Scene 1: The Coffee Shop
Beca Mitchell was just trying to get her caffeine fix. Standing at the counter of her favorite local coffee shop, she tapped her fingers nervously, her usual aura of casual coolness betrayed by the slight pink tinge to her cheeks. She could feel eyes on her. She always felt eyes on her. It was a curse, really.
"Hi," a voice came from behind her. Beca turned to find a tall brunette with striking green eyes. She looked like she had stepped right out of a magazine. "I couldn't help but notice your jacket. Are you in a band?"
"Oh, um, no. I just... DJ stuff. Mixes," Beca stumbled over her words, adjusting the leather jacket that apparently made her a walking conversation starter.
The woman smiled, leaning in just slightly. "That's pretty hot."
Beca's mouth opened and closed, her brain short-circuiting. She could remix a song in her sleep, but flirting? That was another level of improvisation.
"Hey, babe," a familiar, bubbly voice cut through the awkward silence. Chloe Beale appeared seemingly out of nowhere, wrapping an arm around Beca's waist. Beca instinctively stiffened before relaxing into the contact.
"Oh, hey, Chlo!" Beca played along, though her voice was an octave higher than usual.
The woman’s eyes flicked between them, her flirtatious demeanor deflating. "Oh. I didn’t realize… Sorry."
"No worries!" Chloe beamed, leaning her head affectionately on Beca's shoulder. "We get that a lot." She winked, and the woman nodded with a polite smile before walking away.
Beca released a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. "Thanks... again."
Chloe just laughed, giving her a playful squeeze. "You should really learn to just say you're taken."
"Yeah, but then I'd have to lie." Beca’s voice was softer, her eyes tracing the pattern of the tiles on the floor.
Chloe’s expression flickered, something unspoken lingering between them before she smiled brightly. "Well, lucky for you, I’m always around to save your cute little behind."
“Chloe!”
Scene 2: The Record Store
Beca loved her music, and she loved her vinyls. Unfortunately, so did every other queer woman in the city, it seemed.
She was flipping through the alternative section when she felt the unmistakable sensation of someone watching her. She looked up to find two women, both strikingly beautiful, approaching hand in hand, looking at her with confident smiles.
One had curly auburn hair and freckles that danced across her cheeks. Her style was bold—ripped jeans and a vintage band tee that looked perfectly worn. The other was blonde, statuesque, with piercing blue eyes and a confident air that made her presence magnetic. She was wearing a wrap dress that was doing an excellent job of living up to its name. The blonde was wrapped by it very tightly, Beca’s slightly bulging eyes did not fail to notice.
"Hey," Curly Hair said, flashing a warm smile. "You have great taste. That’s one of my favorite albums."
"Oh, yeah, it's a classic," Beca replied, mentally congratulating herself for sounding almost normal.
Blue Eyes leaned casually against the rack. "We're actually heading to a queer bar later. You should join us. It'd be fun."
Beca’s eyes widened. Both of them? At once? Was that allowed?
"She'd love to!" Chloe's voice chimed in from somewhere behind her before Beca could even process a response. Chloe linked arms with her, grinning charmingly at the two women. "But unfortunately, she’s already promised to help me plan our anniversary. Right, babe?"
Beca blinked, taking in the hopeful, slightly pleading look on Chloe's face. "Uh, yeah! Right! Totally. Anniversary. Big plans."
The two women’s faces fell in unison, clearly disappointed but gracious. "Ah, lucky girl," Blue Eyes said, shooting Chloe an approving look before walking off with her friend.
Once they were out of earshot, Beca turned to Chloe, her voice low and exasperated. "Anniversary? Really?"
Chloe just grinned. "What? We could be celebrating the day we became best friends!"
Beca rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help the smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah, sure. That's exactly what you meant."
“Shut up and buy me this Tanita Tikaram reissue I just found. It can be your payment to me from saving you from being the thinly sliced ham in a very queer sandwich.”
Scene 3: The Campus Party
Beca didn’t like parties, but Chloe did, and what Chloe wanted, Beca inevitably got dragged into. She was standing awkwardly by the makeshift bar, tapping the rim of her half empty Solo cup when another girl sidled up next to her.
She was petite, with short, spiky black hair and piercings that caught the flashing party lights. Her eyeliner was as bold as her grin. "Hey," the girl purred, her hand grazing Beca's arm. "I’ve seen you around campus. You’re the music girl, right?"
