Tuesday mornings weren't supposed to be like this.

"Beca, please?"

Normally, at 7:30 in the morning Beca's usually pulling up files for whatever artist or band she has scheduled for her first time slot in the studio, but not today. Today she's got a pleading Psychology major, Emily Junk on the phone; and if Beca thought she couldn't exactly say no to little freshman Legacy, well fast forward three years and she still can't.

"Look Em," strong start, Mitchell, keep it up. "I don't.." Goddammit, so much for that strong ass start, Mitchell.

"I know it's not something you'd want to do and I know this is really me stretching it considering, I mean, hello!"

That something being the subject of the email Beca opened earlier in the morning.

The same email that prompted Emily's phone call.

Beca groans, falling back against her chair as squeezes her eyes shut, willing the headache that's forming to dissipate.

Sadly, all she manages to do is make it worse while Emily continues to ramble on.

To: bmitch

Cc/Bcc: emhjunk

Subject: SENIOR THESIS! I NEED YOUR HELP! GET BACK TO ME ASAP!

[click to open]

Hi, Beca! So, I know we haven't like, been in touch for a while but I really need your help! It's a lot to ask but I'm shooting a video interview sort of thing for my senior thesis and I was wondering if you'd be apart of it!

The idea is to evaluate past events that were emotionally tumultuous with a new eye and compare how growth and experience can alter one's previous perspective on past events.

So, basically, you'd just have to come down to Barden, you get asked questions, you get to ask questions, then it's over. The only thing is that, I've also asked Chloe to come. She's already agreed to do it, on the condition that she backs out if you do.

So that's why I really need your decision ASAP because if you don't want to do it, which is totally fine, Beca, I swear! Then I'll just try to formulate a new angle for the project!

If you're willing to do it I'll keep you updated on when and where and all those details when I've gotten to that point!

It would really be nice to see you again, even if the circumstances aren't ideal.

Get back to me when you can, please!

Emily Junk.

"-Big Junior Producer Beca Mitchell is probably super busy and living it up in LA! Like, you're probably so busy that I'm probably wasting your time calling-"

... she certainly isn't wrong…

"-and like, I know you were never really an official Bella but you were around so much that I'd say we bonded, what with Flashlight and all and-"

"Okay, okay! I'll do it, Em, just please for the love of god. Shut up!"

After a tentative confirmation, the younger girl squealed a soft thank you and finally, finally, hung up.

Feeling the headache coming on, Beca flung her head back, her swivel chair slowly spinning as the she groaned. For once the mix playing softly throughout the room wasn't enough to soothe her nerves.

Then again, what could?

It's been years - three to be exact - since Beca has seen the redhead - her ex - and now she's supposed to what? "Evaluate past events" with her? Jesus, she could barely evaluate that shit show when it happened, much less now!

What the actual fuck does Emily expect out of this?

Before Beca had the chance to even give it a second thought, her boss's intern peeked his head into the studio space with a graceful announcement of, "You're, uh, artists are in. So, like, be ready for them.. To come… in… with all their stuff… soon."

(How and why Dax is still around is beyond Beca.)

Nevertheless, she grunts in response and quickly pulls up the files for, oh god, Jade Dragon.

Tuesday mornings were never supposed to be like this.

"You know she means no harm, Becs."

"Do I, Stace? Do I really?"

"For Emily's sake, I sure hope you do."

"..."

"Oh, come on Beca! You know that kid looked up to you when we were at Barden! She wouldn't just do this to you for shits and giggles."

"... I'm pretty sure she looked up to Bree more than she did me-"

"Oh that so does not count! Bree was THE Bella, of course Em looked up to her!"

"It's barel-"

"Would you just-Beca, that kid is a Bella legacy. You know this. I know you know this. Which is why I know that you know why little Legacy would fawn over my Bree. You know, Aubrey? The Bella that was a part of a three-peat legacy of her own. One of which sh-"

"Will you shut up already? I get it. The kid had a toner for your girlfriend and you were totally okay with it. Can we move on now?"

"Not when you mention toners and my girlfriend, we can't. I mean seriously have you seen Aubrey? She-what? Babe, n-"

"Hello? Beca?"

"Hey, Bree."

"I'm assuming Emily finally got a hold of you?"

"Are you-?! Of fucking course she talked to you about it."

"Oh stop grumbling, you petulant child. I would've found out one way or another."

"Whatever."

"Enough with the pouting, Mitchell."

"I'm not fucking pouting, Posen."

"So convincing, Beca, really. Maybe you should look into acting since you're in LA now."

…

…

...

"Just so you know, Beca, I talked to Emily and she wasn't opposed to Stacie and I coming along for moral support."

"I don't need-"

"Moral. Support. Hobbit."

…

"Whatever. Listen, I've gotta go, that idiot intern I told you about fucked up again. I'll see you guys in two months."

A month and a half after the phonecall with Stacie and Aubrey, Beca still isn't sure what she feels aside from anxiety and slight anger.

Which is ridiculous because she's moved on.

It's been three years and she's move on.

So this anxiety nonsense needs to fucking knock it off because she's a grown ass woman that has work to do and she can't do that work while there's a constant buzzing in chest.

Two months after the phonecall and Beca is being lead down a hallway with an eager Emily Junk at her side, Stacie a step behind the pair.

"So, like I said befor-"

"I ask her the questions you provided. She asks me the questions you've provided. Honesty is key. Past is the past. New perspectives. Blah blah blah." Beca glanced over at Emily with an unimpressed expression. "I know. You've told me, like, ten times since I've woke up this morning, kid."

Emily, bless her heart, ducks her head with an apologetic laugh. She instead leads the two older brunettes the rest of the way, until they're in front of a set of double doors.

It's now or never.

"You good?" Beca hears Stacie's question but doesn't answer.

She isn't good.

God, she's terrible.

A myriad of emotions flood Beca all at once - regret, anxiety, panic, anger, sadness, nervousness, fear, embarrassment, resentment - it's a heady mix and the small brunette thinks she's going to pass out. She tries recounting her steps to mentally see how far she'd have to run to get back to Stacie's car.

So adamant about proving to herself and to everyone else that she'd moved on and grown the fuck up since she'd left Barden, Beca let her pride drive her to where she is now. In front of a set of double doors that leads right to Chloe...

And the emotional rollercoaster that was to come, she was sure of it.

Goddammit, pride got me this far.

Refusing to run away, Beca pushed on the door.

A/N: So that's the prologue. This is my first fic, so lemme know how I'm doing with things like characterization and such, if that's alright. Or just lemme know what you think? I'm pretty set on finishing this but it all depends on if I can comfortably nail each of their voices, mainly Beca and Chloe's.