I was trying to finish this stupid short story I have to write for a class, but this came out instead. So I'm rolling with it.
Hair ties - Chapter One
"You will do just fine."
Beca narrows her eyes as she nervously fumbles with her fingers. She looks up at Stacies words and lets out a rugged breath. The car seems to be getting hotter as time goes on. Beca turns her head and watches the other teenagers hurry into the unfamiliar high school. It feels like someone is tearing up her stomach. The nervousness she is feeling isn't helping the fact time is dwindling and shit- now its five minutes until the first bell rings. And okay, it sort of feels like she's about to vomit everything she's ever ingested. Unfortunately, she has to go. It's not an option. But starting at a new school in the midst of senior year really sucks.
"What if they all hate me?" Beca asks. She looks out into the falling rain, thinking how everything seemed so cliché. She was the quiet new girl, who hates making friends. Yet here she is, being forced to start a new school. "I'm not a very like able person, Stace."
Stacie turns her attention towards Beca. She sighs when she sees how disheveled the young girl looks. In a way, she feels bad that she had graduated last year. If she hadn't, they could go in together. Stacie knows that school like the back of her hand. She could show Beca the ropes, maybe helps her make some new friends. But she couldn't. And seeing how deeply worried Beca is, makes her feel terrible she can't help.
"Hey, you'll be fine." Stacie reassures. She grips the steering wheel and looks at Beca, who is still staring out the window. "You have your schedule, right?"
Beca nods. She lets her fingers run up to the handle of the door and slowly opens it. She steps out and huffs a rugged breath. She thanks Stacie for the ride and when she shuts the door, everything becomes real. She isn't in the safety of the car anymore and now she is unhurriedly walking near the front of the school. She watches Stacie drive away while she stands in front. She's pretty sure she's in the way of anyone trying to walk inside, but she can't bring herself to walk through the double doors.
Beca figures she might as well walk in and get this over with. But as the bell can be heard and stray kids are rushing inside, she stays still until there isn't anyone in sight. She starts to walk away from the school, and decides she simply doesn't want to go. She knows this is a terrible choice, and she will be in loads of trouble, but it's not like this is the worst thing she could do.
She shoves her shaky hands into her pockets and begins to walk away rather quickly, not wanting anyone to be suspicious as to why she is hurriedly walking. Which she knows doesn't make much sense. Beca looks around her surroundings as she shuffles down the narrow sidewalk.
The sky looks like a mixture of dark colors. It is a weird grey which bounces to a dull black that swirls into a weird pinkish color that pokes trough the puffy rain clouds. Beca loves this weather. And she doesn't mind that it looks absolutely disgusting outside, because it calms her. She's always loved overcast skies, opposed to the clear blue.
A few cars can be heard, and then seen, rushing by her. She doesn't know where she's going, but she keeps walking. And walking, and walking, until she reaches the end of the sidewalk and an on ramp to a freeway. Beca doesn't know where else to go, so she crosses the street once the cars let her. She then realizes that the only way she can go is back in the direction of school.
She makes a disproving grunting noise as she scuffs her boots against the cement. Her arms cross and she is trying to figure out what to do. She looks down at her black watch - she's never been more grateful that her parents always instilled the idea of importance in watches, because otherwise she would be clueless to time right now - and sighs. School has started nearing an hour ago and she knows that it may be second period, but she isn't sure. She taps her fingers unceremoniously against her arms. A few cars go by and every once in a while and someone stares at her with a look that Beca can only assume is, 'why the hell aren't you in school?'.
Time has gone by and Beca isn't totally sure how long she's been standing awkwardly off to the side of the road, but she's pretty sure even if she begins to walk back now, school would still be in session. She stares at the passing cars with a blank expression. Her nervousness has subsided, and it is replaced with more of a small worry that she would get caught.
A series of loud honks pulls her out of her muse. She snaps her head to the side and her arms fall out of their crossed position. Shit. Beca thinks. The car that emits the noise pulls to the side of her and her Uncle Ben stumbles out and stands inches away from her.
Beca has never seen him look so confused, yet angry at the same time. He walks up to her and she notices he's about to speak, so she clamps her lips shut.
"What are you doing here? Didn't Stacie drop you off?"
Now, Ben is a nice man. He's the typical dirty blonde/blue eyed combo. And Beca realized he's pretty lenient about things. She's only lived with him and her aunt Cara for about two weeks now, but she doesn't have much to say other than they are the usual nice people. They aren't amazing, they aren't spectacular. They are just nice. And Beca likes that, believe it or not.
