Thank you for the response to the last chapter it was nice to see that people are liking the story! Sorry that this update was not posted last week like I'd said but I had a weekend away and a crazy weekend at work, and it took a while for me to get this chapter right I'm still not 100% sure about it but I didn't want to play about with it anymore. I'm really enjoying writing this and hope to have a new chapter up in a couple of weeks at the most. But until then please enjoy this one!

You Call Me A Bitch Like It's A Bad Thing

Chapter 4

Beca bolted upright in her bed, panting heavily and sheets tangled round her legs, one hand reaching out into the dark, grasping for something she knew wasn't there. It took a couple of seconds for her to realise that she was in her own bed, in her own room. A thin sheen of sweat covered her body and as she swung her legs over the side of the bed she plucked at the material of her sleeping shirt, pulling it away from her body and allowing some of the breeze that filtered in through the partially open window to sooth her hot skin.

Taking a couple of deep breaths, the brunette ran a hand through her hair, waiting until her heart beat had returned to normal before she tried to stand up. Walking on shaky legs over to her desk she placed her hands on the surface, revelling in the feeling of the wood beneath her hands. A quick glance at her alarm clock shower her that it was still before 4am, she had crawled into bed less than three hours ago after finishing a particularly challenging mix she had been working on since she had arrived at Barden.

She had been awoken by a nightmare, the same nightmare she'd had at least once a week for the last three years, the memories of a night she wished that she could forget. The dream was always garbled, out of order. Flashes of screams, the harsh tearing of metal and the continuous sound of a car horn, like an alarm in her brain, going on, and on, and on until eventually she was able to tear herself out of the dream world and back into reality.

Beca curled her hands into a fist, pounding at the desk she growled into the darkness of her room. She hated the feeling of weakness that the dream brought, the helpless way she woke up gasping for air and scared.

Knowing she wouldn't be getting back to sleep anytime soon Beca quickly stripped of her sweaty t-shirt and sleeping shorts wincing as the motion sent pain shooting through the bruise on her stomach. Pulling on her running gear Beca grabbed her keys and headphones before heading out the door.

There was a full moon, its rays helping to light her path as she jogged down the path, music pumping in her ears and helping to drown out the sounds and images of the dream, with each step a dull ache throbbed in her stomach but Beca kept going, using the pain to push herself forward, each footfall pounding on the pavement. She tried to keep her breathing even, inhaling and exhaling on every other step, eyes trained on the path ahead.

It had been two days since the incident at the bar and Beca hadn't spoken to anyone from the Bella's, after escorting Chloe out and leaving her with Aubrey who had calmed down enough to be able to speak the brunette had turned and walked away from the bar as fast as her shaking legs could carry her, refusing to listen to the calls of Chloe and the other Bella's who tried to get her to come back. She had spent the next two days in her room, only emerging to take an overnight shift at the radio station. Luke, the blonde Englishman in charge of the radio station, had stared at her in disbelief at the sight of her face, questions pouring from his mouth, but they had all gone unanswered as Beca had stomped past him, slamming the door shut behind her. He knew better than to press the issue and had left her alone in the station with her thoughts.

Beca slowed as the first spots of rain began to fall, coming to a stop she tilted her head up towards the sky she allowed her eyes to drift shut as the rain intensified, pounding down on her cheeks. The water soothed her bruised face, running in rivets down her neck and into her t-shirt. She stood this way for a few moments more until she was thoroughly drenched, only then did she start running again with renewed vigour, it was as if the rain had washed away the last vestiges of her nightmare, banishing it from her mind.

Until next time.

Beca tried not to dwell on this as she turned a corner round one of the dorm rooms, she was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she wasn't aware of the other person running towards her…until she crashed into them.

"Shit!" Beca hissed as she stumbled backwards, just managing to stay on her feet, pain flared up in her stomach and she pressed a hand to her side, gritting her teeth as she waited for it to subside. Only when it had faded completely did she look up, a scowl already in place, ready to be aimed at whoever she bumped into, although she had a small nagging suspicion that she knew who it might be.

