Chapter Text
Yes, they were discussing who will be the first to fall in love. And of course she remembers she bet that she wouldn't fall first.
She just obviously didn't remember that they agreed to post on Facebook and, wait -oh my god!! Instagram too? what are we teenagers??- and she has a comment… of Chloe's mom AND Sheila!? That comment from Sheila looks 100% one that her father will write.. He just “doesn't do social media”.
-God we fucked up so badly- Beca hold her breath, noticing a hand moving from her abdomen to her waist. It wasn't a rare occasion to be the little spoon. She’s just surprised she woke up first, given the amount of alcohol they should've had last night. Or so she thinks. She actually can't remember.
It was a coffee, then dinner and then some beers with whatever they put on the TV, the last she can recall is Chloe laughing about a comment she’d made of some douchebag bragging around about the fact that he 100% could make her best friend fall in love with a wink.
-What an asshole- Beca hissed, trying to not wake up said best friend.
Somewhere over the living room Chloe’s phone buzzed. She let it be, not because she wouldn't answer her best friend's phone, but they were in a very comfortable position right now. And Chloe is asleep anyway.
God forbid a girl wants to enjoy her favorite person's company while it lasts. Since moving to LA and Chloe staying in New York they have seen each other every time they could, but it's never like it used to be when they shared an apartment.
Chloe's phone stopped then immediately started buzzing with what seems like, annoyingly, lots of messages, then buzzed again for a longer period of time.
Beca took a deep breath, cursing mentally to who ever was interrupting her/their little bubble. And Chloe's sleep, obviously.
She carefully lift the arm that was crossing her waist and went to look for the source of all that buzzing. Woah. That's a lot of Miss Beale calls and messages. Beca didn't mean to pry, but the screen flashed, practically showing a notification in her face.
Mom💓✨: Chloe Anne Beale, I need you to call me ASAP.
Beca, frowning at the urgent message, went back to her bedroom and found Chloe hugging her pillow. She snorted and then cursed again to have to finish her best friend's peaceful moment.
-Chlo, I’m sorry, I didn't wanted to wake you up but your mom is calling and texting non stop- She nudge softly, watching Chloe stir a little before opening her eyes.
-Morning Becs- her smile didn't fully reach her eyes but it left a warm feeling in Beca’s heart, Chloe wasn't fully awake yet.
-Morning, Chlo. Your mom is calling right now. By the way dude, it's so totally unfair that you wake up this beautiful after a night with alcohol involved.-
Leaving Chloe with her phone and a “Hey mom, you doin alright?” Beca started making breakfast.
She put the kettle on and turned on her coffee maker, and started to look for her pancake pan. She's sure she had the birthday pancake mix somewhere in the corner.
She used to suck at cooking even pancakes, but get a lonely LA life and try not to drown into takeout, it'll obligate you to cook more.
Just as she was getting the whipped cream to get the finished look to her masterpiece, Beca perceived a presence.
-One thing is being used to your sneaking behaviors, another different is right on spotting you spy on me, take a picture babe, it'll last you longer- The exaggerated wink was meant to make her laugh but it only got a shy smile in answer.
-Wha… What is it Chloe? Why aren't you flirting right now? I literally threw you a hook there… You know what? nevermind it was weird anyway. I'm sorry I'm not used to socializing yet besides being media trained.-
-Oh no it wasn't weird it was totes good, like 100% good…- Chloe's tone higher-up an octave while she gave both thumbs up. Her smile, while bright, was a little too fixed.
-Yeah that just completely describes weird to me right now- Beca grimaced at the antiques of her best friend. Something felt off.
- I was just thinking that's it.- Chloe interrupted, offering a small smile and touching Beca's arm, making sure she didn't start spiraling.
-Then why aren't you eating your pancakes they're still your favorite, right?-
The tension left Chloe’s shoulders for a moment. Sweet Beca, she remembered it.
-Yeah, they are still my favorite- She bites her lip- It surprise me you remember.-
-Of course I remember- Beca said sweetly, not letting go the weird feeling that something seemed off, but making sure her best friend knows she cares.
She didn't push through. Chloe eventually will tell her, just not at this moment. At least that's how she thinks it'll be.
Beca turned on the stereo instead and put the last playlist she made. A perfect soundtrack for nice, super normal mornings.
She moved back to the counter again, grabbing the whipped cream, ready to finish her pancake masterpiece when Chloe's phone, which she'd left face down, decided to start her own song, a violent and a annoyingly out of beat, relentless buzzing that Beca wouldn't even able to match to the background music even if she invented music altogether, announced yet another incoming call from “Mom💓✨”.
Chloe flinched, a small, involuntary gasp escaping her lips. Her eyes, almost too scared to even look at her phone, met Beca’s.
-Okay, either your mom thinks you've been kidnapped or you’ve accidentally did the top 1 thing on the NOT TO DO LIST that I'm sure you Beales have on your fridge, like signing up for a reality show or something.- Beca deadplanned, setting down the whipped cream with an audible sigh. God, I really want to eat my pancakes right now.