The brunette notices he isn't as angry, more of a worried and confused mixture. After thinking momentarily, she opens her mouth to reply, but no words fall out. She wiggles her lips around to try and form any words, but it's like she stuck. They are formed in her head, they're hanging in the air and she knows what to say. But she can't, so Becas reply comes in the form of a mere shrug.
"Are you okay?" Ben asks.
Beca can tell he's relieved as she nods again. She knows he's going to make her go to school. He's going to drag - literally - her into that school and make her go to whatever period is going on right now. She's going to be forced to attend whether she likes it or not.
"How about we start you tomorrow instead?" Ben says.
Beca clears her throat. "Okay. Yeah. Thank you."
They get into the car and Beca stays silent for most of the ride. She clasps her hands together and lets them lay on her lap. Her eyes linger on the upcoming road they live on and her mouth parts in a malaise fashion. They aren't formed in a frown, smile, or purse. She isn't sure what she's going to say, but she feels like she needs to say something.
"I'm sorry. I'm just-just really scared." Beca says barely above a whisper. And she's sure he isn't going to have any sympathy for her because why would he? Why would anyone, really.
They reach home and as he pulls into the drive way, he turns his body slightly so he's facing Beca. The brunette stares at her hands, afraid he's going to yell at her for her mistakes.
"I understand."
Beca shoots her head up and her mouth falls into an 'o' shape. She closes it immediately and it turns into a small, almost surprised smile.
He nods and slightly shrugs. "It's scary starting a new school. It's the middle of the year, which makes it worse. And you've been through a lot the past couple years, Bec. But you do have to go to school."
Beca sighs. "I know."
"Go head inside. I have some more errands to run before work. I think Stacie has Aubrey over." Ben says.
Beca huffs. "Great." she mumbles as she gets out of the car. She gives Ben a small wave as he pulls out of the driveway. When he's gone, she walks inside and carefully makes sure she doesn't make any noise. She doesn't want to be spotted, but as she's trotting up the stairs, she hears Stacie call her name in confusion.
She sees Stacie walk up to the stair case and her friend Aubrey follow suit. Keeping a tight lip as the blonde narrows her eyes suspiciously at her, Beca turns to them. She rests her arms on the banister.
"Aren't you supposed to be at school?" Stacie asks.
"Yeah… Long story short, I'm going tomorrow." Beca states.
"Did you skip?" Aubrey questions.
Beca shrugs.
Aubrey laughs incredulously. "You really are a little delinquent, aren't you?"
"Oh, shut up." Beca retaliates.
"You know-"
"-Aubrey." Stacie says, trying to stop whatever cat fight may be coming. "Let's go back in the living room and wait for Chloe to get out of the bathroom."
Beca narrows her eyes at the unfamiliar name, but before she can question it, the two are walking away. She decides to go upstairs into her room. She's still pretty tired so without taking anything off besides her school bag she lays down. Just as she closes her eyes and lets out a content sigh, her door is being opened. Without opening her eyes, Beca waves her hand in protest, trying to ward off any conversation.
"Oh. You're not Stacie."
Becas eyes open at the unknown voice.
"I'm sorry. I thought this was Stacie's room."
Beca sits up and then notices someone standing in the doorway. She's slightly taller than Beca. And she seems to be her age. Beca watches skeptically as the redhead walks in anyway.
"It's... okay." Beca decides on.
The redhead observes the walls that are covered with nothing but white paint. Beca watches her as she casually walks around. She knows this is weird, and that this stranger could be planning to kill her or something. This admittedly attractive redhead is going to end up massacring her and her body will never be seen again. It's ineluctable. This is what horror movies are made of, right? Yeah. Beca thinks. She notices the girl is now staring at her, seemingly waiting for her to say something. Beca realizes the girl had said something that she must've missed.
"I'm sorry. I zoned out there." Beca says.
She laughs. "I noticed."
Beca's stomach flutters. She decides that this feeling is much, much better than the nervous one. And that she would like to have this nervous, yet happy feeling more often.
"I like your dream catchers."
Beca turns her head and looks up at the two white feathered dream catchers dangling from the wall. They were her grandmothers and Beca adores them. She merely thanks her. And then she wonders if this is Chloe. Chloe who she has never heard of, the Chloe who is a complete stranger is walking around her room. A stranger she feels like she knows, somehow.