Sure enough, standing in front of her, chewing her lip nervously was a very wet Chloe Beale. Beca took in the way the rain water dripped down the redhead's cheeks, onto her neck and disappeared into the tank top she was wearing and felt her throat go dry. Even in the gloom of the dawn Chloe's eyes sparkled, she was beautiful. The graze she had sustained outside the bar had turned a nasty red and stretched across her left cheek, Beca wanted to reach out and touch it but stopped her hand from moving, the memory of their last encounter inside the office burning fresh in her mind.

It was then that Beca realised that Chloe was speaking. "…really sorry. I guess we just keep meeting like this huh?" Chloe chuckled, almost nervously. Beca licked her lips, forcing her mouth to make words, still distracted by the way the water was running down the other girl's skin.

"If I didn't know any better I'd say you were stalking me." She replied finally.

"Pfftt, you wish Mitchell." Chloe giggled, this one more confident. "You're not that special." The redhead shot her a grin and leant back against the wall of the dorm, she was still a little out of breath from running and her chest heaved up and down quickly as she worked to even out her breathing, the motion was not lost on Beca who was working very hard to keep her eyes on Chloe's face.

"I am that special." She smirked, Chloe rolled her eyes.

"If you say so." Looking down the redhead kicked at the floor with her trainer. "So we missed you at practice today." She said after a moment.

"Yeah, I wasn't really feeling it today." Beca gestured to her face by way of explanation, Chloe nodded sympathetically.

"I'd figured as much, that's what I told Aubrey anyway so I don't think she'll make you run laps next time."

"Thanks." Beca smiled, genuinely relieved to have escaped punishment.

"You're welcome." The two girls lapsed into silence, the only sound the pattering of the rain. Neither seemed in any hurry to leave despite the earliness of the hour or the pouring rain, Beca scuffed at the ground shaking her head occasionally to rid the droplets of water from her face, she was usually very comfortable with silence, but there was something about this one that compelled her to speak, not awkwardness because it felt more comfortable than she would have expected, but a genuine desire to find out why Chloe was standing outside at 4am.

"So why couldn't you sleep?" she asked finally, Chloe looked up from her shoes.

"What makes you think I couldn't sleep?"

"Do you often go running at 4am, in the rain?" Beca arched an eyebrow. Chloe shrugged.

"No." she admitted. "I guess I've not really been sleeping and I didn't want to just lie awake in bed, I needed to get rid of some of the…" she paused her eyes dimming slightly. "…the anxiety." She finished a second later. Beca took a step closer, stretching her hand out jerkily she patted the taller girl's shoulder awkwardly in what she hoped was a comforting manner.

"How have you been coping?" Beca asked, crossing her arms and leaning against the wall next to the redhead.

"I'm ok I guess," Chloe said. "I really am so grateful to you for what you did, and I'm sorry you got so…" Chloe's hand came up as if she was going to touch Beca's cheek, but her fingers stopped a hairs breadth away from the brunette's face.

"It's nothing really, and this." Beca gestured to her face again. "Just makes me look more badass." She smiled, not wanting to see the sad look in Chloe's eye continue. At her words a smile stretched Chloe's lips and she shoved Beca lightly with her shoulder.

"If you say so Mitchell." Her eyes linger on the cut above Beca's eye. "Does it hurt?"

"Only a little." Beca shrugged.

"No chance of the bruises fading before the performance?" Chloe asked a teasing smile on her face.

"If you mean the performance taking place in a few hours' time, then no I don't think so."

"Aubrey will be disappointed." Chloe gave a mock sigh.

"Aubrey can go fuck herself." Beca's deadpanned, ignoring the gasp Chloe gave at her words but jumping when the redhead swatted her arm playfully.

"I told you to cut her some slack!"

"I have been; trust me I could have said that to her face!" Beca smirked.

Chloe rolled her eyes again. "I take it you couldn't sleep either?" she asked.

