A/N: Holy crap I'm alive! I'm really sorry for not updating for like...years. Life and homework and fighting dragons happened. But really. I hope to continue this, I really do. Thanks for bearing with me! And as always, a big thank you to Mary for turning these words into a coherent thing.

"So, is saving innocents from detention a normal Friday activity for you Bruce Wayne?" Beca asked as she poured cream into her coffee.

Chloe giggled and nudged Beca's shoulder as she reached for the sugar packets. "Only when I'm not saving cats from trees and all that."

"How in the hell do they always get stuck up there? Like, your actions have consequences, even in the feline world," Beca continued as they found a small table to sit at.

"They have nine lives to figure it out I guess. If these cats don't learn their lesson we could stick them in detention with you."

"Yeah maybe I could train them to claw at Bumper's face," Beca mused, taking a sip of her coffee.

"Maybe," Chloe frowned. "What is his deal with you anyway?"

Beca sighed and rolled her eyes. "I swear the kid has had it out for me since fourth grade. I accidentally stepped on this paper mache project thing he made and he has been pissed ever since."

"How diabolical of you," Chloe smiled. "Little, cute, diabolical Beca."

Beca colored slightly and sipped her drink. "Speaking of diabolical…how'd you even make that plan of yours work?"

Chloe waved her hand at Beca's question. "You know just bribery, blackmail, torture, the usual."

"Good to know."

They drank their coffees in a comfortable silence, occasionally complaining about school or making the odd remark on mutual teachers and classes. Chloe's phone buzzed a few times but she didn't even glance at it. Beca was surprised. Surely Chloe's popular pack would be wondering where she was, but Chloe didn't seem to care. Only after her phone buzzed precisely five times followed by a phone call did Chloe look down at the device. Beca occupied herself by taking out an old guitar pick from her pocket and tapping it on the side of the table.

After a long pause without Chloe continuing to hum some catchy pop song that Beca had been trying to decipher, she looked up to see Chloe biting her lip, staring at the screen.

"Everything ok?"

"Yes, yeah," Chloe gave a distracted half smile.

Beca sat up, leaning forward a bit. "Chloe."

It wasn't meant as a question, but as an invitation to talk. Chloe looked up at her, clearly upset. Chloe sighed.

"It's just…chorus and things," Chloe fidgeted with her necklace.

"Well hey you can just like, pretend this is Wicked and sing out your problem. Suddenly I'll know the words and so will everyone else in this semi-hipster establishment and we'll have a big song and dance number and you'll feel better."

Chloe gave a small smile. "Thanks, Beca. It's just Alice..she's very demanding."

Beca raised an eyebrow. "Tell me about this bitch. I'll fight her."

Chloe's hands twisted the locket on her necklace. "Calm down, Rocky. It's just…look at this."

Chloe slid her phone across the small table to Beca. The five unanswered texts were there:

I need you to pick up all the sound equipment and make the copies of the sheet music ASAP. No excuses.

Make arrangements for us to sing at the community barbecue this weekend. Don't mess it up like last time.

Did you hear me?

Pick up your damn phone we need this shit done.

You're useless. I'm calling.

Beca blinked several times just to make sure she was reading it right. The texts were all in practically a minute of each other. "Are you fucking serious? Who does this asshole think she is?" Beca frowned.

Chloe sighed, "Alice. Head of chorus, president of the senior class, the superintendent's daughter."

"And the three time winning recipient of Biggest Douchecanoe," Beca fumed. "I can't believe she talks to you like this."

"This is kind of tame actually."

"Does she treat all of you like this?" Beca asked incredulously.

"Not really. Mostly me," Chloe looked down. "I don't know why. But it's fine it's my last year and-"

"No, it's not fine. It's not fine at all," Beca blurted out, ignoring her usual "Mitchell-Carefully-Doesn't-Give-a-Shit" filter. "Chloe she has no right to treat you like shit. You're like, the absolute nicest person I know. You make Mother Theresa look like a bitch."

Chloe smiled and Beca smiled back reflexively. "I just want the chorus to do well. We might make nationals this year. I can't not do this stuff. I don't want to let anyone down."

"Chloe, I think it's impossible for you to let anyone down. I know it sounds kinda weird coming from someone who hasn't known you very long, but I can just tell," Beca said sincerely, mentally praying that she didn't sound like an after school special. "ESP and all that crap," she added, worried she'd said too much.

"You're sweet for thinking so. I just want to help, for us to be the best we can be. "

"She's taking advantage of your whole "rainbows and sunshine" thing," Beca said. "And that's shitty of her. Don't let her talk to you like that and boss you around like her personal perfect pitched servant."

