OoOoOo= one or more days pass
...= later in the day

Ladybug

Chloe and her parents had to move a lot. And finally, in the summer before her sophomore year in high school, they were moving to a place where they could stay for more than a year. To say she was excited was an understatement. She could finally make a friend that she could keep.

They were moving the next day, and Chloe had everything ready for the morning- her clothes, her movies, CDs, and her baby. It wasn't an actual baby, but that's what Chloe called it. It was her saxophone. A lot of her band friends told her she looked more like a clarinet girl, and she was planning on picking a clarinet, but she fell in love (metaphorically) with her sax.

She had tried out many of the instrument choices, and she was pretty much set on the clarinet, but then she tried the saxophone. At first she couldn't get a sound to come out of it, but she was determined, so she kept trying. Finally, she made a sound come out, but she wasn't expecting it to be as loud as it was and it scared her. That's why she picked it, because it scared her. But she loved playing it, even if she wasn't that great.

At her new school, she'd have to go to summer band practice, which also excited her. This way she wouldn't come to school completely friendless... hopefully.

OoOoOo

Chloe drove to the band room for the first summer practice. Yeah, drove, one of the perks of being a summer baby and starting school later rather than earlier. She pulled up into the school's parking lot and parked. She sat in the car for a few moments. She saw other kids walking into the rehearsal space through the open garage. She took a deep breath, grabbed her case, got out of her car, and walked to the building.

There were so many kids in there, all hugging each other and talking about their summers. This was going to be a little harder than she thought. She walked over to a corner and sat down in one of the seats. No one paid any attention to her, probably because of the amount of people in the space. Suddenly a loud voice could be heard over all the talking. It was the marching band director, Mr. Brooks. She had spoken to him a few days after she moved in, and he set her up with all the music they'd be using, and sent her to another director to get her uniform fitted.

"Okay, listen up. We're going into sectionals for a half hour, and then we'll meet back here for full band. After that, we'll go out and practice fundamentals." He began listing off where everyone needed to go. Chloe was listening for her section to be called. But none came. He listed flutes and clarinets, low brass, low woodwinds, trumpets, horns, and percussion. She heard a kid call out.

"What about us, Brooks?"

"Oh, right. Saxes, you'll be with me outside." She heard a few people groan, probably because it was 'hot'. If they were back were Chloe moved from, they'd know hot, and this wasn't even close. "Alright, guys, let's get a move on it!" Everyone began shuffling around, grabbing their instruments and heading to the practice areas. Chloe found someone who had a sax case and followed him outside.

Outside, the director was facing all the kids, and, of course, Chloe didn't think to grab a stand. She did a mental face palm and stood a little to the side to get out her instrument. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a very petite brunette trying to sneak her way past the director. Chloe cocked an eyebrow, and turned to finish constructing the pieces to her saxophone. She finished just in time to see the short brunette fumble with her stand and drop it. The director turned around and looked at her.

"You're late Ms. Mitchell."

"Yeah, sorry," the brunette said. "I, uh, I had to walk to practice today."

"That's alright." Mr. Brooks said. He turned back and looked at Chloe. "Ah, yes, I forgot to mention, we have a new player joining us this year. Everyone this is Chloe Beale. She moved here from..."

"Florida." Chloe finished. Everyone made some noise of greeting, and then the director started explaining things about the music they were about to play. The girl from earlier walked up to Chloe.

"Uh, hi. You don't have a stand, and I do. Wanna double up?" She said.

"Sure." Chloe smiled. The brunette set the stand in front of them and turned to get out her instrument. Once she was done, she turned around and set her music next to Chloe's. Chloe gave her a questioning look.

"Mine has stuff written on it." She explained.

"Oh... I'm Chloe by the way."

"I heard." The girl said. She chuckled at the face Chloe made. "I'm Beca. Beca Mitchell." She said while holding out her hand. Chloe took it.

"Nice to meet you, Beca."

"You too, Chloe." Beca smiled.

...

"Brace yourself, the piccolos are coming." Beca said out of the corner of her mouth during a rest.

"What?" Chloe replied quietly. Beca smirked at her. Suddenly, an awful screeching noise could be heard, and the director stopped the band to work on that section. "Oh... the piccolos." Chloe said, and Beca nodded.

"The piccolos." She said in a tone that could only be described a scholar-y. Chloe laughed at the girl. "Quiet down, he'll hear you."

"Right, sorry." Chloe said.

"It's cool," Beca said. "Hey, why is the clarinet section so big?"