"Not really." Beca said. "I like running in the early morning though, It's quieter, gives me more time to think."

"And what are you thinking about?" Chloe asked. Beca tilted her head to one side and pushing off the wall moved to stand in front of the redhead, who straightened up a little.

"All sorts of things,"

"Would you care to enlighten me about some of those things?" Chloe bit her lip, enjoying the way Beca's eyes flicked down to her lips for a split second before back up to her eyes.

"Not really." The brunette replied coyly.

"Is that because you've been thinking about me?"

"And why would I be thinking about you?" Beca's right eyebrow arched and she gave a small shake of her head to dislodge the raindrops that had collected on her face.

"Because, why wouldn't you?" Chloe replied boldly. Beca chuckled low in her throat and leaned in a little.

"Maybe I have, maybe I haven't."

"You're being such a tease," Chloe murmured.

"Oh trust me Red, you have no idea how much of a tease I can be." Beca purred, spurred on by Chloe's coy smiles and the twinkle in her eyes, without thinking about it Beca moved forward a couple of steps until she was a few inches away from Chloe, bringing her hands up she placed them on either side of the taller girl's body, their faces mere inches from each other.

As Chloe's breath ghosted over her lips the brunette saw something change in the redhead's eyes, a flash of fear. Beca realised her mistake instantly, without realising it she had mimicked Brad's position from outside the bar, trapping Chloe against the wall. All thoughts of kissing Chloe fled from Beca's mind and she jumped back as if she had been burned, her eyes widening. Chloe's body language gave away her panic, she'd curled in on herself and her eyes were even more anxious.

"Oh my god." Beca croaked. "That was so stupid I'm really…"

Chloe shook her head, the look in her eyes dimming. "It's ok." Chloe's voice was a little shaky as she pushed away from the wall. "I'm fine, really." Beca wasn't convinced but the scared look in the redhead's eyes had replaced by one that made it clear she didn't want to discuss the matter further.

The rain had lessened to a light drizzle, but a cold breeze had picked up that caused a shiver to run through Beca's body.

"I should get back, try and get some sleep before the performance later." She mumbled.

"Yeah me too." Chloe replied. "Aubrey will be up soon." She took a step towards the brunette, looking like she wanted to say something more but at the last moment seemed to change her mind. Instead she bid Beca goodbye and jogged off back up the path.

Once back in the quiet of her dorm room Beca stripped of once again and grabbing her towel and dressing gown headed for the shower. For five minutes she stood perfectly still, allowing the hot water to soothe her aching muscles, eyes clothes and face titled into the stream. After the aches had faded and she could move her limbs without wincing she began to wash her hair, and let her mind wander back to her most recent interaction with Chloe. She couldn't believe she had been so stupid as to not realise what she had been doing with her arms. "You're an idiot Mitchell." She muttered out loud and she tugged through a persistent knot in her hair. Her voice echoed round the empty, Beca had checked, shower room agreeing with her in an almost mocking manner.

Not only had she made the heinous mistake of taking Chloe back to the events of the night outside the bar, but it was what Beca had been about to do which also had her cursing her own judgement. Had she not realised her mistake, she would have kissed Chloe, she wanted to kiss Chloe. That in itself wasn't all that strange, Beca wanted to kiss a lot of people and there was no denying that she was attracted to the redhead. That had been very apparent since their first meeting at the activities fair.

No, Beca wanting to kiss Chloe wasn't the brunette's problem, the problem was that when the urge to kiss Chloe had risen, as it had on several occasions now Beca had been hesitant to follow through, not wanting to do something that would have potentially negative repercussions.

