays it down on the bar in front of her.

"Not for yours, I'm assuming?" The blonde woman who appears in front of Beca must be new.

"Nope," Beca agrees, fiddling her fingers on the paper.

"Sucks," the bartender says, grabbing a glass from her left and setting it up on the bar.

Without Beca saying a word, the woman turns for the bottle of Speyburn 15 on the display behind her. Beca watches half in surprise, half in anticipation as a large clear cube of ice is placed in the glass and then a healthy measure of scotch is poured over top.

The glass slides over to Beca off the bartender's fingers.

"I'm Maura," the woman says. "Oscar told me a broody-looking brunette may come in and take the chair you're in now and want nothing but a Speyburn and quiet."

Beca raises an eyebrow.

"Yeah. I did it about half-right. What can you say, I'm new," Maura shrugs and heads off.

"Thanks," Beca calls after her, just loudly enough for Maura to wave it off as she approaches another patron at the other end of the bar.

The invitation stares at her while she wraps her left hand around the glass, while she glances around the bar to see what the mood is like, while she lifts the glass to her lips, while she takes a sip. Honestly, it's fucking rude. Doesn't it know it's so goddamn rude to stare?

Beca's overcome with the urge to rip it in half, to shut it up, but the millisecond her fingers grasp the cardstock and make the tiniest fraction of a rip, she drops it back down to the bar like it's fire. She pushes it aside, and grabs again for her drink. What she meant to sip is swallowed quickly, the tumbler slipping back onto the coaster in a muted thud.

Like there's a silent alarm, Maura walks back over almost instantaneously, pulls the bottle off the shelf again, and pours another measure into Beca's glass.

"Oz likes you," Maura says, as if that explains her behaviour. It does, in a way. Beca's not as surprised as she should be to learn that Oscar has given Maura instructions about how to handle her. Or maybe there are just special instructions because of the invite. Either way, Beca knows Oz has a soft spot for her. She has one for him, too. It's why she doesn't come in when she knows he's not going to be there. Something about the big guy reassures her, gives her some stability to her thoughts. He's a good guy to have in a crisis, and honestly, one of the only friends she's made since moving here.

"He's a good guy," Beca understates, inclining her head to thank Maura for the drink. Maura shrugs off the thanks.

"He'll be done in ten minutes, and I've been told not to top you off more than twice before he gets here, short and mysterious," Maura says. Only when Beca glances up does she note the playful smirk at the corner of Maura's mouth.

"Got it," Beca says and downs the glass. Again, Maura pours her another, and then she sets the bottle back on the shelf.

"Nine minutes," she reminds Beca as she glides back over to the other side of the bar.

"Nine minutes," Beca repeats, morosely looking into her scotch instead of throwing it back. She shouldn't drink too much. She's been lucky before, when she's gotten too sauced. Oz knows to take her phone away. The first time was a close call. She had Chloe's contact page up, thumb hovering over the call button, when he swooped in and saved her from making yet another mistake.

The tumbler's still in her hands, mostly full, when a hand grazes her shoulder and Oscar drops into the seat beside her.

"From your girl, eh?" he asks, nodding to the card in the corner. Beca doesn't bother responding. It's not a real question anyway. He knows. Beca told him months ago the whole sad sob story, and three weeks ago Beca had been surprised to find engagement photos on her Instagram.

That night she'd gone to the bar and it hadn't been an early or cheap night. She'd finished the open bottle of Speyburn and gotten almost halfway through the next before Oz cut her off. She'd woken up alone in her bed, Oz on the couch clutching her phone to his chest.

"When is it?" Oscar asks, drawing Beca back from her memories.

"A month."

Oscar whistles. "Do you want me to go with you?"

Beca almost smiles. "That's nice of you, Oz, but I'll be okay. I already sent my RSVP anyway." She takes a large gulp of scotch. "Besides, gotta get used to it. Might be easier by myself at least for the first little bit."

Oscar nods sagely beside her. "Okay, Lil Bit," he says and waves Maura over again. Beca downs her drink.

"We got an extra bottle of Spey?" Oscar asks once Maura's in earshot.

"Yeah," Maura nods. "Two under the counter." She jabs her thumb in Beca's direction. "Girl can drink."

Oscar laughs, and after a few seconds of Oscar tapping her on the arm, Beca reluctantly joins him.

"She sure can. And only that stuff. Did I tell you-"

"That we only stock it for her?" Maura rolls her eyes. "You might've mentioned it, Oz."

"Okay," Oz chuckles. "But tonight, I'm drinking it with her, so do us up please and thank you.

Maura obliges, pulling out a glass for Oscar before going off to help someone else.

Oscar turns to Beca, glass in hand. "Okay, Lil Bit, this is your night. Your girl's getting married to someone else, and you're in a bar with me. So we're gonna get you fucking lit and then you're going to sleep it off and get over her, you hear me?"

Beca scoffs. "Like I haven't been trying?"

Oscar waves her off. "That was before. Now that she's getting married, I'm gonna help you get that red-haired beauty off your mind."

Beca shakes her head. "Don't bother, Oz, it's not possible. Just drink with me tonight. I'll deal with Chloe when I need to deal with Chloe."

It's not often that Beca's quiet and accepting of bad news, so instead of fighting her on it, Oscar just acquiesces. "Okay, Lil Bit, let's get lit."

[lespetitesmortsde]

Chapter 13 is now up. Only one short chapter to go.

[lespetitesmortsde]

Chapter 7 now up.

[lespetitesmortsde]

Beca and Chloe have been best friends since childhood. Almost twenty years later, Chloe's getting married and Beca's having a hard time dealing with it. Angst warning, but it's also cute. Updates are small, but frequent. They occur during natural breaks in the story instead of via word counts. Recommended listening: "Marry Me" by Thomas Rhett. Also, "Happier" by Ed Sheeran. Chapter ten now up.

[lespetitesmortsde]

Chapter eight now up.

[lespetitesmortsde]

Beca and Chloe have been best friends since childhood. Almost twenty years later, Chloe's getting married and Beca's having a hard time dealing with it. Angst warning, but it's also cute. Updates are small, but frequent. They occur during natural breaks in the story instead of via word counts. Recommended listening: "Marry Me" by Thomas Rhett. Also, "Happier" by Ed Sheeran. Chapter 6 now up.

[lespetitesmortsde]

Beca and Chloe have been best friends since childhood. Almost twenty years later, Chloe's getting married and Beca's having a hard time dealing with it. Angst warning, but it's also cute. Updates are small, but frequent. They occur during natural breaks in the story instead of via word counts. Recommended listening: "Marry Me" by Thomas Rhett. Also, "Happier" by Ed Sheeran. Chapter nine now up.

[lespetitesmortsde]

Beca and Chloe have been best friends since childhood. Almost twenty years later, Chloe's getting married and Beca's having a hard time dealing with it. Angst warning, but it's also cute. Updates are small, but frequent. They occur during natural breaks in the story instead of via word counts. Recommended listening: "Marry Me" by Thomas Rhett. Also, "Happier" by Ed Sheeran. Chapter 4 is now up.