"Uh, yeah. DJ, actually. I make mixes and stuff," Beca stammered, suddenly extremely interested in the cup she was holding.
"That's so sexy," the girl said, moving closer. "I’ve heard some of your mixes on campus radio. You’re fire."
Beca felt her cheeks warm. "Oh, uh, thanks."
Spiky Hair leaned in, her voice dropping to a flirtatious whisper. "I’d love to hear more… privately."
Beca's mouth went dry. "Oh… um… I…"
Chloe materialized out of nowhere, placing herself firmly between them. "Babe, I’ve been looking everywhere for you!"
The woman looked between a bewildered Beca Mitchell and a smiling Chloe Beale, the redhead’s arm now slung around Beca’s shoulder.
Spiky Hair’s expression faltered. "Oh… Sorry, didn’t know you were…"
"Taken," Chloe finished sweetly, giving Beca's shoulder a squeeze. "Very taken."
“Totally my bad”
"No problem!" Chloe chirped, her bright smile never faltering. The girl walked away, leaving Beca and Chloe alone.
"You really saved me there," Beca muttered, her heart still pounding.
Chloe looked at her, something soft in her eyes. "You make it too easy, Becs."
"What do you mean?"
Chloe hesitated, her fingers lingering on Beca's arm just a moment too long before she pulled away. "Nothing. Just... remember to say you’re taken. We’ve gone over this before."
A flustered Beca managed to stammer out, “Yes, you’re right, you’re right.”
Chloe smiled at her and then took her hand, dragging her out onto the impromptu dance floor. “C’mon player, you owe your saviour a dance.”
Scene 4: The Grocery Store
Beca just needed bread. Just bread. But somehow, she was cornered in the bread aisle by a woman who looked like she could bench-press Beca without breaking a sweat.
The woman, whose store name tag read Dana, had strikingly muscular arms visible beneath her tank top and a jawline sharp enough to cut glass. Her short-cropped hair and confident stance made her impossible to ignore.
"Hey," Dana said, her voice smooth and sure. "Need help picking a loaf?"
Beca’s eyes darted to the shelves, her brain misfiring. "I... uh… like wheat?"
Dana leaned closer; her grin undeniably flirtatious. "I like wheat too."
Before Beca could combust, Chloe appeared, somehow transported from the cereal aisle two aisles over where the brunette had left her reading the nutritional panels on boxes of granola to Beca’s side. "Oh, babe! I found the hummus you love!"
Beca's relief was palpable. "Oh! Great! Yeah, the hummus. Perfect."
Dana’s eyes flicked between them, her confidence never faltering. "You two are adorable. I should’ve known."
Chloe beamed, leaning up to plant a kiss on Beca's cheek, lingering just long enough to make Beca's heart race. "She’s my favorite."
Beca whispered, with a dazed look on her face, “Why does this keep happening?”
Scene 5: The Bookstore
Beca was thumbing through a graphic novel while waiting for Chloe to pick up her special ordered copy of Breaking Legacies when she felt a presence next to her. She glanced up to see a sophisticated woman in her forties, with silver-streaked dark hair styled in an elegant bob. She wore a tailored blazer and glasses that made her look like she belonged on the cover of a magazine about powerful women. The woman seemed to looking intently in Beca’s direction. The brunette looked behind her, but there was nothing there but a blank wall. The woman was obviously staring at her.
Beca felt her neck start to sweat as Ms. Silver Fox approached her.
"That’s a fantastic series," the woman said, her voice warm and cultured. "Smart and funny. Just like you look."
Beca almost choked on her own breath. "I... uh… thanks?"
The woman smiled, a confident, knowing smile. "I’m Vanessa. If you’d like to discuss it over coffee, I’d love to get to know you better."
She reached forwards and lightly touched Beca’s flannel clad arm.
Beca gulped.
Before she could stammer out a response, pass out or run away, Chloe swooped in, wrapping an arm possessively around her. "Sorry, babe. Did you find the poetry book you wanted?"
Vanessa’s eyebrows rose, her smile unfazed. "Ah, I see. Well, good taste all around." She winked and walked away gracefully.
Chloe squeezed Beca’s arm. "You’re too cute for your own good."
Beca looked at Chloe with wide eyes. “I wasn’t doing anything, I swear. I was just browsing ...”
Chloe winked at her. “Yeah, well so was she, Becs.”