Beca did not usually think too much about kissing someone, if she wanted to kiss them she kissed them, provided they were willing of course. She had kissed all different types of girls, very rarely considering the implications of her actions, it was this that had landed her in trouble on many occasions and had also gone a long way to securing her reputation. But with Chloe there was a little voice, a voice that screamed warnings whenever Chloe got within a few feet her of her in intimate conversations, it had been there in the shower, at the Hood Night and most recently in the bar. She didn't know what had made her reach out and touch the redhead's cheek, her hand had moved pretty much of its own accord, comforting Chloe but at the same time intensifying then tension that had been present between the two of them since they had met. Beca was not usually one for initiating contact but it had felt a natural motion, a very unnatural notion for Beca, not helped the running commentary voice in her head.

The voice told her that there was something about the other girl, something that she couldn't identify, and as much as she wanted to kiss the redhead, the voice hissed that if she did it would ruin her chance of finding out why it was that Chloe seemed to have such a strange effect on her. Not that Beca would ever admit that out loud.

By stopping herself Beca was subconsciously admitting that in her own way she was coming to care for the other girl.

The idea terrified her.

Beca had avoided forming lasting attachments with anyone, except for Jesse, who had bugged her relentlessly until she'd just had to accept his presence in her life. Preferring to relegate people to a more formal acquaintance status. It was easier that way. But the bubbly redhead was dangerously close to breaking out of that group, Chloe had made it her mission to be more than an acquaintance and Beca didn't think she'd mind if the redhead succeeded.

Beca's mind was also aware of her own shortcomings, something she rarely liked to admit to. She knew that she was able to charm girls with a few choice words and the occasional disarming smile, and most of the time she didn't mean any of the words, the kisses or the touches that she bestowed upon her partners. Beca had a strong feeling that if she kissed Chloe the other girl would not protest, Chloe was straight as far as she knew but the flirtatious banter could be hiding another side to the singer. But there was an innocence that sparkled in Chloe's eyes whenever she looked at Beca, she would let Beca take the lead, trust her and it was this more than anything that terrified Beca. That innocence she was in Chloe, she could take it, destroy it and leave the redhead broken. She had seen it before in the eyes of dozens of girls.

They never expected her to break their hearts, but she always did.

Beca didn't know why Chloe was so different, but she didn't want to be the reason that the sparkle died from those ice blue eyes.

Leaning her forehead against the cold tile of the wall, her head aching from the conflict of emotions swirling round in her mind Beca groaned loudly.

"Fuck."

Aubrey had yet to wake up by the time Chloe got back to their shared flat and for that the redhead was grateful, she didn't feel like explaining why it was she had gone running at 4am in the pouring rain. After a quick shower Chloe went to her room and perched on the edge of her bed as she rubbed her hair absentmindedly with a towel. Dawn was just starting to break and the grey light was creeping into the room, Chloe made no move to switch on a light opting instead to sit in the gloom, her mind wandering back, as it had done so many times in the past 48 hours, to the alleyway next to the bar.

The last two days had passed in somewhat of a foggy haze for Chloe. Beca had disappeared as soon as she had seen Chloe back to Aubrey who as usual had taken charge. Chloe had never been more thankful to her best friend than she had in the hours and days since. Once making sure that Chloe was willing Aubrey had immediately insisted on calling the police, the glare she sent all present dared any of them to challenge her, predictably nobody was that stupid.

When the police had arrived a short time later Aubrey had helped gently coax the story out of Chloe, the redhead had stumbled over her words, the fear rising in her throat again as she remembered the feeling of Brad pressed against her, his hands holding her in place and his breath hot on her face.

She was about to tell the policeman about Beca coming to her rescue when suddenly one of Beca's band mates, Mark, who had been stood behind them jumped in and admitted to pulled Brad off Chloe and beating him up. Chloe had looked up at him with poorly disguised surprise, opening her mouth to correct him but the look in his eyes warned her to close her mouth before softening and pleading with her to go along with it. Thankfully the policeman was too busy taking notes to notice their non-verbal conversation, and seemed to believe Mark's accounts with no problems. It helped that the musician's knuckles were bruised and bloodied, when or how he had done that Chloe didn't know, and it was unlikely that Brad was going to admit that he'd been beaten by a girl who barely came up to his chin. Not that he was doing much talking anyway as he was loaded into the back of a police car, barely conscious and groaning softly.

