It's been a while, my bad. I won't make excuses, but I won't apologize for living my life either. I will apologize for the long delay and the brevity of this chapter though, so sorry about that. Without further ado, I hope you enjoy the story.


Beca frowns as she hears Aubrey talking on the phone. It's the third time this week that Chloe has canceled plans with Aubrey.

Aubrey ends the call, and throws her phone on the couch.

"I don't get it," Aubrey says as she collapses onto the couch, right into Beca's waiting arms. "I've been wracking my brain trying to figure out what I've done wrong, trying to pinpoint what changed, but I can't find anything. I just don't understand why she doesn't want to hang out with me anymore."

Beca tightens her hold on her girlfriend. "I don't think it's you, Bree," she says.

"That's sweet," Aubrey says, "But what else could it be? I must've done something…"

"Bree," Beca says softly, "I really don't think it's you she doesn't want to hang out with…"

"That's ridiculous," Aubrey asserts. "Chloe loves you."

"Yeah," Beca says, "She does. And I think that's the problem."

Aubrey looks at Beca. "What does that mean?"

"Bree," she says, "When Chloe and I broke up, we did so with the understanding that we would find our way back to each other. She was going to be on a whole other continent, and I was going to stay home and endure the rest of my high school experience without her. I think initially, we both thought it was only temporary. She was my whole world then, but after everything that happened, it was easy for me to give up on the idea that she was coming back for me. I had a rough time, and the one person who was supposed to be there for me through everything wouldn't even write me back. So I chalked it up to me being wrong, and that Chloe didn't want me anymore."

Beca sighs. "When I let go of the idea that Chloe and I would ever be together again, I went into a really dark place. I mean, I probably would have been in a dark place regardless, because of, you know, everything that goes on at home, but losing Chloe, or even the idea of Chloe sent me spiraling. There were several points where I thought: nobody here likes me, all the people I thought loved me are gone, they don't want me, so why am I even here?"

Beca feels Aubrey stiffen in her arms. She places a long kiss on Aubrey's shoulder.

"I think, even though Chloe was the one who cut all communication off, she's held on to that idea that she and I would find our way back to each other. This entire time, in her head, when all is said and done, she thought that when she came back, she and I would be together. I think she's in that dark place that I was in. Because until now, she hasn't had to face the idea that we wouldn't be getting back together, let alone the reality of it."

"I think you're right," Aubrey says. She hums to herself a moment before she speaks again. "How did you pull yourself out of the dark place?"

Beca lets out a humorless chuckle. "I didn't," she says.

Aubrey turns around to face Beca.

"You did," Beca says as she moves a fallen strand of hair behind Aubrey's ear. "I met you, got to know you, and you brought the light back."

Aubrey brings her lips down to meet Beca's as they kiss tenderly.

"I love you, Bree," Beca says as they break.

"I love you, too," Aubrey says.

"Go to her," Beca says. "She needs you more than I do right now."


What do you think?