"There's nothing I can do I-"

"Hell yes there is! Stick up for yourself and stack your vertebrae and you tell her you're not doing it, not if you're treated that way. You help tons of people just because you're a nice person. And you're gonna stand up for what you think and feel alright?"

Chloe looked slightly surprised at Beca's words. Beca bit her lip; it'd been a long time since she had exploded with so much emotion in her voice. She coughed awkwardly and fiddled with her leather bracelet out of nerves.

"Sorry…didn't mean to go all Dr. Phil. It's just…you're really cool, okay? And it's okay to refuse someone else, especially when they're being a dick. And you can be selfish too for once in your life, Beale."

Chloe smiled and placed her hand on top of Beca's. Beca's hand twitched; her instinct was to pull away. To her own surprise, she didn't, looking up at the redheaded with widened eyes.

"Thank you, Beca."

Beca grinned back, heart hammering a bit faster that had nothing to do with caffeine. "Hey, don't take this shit from her okay? Fuck her."

Chloe raised her eyebrows. "You know what? Yeah. Fuck her."

Beca withdrew her hand from Chloe's and smacked her ringed fingers on either side of the table. "What was that Beale? I can't hear you!"

"I said fuck her!" Chloe said loudly, a defiant look in her eye. Several disapproving heads turned in their direction. Beca grinned wickedly, proud to see a glimmer of fight in Chloe's eyes. She couldn't have imagined that Chloe Beale might've been just as nervous going to school as she was, facing down jerks like she was.

"Go get 'em, tiger," Beca smirked.

Chloe laughed, which made Beca laugh too. They fell effortlessly back into small talk for another twenty minutes. Chloe hadn't replied to Alice in an act of defiance, and Beca had offered to pick up the sound equipment for her; she had been considering buying an old record at the music store for her mother's Christmas present. Beca had waved Chloe's arguments away and promised to bring it by the school before rehearsal. Chloe got up and hugged Beca, saying she was her knight in plaid armor.

"But um hey speaking of saving," Beca looked up into Chloe's warm eyes. "I really appreciate it you know. Getting me out of detention, taking me here, it was really nice of you."

Chloe smiled that genuine smile that made Beca's heart flutter a little bit. "Aw Beca, anytime! I should be thanking you for the advice. I really like hanging out with you."

Beca responded with a crooked grin, "I really like hanging out with you too."

"Plus, I had to check up on my patient," Chloe gestured to Beca's backpack as she slung it over her shoulder as the pair made their way to the door. "Recovering well I see."

Beca grinned. "Yeah, it's like it's brand new thanks to the work of a brilliant surgeon."

Chloe draped an arm around Beca's shoulders, "Yes well, years of watching my mother, aka Teddy Bear Surgeon MD, have made me who I am today."

Beca laughed, it was almost as if it was easier to when the redhead was around. Chloe simply beamed at her and hugged the small girl again.

"You sure you don't need a ride?" she asked.

"Nah I'm good," Beca replied. "Thanks though. The music store isn't far from here. I'll get the stuff and bring it over to you nerds."

"Gee thanks," Chloe nudged her shoulder and made the Vulcan sign with her hand.

Beca squinted. "That's the gang sign for Star Wars right?"

Chloe's eyes widened, "You don't know the difference between Star Wars and Star Trek?"

"Aside from the noun after 'Star'?"

Chloe rolled her eyes. "You've never seen them?"

"No," Beca said, pulling at her flannel. "Movies aren't really my thing. They're too predictable. The hero always saves the day, the girl always falls for the guy-"

There was a glint in Chloe's eyes. "Not always."

"Usually always."

"Well," Chloe smiled. "I'd love to have you over sometime and maybe I'll change your mind a bit."

Beca turned rather pink. "Um-"

"About the movie," Chloe elaborated. "If you want to that is."

"Wha- oh sure, maybe. Thanks for not like, making a big deal out of the 'not liking movies' thing."

"It surprised me a little, but it's ok 'cause you're cute. And besides we all like different things anyway, it's no biggie."

Beca blushed and out of nerves started walking away from the senior. "I'll see you later, Beale."

Chloe smiled her trademark smile. "Later, Mitchell."

Beca turned away and had taken nearly a dozen steps forward before she heard Chloe call her name. She turned around perhaps a little too eagerly. "Yeah?"

"We should do this again soon," Chloe called.

The corner of Beca's mouth twitched into a half smile. "Yeah definitely."

Chloe's smile seemed to intensify, which Beca didn't think was possible. Chloe gave her a small wave as she turned to leave. Beca watched her go, long red hair bouncing with her long strides. It wasn't until a boy nearly collided with her as he excitedly made his way to the Gamestop next door that Beca snapped out of a trace she wasn't aware she was in. She didn't even mutter a comment to the boy as she set off, her steps a little lighter then they had been in quite some time.