Chloe had asked Mark why he'd just lied for Beca after the police had left, the older man had fixed her Chloe with a serious stare before replying cryptically that it was just something he he'd needed to do for Beca and it wasn't his place to say anymore. Chloe had tried to get more out of him but he'd deflected all of her questions before suggesting to Aubrey that she get Chloe home.

Aubrey hadn't left Chloe's side for the rest of the night and in an unprecedented move had cancelled training the following day for the Bella's, she had brushed aside all of Chloe's protests, insisting that she needed time to relax. The two best friends had spent the rest of their weekend on the sofa watching re-runs of old sitcoms and talking about anything but the events of the night before.

Practice had started again the next day and Chloe found that she was happy for the distraction, she'd had only two hours sleep the night before, despite Aubrey's insistence on being her 'snuggle buddy', and her body felt heavy with fatigue and sore from her encounter with Brad. In spite of this Chloe threw herself into the rehearsal with a determination that surprised even Aubrey, relishing the burn in her muscles, taking it as proof that she could still feel, that the numb feeling that had descended in the hours after the incident wasn't going to be forever.

Beca had also been on her mind for a lot of the weekend, Chloe still couldn't believe how the small brunette had just jumped to her defence, and how far she had gone to protect Chloe. The tenderness in her voice when they had been alone had shown a glimpse of a softer side to Beca, one that Chloe was keen to explore. She hadn't expected Beca to show up at practice, but that hadn't stopped the disappointment welling up in her stomach when she realised the brunette wasn't coming, she had been wanting to see her. Aubrey had started to puff up at Beca's absence, but had deflated quickly when Chloe had quietly explained the extent of Beca's injuries. The smaller girl had left so quickly at the bar that no one had gotten a good enough look at her face to see how hurt she was.

Chloe had been tempted to turn back that morning when the rain had started, but the cold drops on her face had spurred her on instead of forcing her back. She had been so focused on her feet, trying to block everything else out of her mind when she had collided with the smaller figure coming the other way, although she'd had to work hard to contain her smile when she saw a puffed up angry Beca Mitchell looking up at her, the rain water dripping down her slim frame in a way that caused Chloe's breath to catch in her throat a little.

The brunette was stunning and Chloe would have been lying if she said that she hadn't wondered what it would be like to kiss her, and when Beca's voice had dropped to a purr, very much like it did when she was singing she could easily see how girls could fall very easily for Beca Mitchell's charms.

It had seemed that Chloe might find out what kissing the small DJ would be like, until Beca had planted her hands on either side of Chloe's head as she'd moved in. In that instant the redhead was transported back to the alleyway, the terror rising in her chest at the thought of Brad pressing against her, his hands scrabbling at her waist. Chloe's body had reacted immediately curling away from Beca as the fear threatened to overtake her again. She had felt rather than seen Beca jump away from her, and when the haze of fear had passed and she was able to look up again she saw that the brunette was watching her worriedly, a garbled apology spewing from her lips. Chloe had waved her words away, knowing how little Beca enjoyed having to say sorry, sure enough an almost relieved look flashed in Beca's eyes before vanishing.

The sun had risen fully by the time Chloe pulled herself out of her thoughts, shivering slightly in her damp towel, she could hear Aubrey moving about in the kitchen and after glancing at the clock Chloe realised she needed to get ready, she was late for class.

Aubrey was chewing on some toast and flicking through a thick textbook when Chloe emerged from her room half an hour later.

"How was your run this morning?" Aubrey asked without looking up from her book. Chloe's hand faltered as she reached for the coffee pot.

"My run?"

"I'm assuming you went out running in the rain this morning and that's why your running shoes are still by the front door smelling damp?" Aubrey looked up with a smile as Chloe's eyes flicked towards the front door where the offending shoes still lay.

"Ok guilty." Chloe admitted with a sheepish grin. Aubrey shook her head fondly and stood up from the table.

