Denial
the redhead stood in the bathroom, scrubbing away at the blood on her hands. in reality, the dark liquid was long gone but she could still feel it. still taste it. chloe was panicking, unsure what it all meant. the cogs in her brain were turning, her heart a humming bird's fluttering. her hands growing raw as her nails scratched away at the invisible blood still haunting her.
her gaze trailed from her hands to the bathroom mirror, tears mingling at the waterline as she wondered what to do. was there anything she could do? telling beca how she felt while she was all happy with jesse was a no go.. she didn't want to pressure beca into leaving the male just to save her. maybe she could tell someone else. although.. who? aubrey.
the name came to mind instantly and she finally pulled herself away from the sink, drying her hands before swiftly crossing the hall back to her room. she reached for her phone and sat on the edge of her mattress. chloe took a breath as she gave herself a second to unlock her phone and click on aubrey's contact. yet, her thumb merely hovered over the call button.
maybe it was a fluke? maybe it was some twisted reminder not to think that way about her friends? so.. maybe it wouldn't happen again. she certainly hoped it wouldn't.
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chloe spent the rest of the day cooped up along in her room. in fact, she didn't even come down for dinner. jessica and ashley tried knocking but it just seemed to fall on deaf ears.. and then they came to the conclusion that maybe the redhead was tired from rehearsals fell asleep.
the redhead didn't even come out when she heard beca return from her date with jesse. usually she'd be there to great her with a hug and a smile, ready to ask how the date went as if her feelings didn't matter. but not tonight. instead, beca returned to amy, flo and cynthia-rose arguing over a board game. well, amy and cynthia-rose were arguing, flo seemed unbothered saying something about her life before america as she took her turn. meanwhile, chloe stayed huddled in her room, trying to ignore the thoughts in her head. she just wanted to pretend. that was easier than trying to fix it, right?
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when the next day came, chloe woke up late. she hadn't slept well and really didn't want to go to class. she also didn't see much point as it'd be at least halfway through by the time she was up, dressed and on the otherside of campus.
she sat up, letting out a small whine as she stretched and sat up. the sun that gleamed through her blinds didn't seem quite as bright as it did on other days. despite the springtime air. chloe sighed as she pulled herself to stand, her brows furrowing when she realised she'd slept in yesterday's clothes. she really wasn't with it today.. not that it mattered. everything was fine. she'd make sure of it.
combing her mad red locks back behind her shoulders, chloe crossed the room to her wardrobe. she pulled the doors open and rumaged for the perfect outfit. a floral skirt and a turquoise blouse. they looked cute together. she should probably get a shower in beforehand too, since she forgot last night. so, she gathered her clothes - along with new undergarments - and quickly slipped into the bathroom, locking the door behind her and hooking her clothes on the back of the door. she grabbed a towel and set it on the toilet lid. then she slipped out of her clothes from yesterday, leaving them in a heap on the floor. she'd put them with the dirty laundry later, now it was time for her shower.
she stepped in and turned on the water, yelping in surprise as it came out cold. however, she did relax when it started to warm up. she soaked in the water as it took her mind off the night before. it was just a blip as far as she was concerned. chloe pushed the thought aside and instead started to wash her hair and body.
then, as she continued to rub coconut shampoo into her scalp, a knock on the door brought her from her thoughts. she briefly stepped away from the rushing water to better hear whoever was outside.
" who is it? "
the redhead chirped from behind the clear shower panel. she sounded like she was in a better mood than how she felt. and she quickly painted on a smile regardless of the fact that whichever bella was behind the door couldn't see her.
" it's beca. can i come in? "
the brunette mostly just needed to brush her teeth but she had also missed the redhead's presense the night before. chloe eyed the door for a moment, unsure whether she should let herself hang around beca too much until she sorted herself out. and yet, she was quick to grant the woman entry with a cheerful, " come in! "
the door opened with a slight click and beca entered. she was adorned in a pair of ripped skinny jeans and baggy shirt, her flannel shirt tied around her waist. and yet, even in an outfit as simple as that, chloe couldn't help how her heart fluttered. only beca mitchell could make such a casual look seem so.. hot. the redhead turned back to her shower when she caught herself staring, internally scolding herself for practically drooling.
