Chapter Text
Seeing you walk down the aisle, I couldn’t help but remember the first time I laid my eyes on you.
At Barden.
You had that look— confident, a little guarded, but something about you pulled me in like gravity. I told myself right then and there, “She’s the one.”
“Oh! What about her?” Chloe says as soon as her eyes catch the girl walking in their direction.
Aubrey cringes at her suggestion. “I don’t know. She looks a little too… alternative for us.”
“Hi! Any interest in joining our acapella group?” Chloe asks, full of hope as she hands a flyer to the brunette.
“Oh, right. This is, like, a thing now.”
“Oh, totes! We sing covers of songs but we do it without instruments. It’s all with our mouths.” she replies excitedly.
“Yikes.”
There was something about the way you carried yourself— strong, yet vulnerable in all the right ways. You had this quiet assurance that drew me in, made me want to be closer, to understand the parts of you that only few got to see.
“You can sing!”
“Dude!” Beca covers herself at the sound of a stranger joining her in the shower stall.
“How high does your belt go?”
“My what? Oh my god.” she panics.
“You have to audition for the Bellas.” Chloe pushes.
“I can’t concentrate on anything until you cover your junk.”
“Just consider it. One time, we sang back-up for Prince. His butt is so tiny that I can hold it with, like, one hand. Oops.” Chloe says, accidentally causing Beca to drop a shampoo bottle. Not looking the least bit apologetic.
“Oh, geez.” she picks it up and turns around, her back facing the redhead. “Seriously, I’m nude.”
“You were singing titanium, right?”
This brings a smile to Beca’s face. “You know David Guetta?”
“Have I been living under a rock? Yeah. That song is my jam… my lady jam.”
“That’s nice.” the shorter girl replies uncomfortably.
“It is. That song really builds.” she winks.
“Gross.”
“Can you sing it for me?”
“No, dude. Get out!”
“Not for that reason. I’m not leaving here until you sing. So…”
Every conversation felt like a little piece of the puzzle I didn’t know I was putting together, but with every moment, I could see the picture more clearly. You were the one who felt like home, even when I wasn’t sure if I deserved to be there.
“We should be taking risks, it’s not enough to be good, we have to put ourselves out there, be different.” Chloe watches in adoration as the brunette stands up to her bestfriend. Something she’s never been able to do.
“Beca’s right. The Trebles never sing the same song twice.” Cynthia Rose backs her up before Chloe can.
“The audience loves the Trebles, they tolerate the Bellas. We could change the face of acapella if we— oh my god, I sound so queerballs. What is happening to me?” Beca walks to her computer, the redhead’s eyes never leaving her. “Let me show you this arrangement I’ve been working on.”
“I didn’t know you were into this stuff.” Chloe finally says, standing up and joining Beca.
“Yeah.”
“Okay, I have the pitch pipe, and I say that we focus on the set list as planned.” Aubrey interrupts causing the pair to turn and face her.
The brunette doesn’t fight back. When Aubrey gives orders to focus on their upcoming performance, she just sighs. Chloe tries, really tries to take a page out of Beca’s book and stand up to the blonde but is only cut off in the end.
“Okay! Rehearsal tomorrow, 8:00am sharp.” Aubrey walks out with the rest of the Bellas following suit.
Everyone except for Chloe.
“Chloe?” Aubrey turns around to see that her co-captain hasn’t moved from her position next to Beca.
“I think I’ll stay.”
“Chloe…”
“I’ll be fine, Bree.”
“Fine. Whatever, just-“ Aubrey glances between Beca who had been watching the interaction this whole time and her best friend. She sighs. “Don’t be late to practice tomorrow. Both of you.” and with that, the blonde leaves the room, closing the door behind her.
“She really does hate me, huh?” Beca jokes.
“Hey, no. She doesn’t hate you. I think she’s just intimidated by your talent.” Chloe says. “…Don’t tell her I said that.”
Beca scoffs. “Yeah, because that was someone that was intimidated.” she rolls her eyes.
“That thing you did at the riff-off? I’ve never seen someone get the whole pool to sing. That’s something, Beca. You could really make a mark here.”
“Trust me. This is the last place I’d want to make a mark at.”
“Come on. You’re what the Bellas need.”
“That’s a lot of pressure, Chloe.”
“I’ll help you, Becs. No amount of nodes will stop me.” she winks, getting a chuckle out of the other girl.
“How are you, by the way?” she asks, gesturing at her throat.
“It feels a little sore but I can handle it for now. I’m just glad I didn’t have to do my solo.”
“Here.” Beca stands up. “Let me make you some tea. Soothe your throat.”
“You don’t have to-“
“I want to.”
“Thank you.” Chloe whispers when the brunette hands her a steaming hot cup of tea. “Now,” she nods towards the mixing set-up next to her. “show me what you can do, DJ.”
“Oh!” the shorter girl’s eyes light up. “Yeah, of course. Here, let me play you something.” she says as she fiddles with her computer.
Then finally, music flows from Beca’s speakers.