"Who are you?"
The girl turns and smiles widely at Beca. "I'm Chloe. I'm Stacie and Aubrey's friend."
Beca nods. It was odd to her that this girl didn't seem too fazed by this. She accidentally walked into Becas room and now she won't leave.
"I'm Beca."
"Oh, I know." Chloe states. She opens the window and sticks her head out of it.
Beca stands and straightens her shirt out as well as her pants.
"Uh, you can sit on the sill. It's big enough." Beca says.
Chloe swings one leg over, then the other.
"Sit with me." Chloe says. She lifts her hand in a, 'come hither' motion that Beca for some odd reason can't say no to. She walks over and copies Chloes position. She sits at a respectable distance and crosses her feet as they dangle next to Chloe's. Then the realization hits her. Oh my God. Beca thinks. This is how she's going to kill me-
"So your Stacies cousin?" Chloe asks.
Okay. Maybe she isn't going to kill me. Beca realizes.
"I am."
"Aren't you supposed to be in school? It's only noon."
"It was supposed to be my first day today." Beca states. She focuses on the few power lines running along the sidewalks as she waits for Chloes reply.
"You skipped?" Chloe asks. And Beca's relieved she doesn't sound mad like Aubrey and Stacie, but rather calm.
Beca shrugs. "I guess."
"Well, someone's a little bad-ass." Chloe nudges Becas shoulder with hers.
The brunette doesn't really know what to do with her face. She feels a smile almost peak through, but at the same time she wants to frown because of how un-awkward this feels. And Beca's eerily used to awkward situations, so this is even weirder that it isn't awkward.
"Are you on break like Stacie and Aubrey?" Beca asks.
"No." Chloe says. "I go to school the next town over, actually. That's why we're all hanging out today, since they go back tomorrow and all."
"Oh." Beca says. She turns her head towards Chloe and see hers narrowing her eyes. She then glances down and notices Chloes fingers are playing with a loose hair tie on her wrists. She subtly snaps it a few times before replying.
"Yep. I'm pinning to become a child care provider and I figured that if I can go to a junior college and become one, I don't see the point in following everyone else to university, you know? And anyway, I'm just not interested in that. My parents aren't happy, but- you know, I'm going to shut up."
"No, no." Beca says. "It's okay."
Beca's surprised with herself. Usually she hates listening to people talk. But Chloe's perky inflections and small hand gestures she speaks with, interests her.
Chloe laughs and starts to talk with the hand motions again. She slowly flings her wrists. They go back and forth as she talks.
"Sorry. Sometimes when I talk, I blab. It probably gets really annoying. I would assume so. Aubrey gets really annoyed by it. Stacie just laughs at Aubrey's anger." Chloe realizes Beca's slightly laughing at her and she sighs. "And I'm doing it again."
Beca's snorts. "It's fine, really."
Chloe smiles halfheartedly, chastising herself for word beckoning again.
"Where are you from?" Chloe asks.
"Pittsburgh." Beca says.
Chloe's mouth gapes. "Seriously?" she asks, swinging her legs in the air, they barely scrape the roof.
"What?" Beca asks, furrowing her eyebrows.
"What's it like out there?" Chloe asks. Her eyes light up, and Beca's oddly fascinated with the blue dilation.
"It's different." Beca says. She laughs. "Way different."
"I would assume so. I've never really been outta this area." Chloe says.
"What? Really?" Beca says, turning her head towards Chloe. "How can you stay in one place for so long?"
Chloe laughs. "Tons of reasons. I've been to Lincoln, though. I got asked to do a line of coke the last time I was there."
Beca nods. "I guess it is pretty weird there. Not as weird as here. I swear, everyone knows me and I barely even know more than three other people besides my aunt, uncle, Stacie and Aubrey."
"Well, now you know me." Chloe says. She sets her hand on top of Becas. In which, Beca assumes is supposed to be a harmless gesture, makes her cheeks turn red and she almost wants to prolong the action, but she doesn't necessarily know how. Before she can say anything, her door is being opened once again and Chloes hand is replaced with the cold air that this weather ensues.
"There you are!" Stacie exclaims. She walks over and practically drags Chloe away from the window after her legs are secure on the ground. Chloe smiles and waves at Beca as she is escorted out and Beca can't help but smile back.
A/N: I have tried to post this literally three times, and I don't know why it won't... So I waited a while and hopefully it works. If it does, thanks for reading this... thing.