Scene 6: The Gym
Beca hated the gym. She hated the smell, the sweat, and the fact that everyone always looked way too enthusiastic about punishing themselves. Yet, here she was, drenched and gasping for air on a treadmill that felt more like a torture device. She felt horrible, she looked horrible if the ceiling to wall mirrors she was facing were telling the truth and she was positive she smelt horrible.
Yet Chloe insisted on repeatedly inviting her to this tortuous temple of fitness.
And Beca still hadn’t figured out how to say no to the redhead’s puppy dog eyes.
"Hey," a voice interrupted her self-pity. Beca looked over and nearly stumbled off the machine. A stunningly athletic woman stood there, her deep brown skin glistening under the gym lights. Her biceps were sculpted, her abs toned and prominent beneath her sports bra. Her braids were pulled back into a ponytail, and her smile was blinding.
"Uh… hey," Beca squeaked, internally cursing herself for sounding like a prepubescent boy.
"I’ve seen you around here before," the woman said, her voice smooth and warm. "You’ve got that determined look. I like that."
"Oh… thanks. Just… trying not to die, mostly," Beca admitted, wiping sweat from her forehead.
The woman laughed, the sound rich and genuine. "You’re cute. I’m Tasha."
"B-Beca," she stuttered, her brain failing to process anything but Tasha’s incredible biceps.
"So, Beca," Tasha said, leaning on the treadmill console with a charming smirk, "Maybe after this, we could grab a protein shake? My treat."
Beca’s face went crimson, her brain short-circuiting. "I… uh… I…"
"Sorry, babe, am I interrupting?" Chloe’s voice was like music. She appeared, effortlessly beautiful even in gym gear. Her fitted tank top and yoga pants left no curve hidden. She draped an arm casually around Beca’s waist, planting a quick, possessive kiss on Beca’s cheek.
Beca’s heart did that stupid fluttering thing it always did whenever Chloe was this close.
Tasha’s eyes widened in surprise before she backed up with a laugh. "Oh, my bad. Didn’t know you were taken."
Chloe’s smile was all teeth. "Very taken."
Tasha gave a playful salute before walking off, her muscular frame moving with the kind of confidence Beca could only dream of.
When she was out of sight, Beca let out a long breath. "You are a lifesaver."
Chloe leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a playful whisper. "You really need a full-time girlfriend to save you from all your suitors.”
Beca’s heart skipped. "Oh? And who would you suggest?” she managed to splutter.
Chloe’s blue eyes sparkled mischievously. "Me."
Beca’s mouth fell open. "Wh-what?"
Chloe didn’t hesitate. "You heard me. You need a girlfriend who’ll chase off every Tammy, Diana or Harriet who’s trying to sample your goodies. And since I’m already doing the job, might as well make it official, right?"
Beca’s eyes searched Chloe’s face for any sign of a joke, but Chloe’s gaze was unwavering, her expression softening as she reached up to brush a stray hair from Beca’s sweaty forehead.
"I like you, Beca. I’ve liked you for a long time. So… stop pretending. Be with me."
Beca’s breath caught. "Chloe… I…"
Chloe’s smile was soft, vulnerable. "I’m right here. And I’m not pretending anymore. I’m tired of auditioning for the role. I want the part."
Beca felt her heart swell, the words catching in her throat. She closed the distance between them, her lips pressing against Chloe’s. The world around them disappeared as Chloe kissed her back, her hands tangling in Beca’s damp hair.
When they finally pulled apart, both were breathless, eyes shining.
"Guess I’m officially taken now," Beca whispered, a grin spreading across her face.
Chloe laughed, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Yeah. And I don’t mind it one bit."
Beca rolled her eyes. “Okay to celebrate our new understanding, can we get the hell out of this sweatshop? I’ve done my exercise for the week. And there are other more important things demanding my attention. Like taking my new girlfriend out on our first actual date.”
The light that Chloe’s smile gave off as she heard Beca’s words could have powered a thousand cities.
"Shall we hit the showers then?", the redhead said, waggling her eyebrows mischievously. "It is our thing after all."
Beca threw back her head and let out a long groan. "I am so going to regret this decision, aren't I?"
But when she lowered her head and locked eyes with Chloe, the smile on her face showed her true feelings.
No regrets. Not now. Not ever.
They walked out of the gym towards the changerooms, fingers intertwined, no longer pretending.