" where were you last night, dude? "
beca asked as she walked up to the sink, her blue hues swiftly sweeping over the redhead's physique. she'd seen the redhead nude before, of course. but, for some reason, she wanted to keep looking. however, she forced her mind away with the reminder that she had a boyfriend and instead focused on the dark blue toothbrush now in hand.
" oh.. uh- i guess rehearsals really tired me out, i fell asleep. "
the naked woman hummed softly, her tone rather nonchalant beside the fact that she was lying. she felt bad for it but she couldn't tell anyone the truth.
there was a beat of silence as beca squeezed some toothpaste out onto her toothbrush and nodded lightly. then a subtle sigh escaped her lips. the brunette, fortunately, hadn't detected the lie which gave chloe more time to think about what to do. the taller then nodded in verbatim.
a silence followed the two, filled only by the sound of running water and the scrubbing of beca's toothbrush. although, as usual, it wasn't uncomfortable. a little vacant.. but not terrible. both were consumed by thoughts, not fully paying attention to one another. although maybe that was for the best.
beca later pulled back from the sink, having rinsed her brush and set it down on the edge of the sink. she looked over at chloe and paused once more. although this time with a slightly furrowed brow.
" err- alright, well i gotta head to work. so, i'll see you later. "
she pointed to the door and left soon after, a hum in agreement only leaving chloe's lips once beca was already gone.
was that weird? could beca tell she was off?
she brushed it off, instead focusing on washing the suds from her hair.
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half an hour later, chloe found herself in the kitchen. her hair was clean and dry, her outfit complete and neat. she looked lovely. she was stirring a bowl of cereal mindlessly as her mind wandered. she wasn't exactly hungry but she knew she needed something so washaving breakfast anyway.
stacie sauntered into the kitchen to refill her coffee when she noticed her friend's blank stare. the tall brunette frowned as she lifted the coffee jug and poured the dark liquid into her mug. she wasn't sure what was going on but decided to.. keep an eye on the redheaded woman. just like she'd promised aubrey. she didn't want to go to the blonde about it yet, in case it was nothing important. it could just be the redhead fantasising about acapella again..
chloe did snap out of her thoughts when she noticed stacie looking at her. she smiled warmly before quickly moving to start eating her cereal. perhaps she was shovelling it into her mouth a little too forcefully but at least she was actually eating it now.
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for the rest of the day, chloe made sure to keep busy. it was friday so they didn't have rehearsals but the redhead had another class in the afternoon. one she did attend. then after that, she was free to do what she wanted and hopefully not overthink her.. situation.
she'd only coughed up one or two more petals throughout her day, both of which were swiftly desposed of and forgotten beside the thorns growing in her lungs each time she brushed off her own feelings.
and now, she was sat with the bellas, watching some action movie. she had beca on her left and stacie on her right, her legs pulled beneath her and her body subtly leaning into stacie's side. usually it was becashe cuddled up to but she decided that a little space would fix her predicament right up. not that she could've accounted for beca's next actions.
as the redhead's vibrant hues remained glued on the flat screen ahead of them, doing her best to at least seem enthrawled with the movie's plot. although, she wasn't actually sure if she understood it fully.
during a car chase scene the woman was trying her best to keep up with, a gentle hand landed on her thigh. not high up or anything, just a soothing motion that beca had picked up on over the few short years that they'd known each other. only, as chloe looked up at the brunette who's hand in belonged to, another tickling feeling short up the back of her throat. one she did try to surpress.. not that it worked.
she let out a sharp cough and instantly picked herself up off the sofa as to avoid anyone noticing. she darted off into the kitchen and made sure she was out of sight. she leant on the wall, coughing up more petals into her cupped hands. her breaths were heavy as she tried to compensate for the restricting feeling of the flowers growing in her chest.
in the other room, stacie and beca shared a glance. the two were obviously concerned, sharing a silent conversation before the taller of the two nodded and followed chloe out of the room. although, she stopped just past the threshold as her heart sank in her chest.
she choked out the petals, only lifting her head once she was certain it was over. and she froze in place, crimson running down her chin. blue eyes searched stacie's vacant expression before it morphed into a panicked frown.
" chlo, what the fuck?? "
the woman's tone was sharp but quiet as she crossed the floor and took chloe's head in her hands, grey eyes taking in her paled features.