“So I just get songs that have the same chord progressions and create a track to blend them together. So, like, this is the new bass line…” Beca points at something on her screen but Chloe can’t seem to take her eyes off the brunette.
From that moment on, I didn’t just hope— I knew.
I knew you were the one I wanted to share my life with, the one I wanted to stand beside when everything was uncertain, and the one I wanted to be there with when everything made sense.
“Hey, hey, hey.” Chloe rushes up to Beca backstage after almost half an hour of looking for the girl. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” Beca breathes out, still pacing. “No… no, I’m not.”
“What’s wrong?” Chloe puts her hands on the brunette’s shoulders, stilling her.
“It’s just.” she sighs. “There’s a fuck ton of people out there, Chlo. I don’t think I can get out there. What if they hate the rebrand?”
“Hey, Beca, listen to me.” Chloe says, cupping her cheeks, forcing Beca to look at her. “You are the most talented person I’ve ever met, okay? And I’ve met Prince.”
Beca laughs at that.
“There you go. There’s the Beca I know and love.” the redhead smiles. “Now, let’s go out there and kick some aca-ass.”
So, to you, I make this promise… that I will be every ounce of the person you deserve.
“You failed!? Chloe, come on. You’re supposed to graduate in a month!” Beca exclaims
“I know, I know.” Chloe sigh. “I was so close, I got a C-minus!”
“Chloe…”
“I have to retake it in the fall. But look at the bright side.”
“There’s a bright side?” Beca deadpans.
“Since I’ll still be enrolled here next year, then that means…”
“What?” Slowly, the brunette comes to a realization. “You’re- you’re staying? With the Bellas?”
“Yup!” Chloe brightens.
“Ugh. I was ready to throw you a graduation party.”
“How about a “yay! Chloe’s staying” party?”
“You’re lucky I’m weirdly happy about this.” Beca says, fighting a smile.
“I wish my Russian Lit professor could say the same.”
“How about we make a deal?” Beca starts. “You help me in my first year captaining the Bellas. We could be like— co-captains or something. And I’ll try my best to help you with Russian Lit.” the brunette reaches her hand out.
Chloe takes it, “Deal.” shakes it and doesn’t let go as she winks, “I’ll be the best co-captain you could ever ask for.”
I promise to make you laugh when the world feels shitty.
“Hey, you! There you are! I’ve been wondering where you ran off to today.” Chloe says as soon as she spots the brunette walking through the door to the Treble house.
Unbeknownst to her, today had been Beca’s first day at her brand new internship. “Hey, Chlo.”
The redhead picks up on the other girl’s energy— or lack thereoff, immediately. “Are you okay? Where were you?”
“I just-“ she sighs. “I had a shit day. I don’t wanna talk about it right now. I just want to be here… with you.”
“Whatever you need, Bec.” Chloe takes her hand in hers.
“I kinda wanna dance but I’ll need a little alcohol in my system for that. I promise, I’ll tell you everything when the time’s right. Is that okay?”
“More than okay.” Chloe softens. “Here.” she hands Beca her signature yellow cup. “Take my drink and let’s get to the dancefloor.”
“Thanks, Chlo.” the brunette says with a grateful smile as she lets herself get dragged to the dancefloor.
They get lost in the music, and each other, laughing and smiling like there’s no tomorrow. And for a second, the weight lifts off Beca’s shoulders.
I’ll be patient with you, even when things don’t go as planned.
“What the hell!” Beca shouts, hyperventilating in a bear trap while the rest of the Bellas panic on the ground below her.
Except Chloe. “Well, well, well.” she walks up to her, smug, and still high on their fight. “Look who needs our help.”
“Not cool, guys!”
“No! What’s not cool is you taking your frustrations out on us!”
“Really?! That’s what you’re going to say to me right now? Help me! I’m dying! I’m dying!” a rope snaps, bringing Beca closer to the ground.
Chloe’s hand flies to her mouth in worry, giving up her hostile facade.
“If I’m about to die— I’m sorry. I didn’t mean any of the stuff I said. I love all of you awesome nerds and I love being a Bella.” the brunette cries out.
The group screams at another snap of the rope.
“I- Chloe, this group means something to me, okay? You mean something to me. My life’s just such a mess right now and I thought I could figure shit out on my own.” Beca rushes out.
“You don’t have to, okay? You don’t have to do everything alone.” Chloe finally replies, looking up at the girl worriedly.
The rope snaps a final time and Beca falls to the ground with the help of Lily.
“Fuck. Beca, are you okay?” the redhead rushes to Beca’s side, kneeling. “I’m so sorry, I was too caught up in the fight. I should’ve tried to get you down sooner.”
The shorter girl calms her breathing, all while in Chloe’s arms. “You were right, you know.”
“What about?”
“Right about me being distant. Being selfish. I just... I don’t know how to balance all this. Sometimes it feels like my head’s going to explode. But with the Bellas? With you? It’s the only time I don’t feel so scared.”