"Make sure you're there early for the Mixer later," she said as she placed her dishes in the sink.

"I will be." Chloe said.

"And see if you can cover up your cheek a little." Aubrey's captain voice was back as she left the kitchen so she missed Chloe rolling her eyes.

"Wait till you see Beca." The redhead mumbled.

Well, it's not getting any better than this.

Beca looked at her reflection in the mirror grimly, tugging at the scarf she had just secured around her neck. Her injuries had not improved despite her best efforts to cover them up, if anything they were worse, the cuts on her cheek and above her eyebrow were a dark red and raw looking and the skin around them swollen, bruised and purple. It hurt to smile, not that Beca was doing much of that anyway, it hurt to sing and Beca had been sorely tempted to skive the performance but she was acutely aware that the pain she was in now would be nothing compared to what Aubrey would wreak on her if she didn't show up.

The uniform was more hideous in Beca's opinion, she looked like some jumped up flight attendant. She tried to avoid skirts and heels when she could, preferring to keep her feet flat on the floor and her knees unrestricted, there was also the lack of pockets which in Beca's book was unforgivable.

Damn you Pukey, Damn you Dad. Beca thought bitterly as she adjusted on her skirt for what must have been the tenth time since she had put it on.

Here goes nothing.

The performance was about every bit as bad as Beca had expected it to be, the Bella's had only been practicing together for less than a week and by god did it show. It was out of synch, out of time and at times out of key, Beca didn't blame their audience for downing their drinks but she did think the people who stuck their fingers in their ears at points were exaggerating a bit.

Aubrey had started the performance stressed and in a bad mood, that had mostly been down to seeing Beca's face, the captain of the Bella's hadn't been able to make much more than a noise caught between a squeak and a growl when she had seen the state of Beca's injuries. She had swallowed violently several times, causing all the Bella's to take a hasty step backwards, they had all seen the video.

Only a stern look from Chloe had stopped Aubrey from giving Beca a piece of her mind, although for the first time since they had met Beca wasn't actually doing anything wrong. Instead the blonde had settled for muttering heavily under her breath, before plastering a bright smile on her face and heading over to the frat boys who were watching the Bella's with mixed emotions on their faces.

Luckily for everyone involved their set was mercifully short, Aubrey's hurried apologies to the frat boys, who had already had a fair amount to drink, despite the early hour, fell on deaf ears. One of the drunker guys couldn't help himself as the Bella's turned to walk away.

"Look at the state of them." He chortled into his beer. "Barden Bella's, more like Barden Brawler's. Who you been fighting girls?!" Chloe turned back to him.

"What's it to you?" she demanded. The guy chuckled and looked back at his friends.

"Whoa she's feisty. Is that how you got that?" he gestured to her cheek. "You get a little rough in bed?" he leered at her.

Aubrey started towards the frat boy as Chloe took a surprised step backwards, unable to form words. But Beca got there first, planting herself between Chloe and the boy she jabbed a finger into his chest, hard.

"Why you don't you back the fuck down?!" she hissed.

"Jesus!" the frat boy laughed again and peered down at her. "Look at the state of you, someone really didn't like you, though not hard to see why."

"Beca come on." Chloe pulled at the brunette's arm.

"Listen to your girlfriend." The frat boy sneered. "And leave before I fuck up what's left of your face Mitchell…disgusting dyke." the last bit was muttered out of hearing of the gathered crowd, it appeared this frat boy knew of Beca, and wasn't her biggest fan.

Beca reared up on the balls of her feet and shoved the boy hard in the chest, the movement surprised him and he slopped his beer down his front. He recovered quickly and stepped back up, eyeballing the brunette who was staring him down with all the fury she could muster, something in her eyes must have showed him she was serious because his expression became a bit unsure.

However, it was hard to appear intimidating, despite the bruises on her face, when wearing a uniform like the Bella's, it restricted her movement and made her look more than a little foolish. The frat boy's anger melted into laughter as he bobbed down, placing his hands on his knees.

