It was a stunning night in Switzerland. The air was mild, the stars burned bright in the navy-coloured sky, and there was nothing to be heard but the gentle hum of wildlife.
The Bellas had visited a local bar for cocktails a few hours ago, but no one had gotten drunk. They all genuinely wanted to fully experience their last night in the paradise that was their Swiss holiday.
At this point in time, (just after midnight), Beca and Chloe were sat on a bench overlooking the lake that surrounded their hotel. The light blue water was gently stirring, which had a calming effect on both girls.
'I can't thank you enough for this holiday, Chlo'
'I'm so glad you've enjoyed it', Chloe smiled, linking hands with her.
'Come here'
Beca put her arm around her girlfriend and brought her closer.
'I've loved spending more time with you and the Bellas', the redhead admitted, 'I miss you when we both have to go to work'
'I miss you too, but you know I'll always be there if you need me'
'Forever?'
'Forever'
Chloe snuggled into Beca's chest, smiling at the world. What had she done to deserve this most immense feeling of love?
Deeply, Beca breathed and then traced her eyes over the great mountains that lay around her. She looked at the reflection the full moon made on the silky, azure lake, and stared in awe.
'This would probably be a perfect place to propose, right?', Beca asked out of the blue.
Chloe, unsure of how to reply, stayed quiet.
'I mean, I'm not really...into all that romance stuff, but if I- if someone- was ever going to ask someone, then this would be the place to do it', the brunette continued, eyes still transfixed on the scenery.
A few seconds passed. Chloe thought to herself carefully.
'I think I want to give you my gift now, Beca'
'I thought you were saving it for when we've been together for six months?'
'I've changed my mind', the redhead replied, 'Wait here'
Chloe nipped off to their hotel room; she returned with her hands in the pockets of her gilet. Taking a seat next to her girlfriend, she gripped the gift hidden in her pockets.
'You don't have to like it', she said, 'Tell me and I'll take it back- it won't matter'
'I know I'll love it', Beca told her with a soft tone.
Chloe removed the gift from its hiding place, and passed it to her girlfriend. It was a small, black, square-shaped box. Beca opened it with sensitive hands whilst the taller girl nervously looked onwards.
Inside of it was a ring.
The brunette was speechless.
The redhead saw the stupefied expression on her face, and wished the ground would swallow her up. Then, she knew she had to speak up.
'It's not...an engagement ring...', she whispered in a barely-audible voice, feeling embarrassed.
When she recieved no verbal reply, but instead had her eyes met, she spoke up once more, saying, 'It's a promise ring...'
Beca leaned forward, box in hand, and gave Chloe a tight, desperate hug- one that never wanted to be broken. Chloe was unsure of how Beca was feeling- was she upset? Freaked out?
She awaited a verbal response.
The silence was deafening and excruciating.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the brunette told her girlfriend, 'I told you I'd love it'
Now, both girls were battling back the tears welling up in their eyes; they held onto each other even tighter for support.
Once they had composed themselves, Beca pulled back to properly look at the ring she had been given. It was a simple, silver band adorned with a delicate infinity symbol in the centre.
'Have you read the inside of it?', Chloe asked.
With a face of slight confusion, Beca went ahead and tilted the ring to see what the message was.
'I'll love you forever, weirdo', Beca read out with a grin.
Together, the girls giggled, then the smaller girl said, 'You're such a dork'
They shared another warm embrace- truly enjoying the moment they were having. The world appeared to have stopped, and their cares and responsibilities were no longer taking up their headspace- all they knew was each other.
And that was all they needed.
-----------------------------------------------
The morning after, Beca and Chloe were just about to go downstairs for breakfast when they shared a tender hug.
'Hey, why aren't you wearing your ring?', Chloe asked as they pulled back and held each others hands.
'If I go down there with a ring on my finger, they're gonna think that we're engaged'
'You don't have to wear it on your ring finger'
'They'll make a big deal out of it', the brunette said, awkwardly tugging at her lip with her teeth.
'You're a big deal to me', Chloe smiled.
Beca thought to herself for a minute, then replied, 'Do you promise to act cool about it?'
'I promise'
The redhead gave Beca a happy kiss on the cheek, and requested to put the ring on for her.
'This totally looks the opposite to getting engaged', Beca smirked, raising an eyebrow as the ring was slid onto her finger.
'Shut up', Chloe winked.
-------------------------------------
'Morning', a few Bellas chirped as Beca and Chloe came to the breakfast table.
As the girls sat down and tucked into their Belgian waffles, which were coated in banana slices and syrup, Cynthia spoke up.
'I'm really gonna miss staying here'
'Me too. It's been amazing', Stacie agreed after taking a bite out of her pancakes.
'Thanks again, Chlo', Beca said appreciatively.
The rest of the a capella group thanked the redhead too, then got back to what was most important to them- eating.
Flo was about to tuck into her breakfast when she realised that something was missing. She reached across the table for the missing ingredient- sugar- but her arms weren't quite long enough to grab it.
'Beca, could you pass me the sugar?'
'Sure'
Next, Beca picked up the small jar and passed it to her friend.
'Hey, you're wearing the gift that Chloe got for you', Flo smiled, noticing the ring on the brunette's finger.
'Ooh let's see', Stacie said when she nosily glanced over at the two, 'Oh that's a really nice ring'
Collectively, the Bellas' jaws dropped and everyone was now interested in what was going on. They all huddled around the DJ, (apart from Aubrey, who was too shocked to move).
'It's not that kind of ring', Beca explained, 'Look- it's clearly not even on the right finger'
Collectively, the Bellas made a disappointed sigh and returned to their seats.
'It's a promise ring', Chloe began, 'I gave it to her last night when we were overlooking the lake'
'Aaww!', Emily beamed, screwing her face up to emphasise how warm and happy the gesture made her feel.
'So a promise ring is basically a wedding ring, right?', Fat Amy asked.
Beca dropped her knife and fork by the side of her plate, trying to keep her calm, then replied to Amy, 'It's not "basically a wedding ring". It just means that we're...I don't know...making a promise to stay with each other and look after each other'
'Okay...', Amy mumbled, not sounding too sure.
After a few seconds of reflection, Beca whispered, 'Maybe one day though...'
----------------------------------------------------------
'They're going to miss their flight, Chlo'
Beca was standing in the airport, watching her girlfriend hug the Bellas to death.
'I just want to give everyone a cuddle', the redhead replied sadly, squeezing Emily and Aubrey, who were taking the brunt of the embrace, even harder.
'Until next time, Chloe', Aubrey smiled weakly, feeling rather sad to say bye.
Chloe gave each and every Bella a kiss on the forehead before she finally stepped back to stand next to Beca.
'I'll miss you guys', Beca spoke with kind eyes, 'Stay safe'
'You're not getting away that easily', Amy answered her.
It was at that moment that a small brunette was attacked by a large pack of emotional women in the middle of a busy airport. Soon after, she boarded the plane with her girlfriend and flew home from the place that had been on her bucket list for years.
'Thank you, Switzerland', she said as the plane took off, 'You and your big-ass mountains have been awesome'