Chloe offers her a small smile, squeezing the brunette in her arms a little tighter. “Then stop pulling away from us. From me.” she whispers.
I promise to be the person you can always turn to, whether the days are easy or tough.
“Bellas for life!” they all shout, donned in their togas as Emily takes their picture by the front door.
“Thanks, Em!” Chloe says when the younger girl hands her phone back.
“No problem, Chloe!” Emily smiles back before walking back into the house with the other Bellas.
“Hey, Beca.” the redhead calls out, catching Beca before she gets into the house.
“Yeah?” she asks, dragging her feet towards Chloe.
“You don’t seem too happy to graduate.” she gestures at the picture on her phone.
“I don’t know. I’m just- nervous to get out there. New York’s a huge ass place. The music scene’s much more competitive over there than here. I don’t know if I’d survive without you guys. Without you especially…”
“Tell me about it.” Chloe empathizes. “The idea of going to school without you guys around is killing me.”
“Come with me.” Beca blurts out.
“What?”
“Come with me, Chlo.” she repeats. “Barden’s not the only vet program you got into, right? You applied to a bunch all over the country. I’m sure there’s at least one in New York that accepted you.”
“Yeah… LIU did.” Chloe slows. “Bec, are you sure?”
“This is the most sure I’ve ever been in my life.” Beca takes a step forward, begging the redhead. “Come with me, Chlo… please. I need you.”
“I need you too.” she whispers.
“Is that a yes?”
Chloe slowly mirrors Beca’s excited smile. “You can’t get rid of me that easily, Mitchell.”
And I promise that through every high and every low, I will never change the way I love you.
I’ll keep making memories with you, growing with you, supporting you, and cherishing you— just as much as I did when we were in college, or even when it was just the two of us, navigating our lives and dreams from a small New York apartment.
“Wow! It’s…cozy.” Chloe says, walking into their (not-so) brand new apartment.
“Cozy? It’s the size of a fucking closet!” Beca exclaims.
“Yeah. But it’s our closet.”
They both laugh as Chloe drops the boxes in her hands and spins around in the middle of the room, knocking over a lamp.
“Okay, that is a hazard. No spinning.” Beca jokes. “Man, this is such a downgrade from the Bella house.” she mumbles, looking around.
“Do you miss it yet? Barden? I know it’s just been a couple weeks since graduation but, do you?”
The brunette pauses, sighing. “Parts of it, yeah. The Bellas especially.”
“I miss it too. But this feels right, you know? Even with the miniature apartment.”
“Yeah, life’s only beginning.”
“We’ll survive.” Chloe takes the other girl’s hand. “Together.”
“Always.”
I love you so much, Beca Mitchell.
“You were amazing!” Chloe shouts, tears in her eyes as she rushes to hug Beca as soon as the final note of Freedom! ‘90 ends.
As the spotlight dies down, the awestruck brunette turns to face her just in time to catch Chloe jumping into her arms. “I can’t believe I just did that.” she mumbles into the girl’s hair.
“You didn’t just do it.” she pulls back and looks into Beca’s eyes. “You killed it, Bec.”
The Bellas start a group hug with the pair in the middle, bringing them back right into each other’s arms. “I was so nervous. I kept looking for you in the crowd.” Beca whispers.
“I’m right here, Bec. And I’ll be front row. Every show.”
“You planning on following me everywhere, Beale?” she smiles in the hug, blinking back tears.
Chloe does the same. “I’ve been doing it for years. Why stop now?”
I want you to be the happiest girl in the whole world.
So, as you stand in front of me today, tears in your eyes and the biggest smile on your face. Glowing in a way I’d never seen before.
I told myself I was happy.
Because you are.
As you take your eyes off me and take your final steps to your forever, my chest ached. But I didn’t let it show.
Because, unknowingly, I made a vow too.
Not in front of an altar.
Not with rings or flowers.
A vow I made to myself the moment I realized you meant everything to me:
That no matter who you loved…
No matter where life took you…
I’d always be there.As your friend.
Your constant.
… your almost.
The day Jesse proposed to you, you asked me to stand beside you at the altar, I smiled. Nodded. Said, “yes, of course.”
Because that’s what I always did— I showed up. No matter what.
When you looked at me with tears in your eyes and said, “I couldn’t do this without you.” I believed you. Because you meant it.
Because we meant something.
Even if I didn’t have the words for it.
Even if those words may not change anything.
I spent the weeks leading up to the big day helping you plan every detail. The dress, the flowers, the guest list. No matter how much it hurt.
I helped you put on your wedding dress and drank wine with you and the rest of the Bellas in your bridal suite. Smiling. Joking. Pretending.
I knew this wasn’t the ending I dreamed of.
But it was the one I chose to stand beside.
And as you stand at the altar, reciting your vows. I replied with a vow of my own— not out loud, not for anyone else to hear. Just for me.
For you.
That no matter where life takes us…
No matter what role I play in your story…
I’d keep being there.
Loving you quietly. Fully. Always.
Some vows don’t need to be spoken.
They’re lived.
And this…
This is mine.