"Look how flustered she's getting." He chortled, reaching up a hand to pinch her cheek, clearly wanting to humiliate her as much as possible without actually having to punch her, Beca's reputation had once again preceded her.

This was a mistake.

Later Beca would be the first to admit that perhaps head-butting the frat boy square in the nose was not the smartest idea she had ever had, the pain for one was excruciating, given the state of her face already she stumbled back a couple of steps and pain exploded across the bridge of her nose and cursing under her breath. The frat boy was in worse state, crumbled onto the floor hands cupped over his face as blood seeped from his nose.

Chloe had pulled Beca away, a smirk pulling at her lips at the pained sobs of the boy on the ground, the crowd that had gathered too surprised to do anything as Aubrey ushered the Bella's away, whilst trying to hide her own smile.

"If you're going to shout at me can you do it later?" Beca asked, still holding her face as the Bella's regrouped outside of the frat house. Aubrey took a deep breath before speaking.

"I'm not going to pretend to be happy about what you did Mitchell." She said sternly. "But you were protecting a fellow Bella, which was admirable, even if your methods were less than ladylike." she fixed Beca with a hard stare. "Just please try and make it through the next week without hitting anyone."

"I'll have to reschedule my boxing match for next week." Beca mumbled. Aubrey shot her a sharp look but chose to ignore the comment.

"I hope you all remember the way you feel right now, so you will never want to feel this way again." Aubrey turned her attention to the rest of the Bella's. "Chloe your voice didn't sound Aguilerian at all. For serious, what is wrong with you?!"

"I have nodes!"

The conversation that followed was one of the strangest that Beca had ever heard.

"They sit on your windpipe and they crush your dreams!"

"That seems a little bit over the top." Beca muttered, as Chloe looked like she might cry Beca felt a little guilty. "But isn't that painful? Why would you keep performing?"

"Because I love to sing." Chloe replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, her eyes shining with barely supressed emotion. Beca massaged her nose carefully as the other girl's spoke, it didn't feel broken thank god.

"…I am living with nodes but I am a survivor. I just have to pull back. Because I am limited. Because I have nodes." Beca rolled her eyes at Chloe's words, everything about this group was so melodramatic. Beca chose to ignore the

"Well at least it's not herpes, or do you have that as well?" Fat Amy's comment was the final straw for the DJ.

"Well on that disgusting note I'm going to go, what with you know…the bleeding."

"I'll expect to see you at practice tomorrow!" Aubrey yelled after the brunette as she slouched away very ungracefully in her heels.

Beca responded by flipping Aubrey off, the effect somewhat lessened as she almost tripped over a clump of grass.

Beca was already stripping off the ghastly uniform as she kicked her bedroom door shut behind her, the first thing to go was the scarf, ripped unceremoniously from her neck and flung onto her bed. The jacket followed before the small piece of material had time to hit the sheets. Wiggling the skirt down her legs and kicking it away from her along with her shoes left the brunette in just the white shirt and her underwear, and only now did she slow down. Releasing her hair from its tight bun she shook her head allowing it to cascade down her shoulders, crossing over her desk she peered into the mirror there, assessing the new damage to her face. There was a new small cut spanning the bridge of her nose, blood leaked from the gash dripping down onto her white shirt speckling it with little red drops. Sighing heavily Beca quickly unbuttoned the shirt and eased it off her shoulders, wincing as pain shot through her side, looking down she inspected the large bruise that had formed where Brad had punched her, the skin an ugly purple and blue.

Her fingers ghosted over the tender flesh, moving down her side and round towards her belly button, finally brushing over puckered scar tissue that spread from the top of her hip and up her stomach towards her rib cage.

Although the wound had healed many years ago Beca still grimaced as she laid her hand flat over the scar, it served as a reminder, every second of every day it was there reminding her of what had happened, of how close she had come to giving up.

Just one of many. The brunette thought grimly as she pulled her hand quickly away from the scar she couldn't bear touching it for too long, and with the memory of her nightmare fresh in her mind again she shook her head sharply.