"I don't know, why?" Chloe asked. Beca chuckled to herself.

"It increases the odds one of them will play the right note." Chloe smiled at her and let out a little laugh.

"That wasn't even that funny." She said.

"Oh really. I'd like to see you try to come up with a joke, Beale."

"Okay, Mitchell," Chloe said. "How do you know when an alto is at your door?"

"I don't know, how?"

"They forgot their key and where to come in." She said while holding her hand out for a five. Beca rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to the director. She did, however, glance at Chloe who noticed the faint smile on her lips.

...

"Don't move! No talking!" One of the more strict directors said. They were outside practicing fundamentals, and everyone had their hands up as if they were holding am instrument. Beca was standing next to Chloe snickering at a comment she made. Chloe was fighting to keep her smile down when a ladybug landed on her hand. Chloe made a faint squeaking noise, and Beca turned and saw the bug. Chloe made to flick off the ladybug, but the strict director happened to walk by. "I said no moving." He said briskly.

"Sorry." Chloe said.

"No talking!" He said. Chloe bit her lip, and the man stayed in front of her for the last ten minutes of rehearsal, as did the bug.

After they all went inside and the director dismissed them, Beca walked up to Chloe as she finished putting her sax on a shelf.

"Hey, bug." She greeted. Chloe made a face at her. "Okay, sorry. Hey, Chloe."

"Hi, Beca." Chloe smiled.

"So, when are your parents getting here?"

"Oh, I have a car."

"You do?"

"Yeah," Chloe said. "When are your parents getting here?" Beca stiffened.

"Oh, I'm, uh, I'm walking." She said.

"How far do you have to go?" Chloe asked.

"Just a few miles." Beca answered.

"Just a few miles?" Chloe said incredulously. "Come on, I'll give you a ride."

"No thanks, I wouldn't want to impose." Beca said.

"Nonsense. I'm not going to let you walk miles by yourself. Besides, you're my friend." Chloe said. Beca gave her a thoughtful look.

"Okay." She said after a moment.

"Great! Come on!" Chloe said. She grabbed Beca by the hand and pulled her to the car. Beca tensed at the touch, but Chloe paid no attention. They got to her red Volkswagen beetle, and she heard Beca let out a gasp.

"You even have a ladybug car! I'm definitely calling you bug now." She smirked.

"You call me bug, and I call you shorty." Chloe said while unlocking the doors. Beca winked at her and stepped in the car. Chloe shook her head and got inside. She started up the car and looked at Beca.

"Oh, can we put the top down? Please?" She pouted. Chloe laughed at the short brunette.

"Yeah, we can put the top down." Chloe said. She pushed the button, and the top went down; the she rolled down the windows. "Alright, so, where am I going?"

Beca gave her directions, and soon, Chloe was pulling up into the driveway of a nice two-story house. Beca got out of the car and Chloe followed her. As Beca got to the front of the car, Chloe grabbed her by the hands, and pulled her closer.

"I'm really glad I met you today," she said. "I think we're going to be fast friends." Beca smiled at her.

"Well, you are pretty saxy, so..." she said while winking. Chloe laughed and pulled the brunette into a hug. At first, Beca tensed, but after a second, she relaxed into the hug. Chloe smiled and pulled away. "I'll see ya in a couple days, yeah?" Beca asked.

"Yeah." Chloe said. Beca smiled and waved, then headed for her door. "Oh, Beca, wait!" Chloe called. Beca stopped and turned around.

"Yeah?"

"Let me see your phone." Choe said. Beca pulled out her phone and walked over to her; then she unlocked the screen and handed it to Chloe. Chloe took the phone, put in her number, sent herself a text, and handed it back to Beca. "There, now we have each other's numbers." Chloe explained. Beca smiled and headed back towards her house.

"Bye, Chlo." She said. Chlo... she could get used to that name.

"Bye, Beca." Chloe walked back to her car and drove home with a large smile etching her features. She was going to like this town.

XXXXX

A/N: Just in case you're wondering, this is not a high school AU. I will be moving away from it. In the summary, Chloe has to move and she and Beca met years later, and that will happen, I just don't know how yet. Which is why I'm asking for suggestions. I have three ideas so far:

1) Something to do with chasing an escaped dog
2) Random coffee shop(?) encounter
3) College

Those were listed in my favorite to least favorite order. If you've got another suggestion, or you like one of mine, let me know. You can leave a review, PM me, or talk to me on Tumblr. I'm puckelltine