Antsy for the hunger and the uncomfortable situation, Beca looked for Chloe's eyes.
-Seriously Chlo, that's a lot of calls on a normal Saturday, even for your Mom, and trust me I know how much you guys like to talk to each other.- She relented her eagerness to know.- What did she want earlier? It seemed kind of urgent.-
Chloe bit her lip even harder, flickering between Beca and the phone that still hasn't stopped buzzing.
-It’s… It's complicated Becs…- Her voice, barely a whisper was hard to hear over all the noise.
-What’s complicated is reading you right now, dude! I don't underst…-The phone stopped working for a moment.
- Well at least that buzzing is over and now we can talk properly. But it's your family like okay!? What's going on Chlo?- Beca retorded, crossing her arms.- I mean your mom doesn't call you Chloe Anne Beale unless someone's about to combust, or you forget your manners. Are we about to spontaneously combust!?-
Chloe finally took a deep breath, running a hand through her messy hair, detangling some knots.Her chest rose and fell rapidly. - It's actually worse than that. Maybe. I don't know if it's worse or not. I was still asleep, you know? so I wasn't thinking and I…-
Beca phone rings, at the other side of the table. Chloe looks frantic, it's upside down. Beca takes two steps, ready to decline the call.
-Look, it 's your mom. Dude! what the hell?- Chloe scratched the phone off her hands and with a We are SO NOT answering that call ends the call.
- That 's it. You're freaking me out. What was all that drama? Can you please tell me what's going on?.- Beca demanded, her voice filled with impatience.
Chloe, knowing to read the signs noticed that there wasn't much more delaying the subject without taking away the last piece of patience that holds a very hungry and very morning Beca.
She turns her phone towards Beca and opens Instagram, with trembling hands. Sighing as she takes the courage to try and communicate the issue before it's too late.
Beca's eyes stared at the display. There it was the same photo she saw that morning. The blurry, drunken selfie of them, looking closer and cozier than what is arguably normal for best friends, with an embarrassing filter that makes it seem like it's straight out of a romcom movie.
-That is what it's causing all this drama? I mean it's a drunken selfie but at least we look cute here, dude.-
Chloe wanted to kill her for being so sarcastic in times like this.
-Keep scrolling.-
Beneath it there was a copy
“ She claimed that she wouldn't fall first #liar but I know a lovey-dovey eyes when I see it.💞💋💘 #love #lookatus #shesocute”
Beca shrugged and rolled her eyes at that.
-I meant it dude, you will 100% fell first.-
-Just keep scrolling!- Chloe scolded, unable to believe it will take Beca that longer to get to the crucial point of all this mess.
-Jeez okay I’m on it!- She scrolled to the comment section, not minding any of the heart emojis and Bella's comments of “finally, moms” they were always like that with them. She spotted Miss Beale comment and stopped scrolling down for a sec. So this is why the label insisted that they hire someone to help me with my social media…
“@itsmamabeale: Oh, my darlings! So delighted for you both! Can't wait to celebrate your wonderful news at the Love’s Celebration Beales Family Reunion! So much LOVE ❤️”
What? Oh wait there's a comment from Sheila too?
“@sheila.mitch:yes! FINALLY! My money’s on Beca falling first, Chloe! Your dad owes me twenty bucks! See you both in Tampa!”
Beca’s jaw went slack. She blinked, once, twice. Her eyes, wide with dawning horror darted from the phone to Chloe's panicked face.- Chloe- her voice almost silent, as if the disbelief and growing anxiety underlying it wouldn't be just about to make her completely combust.- Please tell me your mom is being delusional. Tell me Sheila is being Sheila. Because if I'm reading this right, your entire family thinks we're… we're a thing.-
Chloe winced, nodding frantically. It hurt her a little to hear that tone in Beca's voice, but there's another time to process that. Not right now.
-And not just that. She's already told everyone. Aunts, cousins… everyone! She even told me that she's ‘radiant’ with our ‘announcement’ and ‘she can't wait to see us in Tampa’. Like, for the reunion. Our reunion.-
Beca just stared at the phone, then Chloe, then at the pancake masterpiece long forgotten, then back at Chloe. - You're saying… You’re saying your mom thinks we're ‘a milestone of Love’? From that?- She gestured wildly at the photo on the screen. Chloe nodded again, too full of anxiety herself to even dare to move. - And now we have to go?… to Tampa?… as…a couple?- An incredulous laugh bubble up, bordering on hysterical. - Oh, God. We're so, so screwed.-
Chloe tried to say something else, but before she could even speak, Beca interrupted.
-I can't even properly think right now. This is so much to take on an empty stomach.- Just as Beca tried to grab the whipped cream her phone rings again.
-It's Theo.- Chloe said barely above a whisper.
-Just turn that damn thing off. I need to eat and think first.-
Beca groaned and aggressively stabbed her fork into her pancake masterpiece, not even bothering with the whipped cream.