Belong To Me (Bechloe)

four.

Chloe's POV

I slam the car boot shut as I just about manage to fit all my stuff in the back. I know it's only for one night, but you never know what you might need.

Getting in the car, I reach to turn on the radio. As usual, there's never anything good playing. Instead I reach for my phone to connect it up and shuffle my playlist. Right. Sorted.

... around 15 minutes of pointless fiddling and procrastination later, I actually get round to starting the car.

Driving's never been my thing. I passed the test, and I guess that's an achievement for me, but I just find it kind of boring. I'd much rather be a passenger and be able to spontaneously burst into song without having the fear that I'd be about to face an oncoming vehicle.

A few hours later, I experience my other problem with driving: I really need the toilet. Luckily, the next service station is only a couple of miles ahead, so I drive a little faster before parking up and dashing to the toilets.
After finishing in the toilets, I walk back out to the main area where a collection of shops and cafés face onto a small fountain. For a service station, it's actually pretty decent. I look around and instantly see the green and white of a Starbucks sign and can't help but find myself be drawn towards it.

"It's 8.15 in the morning. A coffee won't hurt," I mutter to myself, shrugging slightly.
I wait in the queue before ordering a coconut latte, then join the gathering of people waiting for their orders.
"Hey, what's up?" A man says suddenly beside me. I look around to see who he's talking to, but there isn't anyone else looking in his direction.
"Me?" I ask, confused. It's not like we've met before.
"Yeah, how're you doing? Where you headed?" he asks. But for some reason it seems like he wants more than small talk.
"I'm... fine? And why does it really matter to you?" I ask suspiciously.
"Oh, no reason. Just being friendly." The man shrugs and takes his drink from the side. "You're here alone?"
"Yeah, I'm going to meet a friend," I say, wanting my drink to be ready so I can get away from this creepy man. "But I'm fine on my own," I add quickly, before he gets any ideas.
"Are you sure about that? It wouldn't be very nice of me to let a pretty girl like you get all lonely by yourself," he says, suddenly leering towards me.
"Look, I didn't come here to find a hook up, I came here for coffee!" I say, raising my voice as I reach forward to take my latte from the counter. "So stop being such a disgusting perv and go home. Maybe even find a better hobby to amuse yourself with, other than picking up girls at service stations, because that's just plain wrong. Even if I wasn't gay, you'd be the last guy on Earth I'd want to be with. So it's an 100% no to the company," I shout at him, walking back to my car quickly.

I know being bisexual isn't exactly being gay, but I had to make the point to ensure he left me alone. Factual details can come later.

I get back in my car, sitting in the driver's seat as I sip my drink. I know I shouldn't be taking so long to get there, but I've realised now I'm not just procrastinating because I hate driving. I'm also really fucking scared.

Every time I've seen Beca before, it's been on a regular basis - that state of euphoria, it's been a constant. But now it's gonna be different - there's no time to 'get used to it'. One look at her and everything I feel will overwhelm me in an instant.

I take another sip of coffee, running a hand through my thick hair to haul it away from my eyes. It's really too long now. Maybe I should get it cut? Ooh, or maybe dye it? I don't know, I'll ask Beca, she has an opinion on a lot of things.

Yeah, Beca, Chloe, maybe you should stop thinking about things that aren't important right now and just get your ass over to Beca's place.
No wonder Jacob said I lacked focus.

I put my coffee cup in the cup holder and start the car once again. For the rest of the journey, I end up listening to the playlist I created which has all the songs the Bellas ever covered under Beca's rule. (Technically, it was also my rule. But obviously I'd just go along with whatever she said.) I loved covering Who Run The World, it's such a great song... I just kinda wish I had someone to jam along to it in the car with me. My best friends live more than 5 hours away and it'd be laughable to think I'd made any new ones at vet school. Everyone just seems to hate me; I'm pretty sure Jacob only just finds me tolerable. But then again, he's my mentor - his job is to tolerate me.

I arrive in Beverly Hills, knowing Beca lives really not that far away. I check Google Maps and yep, Wilshire Boulevard is literally 5 minutes away. I stop the music and let out a breath I only just realise I've been holding in and drive a little slower.

Come on, Chloe. It's only been 6 months. Nothing's gonna have changed that much, it will all be fine.

Will it though? What if I embarrass myself? What if my brain reenacts a movie where the two main characters haven't seen each other for a long time and when they do they wrap their arms around each other and start crying and kiss each other passionately?
Because me getting carried away could easily happen.

Chloe, you're constantly embarrassing yourself around her, it's chill.

Thanks, brain. Always know how to give a great pep talk.

Chloe, just shut up and drive, Beca's waiting and if you don't get there soon she'll probably go eat without you.

Eventually I reach her apartment block and park my car. I haul my bag onto my shoulder before walking over to the intercom.
"Hey Bec, I'm here," I say, holding down the button for her apartment. Several moments later, her button goes green and the lift doors open.

Well, here goes nothing.

-

The meetup is cominggggg 👀

Also idk why I didn't just get Chloe to fly over to LA, it probably would have been quicker for her but oh well 😂