She had spent too long in the past today already.

Benjamin Mitchell was walking slowly across the quad, thoughts lingering on the lecture he had just given.

"Did you hear that Beca Mitchell head-butted one of the frat boys?!" his step faltered at the sound of his daughter's name and twisted his head to better eavesdrop of the excited girl who was regaling her friends with the story. "Apparently she broke his nose after he made fun of her." Benjamin could feel his eyes widening in shock at her words.

"No way!" he was inclined to agree with the disbelieving reply, but a small part of his brain reasoned that it sounded like a very 'Beca' thing to do. Hearing all he needed to Benjamin turned on his heel and began marching in the direction of the student accommodation, his mouth set in a grim line.

He was going to have words with his daughter.

"Jesse!" the young man turned as Dr Mitchell rang out from behind him.

"Dr Mitchell." He greeted the professor with a slightly nervous wave, despite meeting the main a few times the previous year Jesse still didn't know how to act around Beca's father.

"I was just on my way to see Beca." Jesse said needlessly as the older man opened the door to Beca's dorm room.

"As am I." the professor replied, his expression growing grim again. "I overheard a storey on the that quad that my daughter has gotten herself into another altercation."

"Oh yeah, that's what I was going to see her about." Jesse replied as the two of them ascended the stairs. "I just hope that this one hasn't made her face any worse from the other fight." He knew the words were a mistake the second the left his mouth.

For the second time in as many minutes Benjamin's step faltered as she turned to look at the younger man who was looking as if he'd just shot himself in the foot.

"What do you mean other fight?" he asked quietly. Jesse's face blanched further and he looked as if he might run away.

"Well…what I mean is…you said 'another'…so I just assumed…you know that you…" he stammered, trailing off when he saw Benjamin raise an eyebrow, an exact imitation of the look he had received hundreds of times from Beca, it was a look that told him to shut up. "Beca was in a fight at a bar on Saturday night." He mumbled finally, wilting under the unwavering stare Beca's father was sending his way.

"Damn!" Dr Mitchell allowed an uncharacteristic expletive to slip from his mouth and began working with renewed purpose up the stairs. For a moment Jesse lingered in the stairwell, unsure as to whether or not he should follow, but after a moment of indecision he scampered after the older man.

Beca was not going to be happy.

The brunette in question was hunched over her computer, deeply engrossed in a mix when there was a sharp knocking at her door, loud enough that she could hear it over the bassline thumping in her ears. Turning in her seat she frowned as the knocking sounded again louder this time. Beca didn't get many visitors, Jesse really being the only one and he never knocked. As the knocking echoed round the room for the third time Beca sighed exasperatedly, slipping her headphones off and marching the three steps across the room to wrench the door open.

"Oh my god!" Dr Mitchell's eyes widened as he took in the sight of his daughter's battered face.

"What do you want?" Beca demanded.

"I came because I overheard a rumour that apparently you broke some frat boys nose with your face." her father replied. "And then I ran into your friend Jesse, and he informed me that this isn't the first fight you've been in this week." Beca scowled at her best friend as he poked his head out to wave meekly at her. Without waiting for his daughter to reply Benjamin pushed his way into the room, Jesse following somewhat nervously and shooting Beca an apologetic smile.

"Well what do you have to say for yourself?" Beca remained silent, sinking into a chair she folded her arms across her chest and matching his stony stare with one of her own. Benjamin glanced over at Jesse, hoping that his daughter's friend could enlighten him to the situation but Jesse just shrugged, although the professor made him nervous his loyalty was Beca ran deeper.

"Ok Beca, this kind of response was understandable when you were five years old but now, you're twenty-two, you need to start growing up." Dr Mitchell threw his hands up in the hair, exasperated at his daughter's silence. On his last sentence Beca stood up, her dark blue eyes flashing.

"I had to grow up when you left us." Her voice was low. "When you decided that we weren't good enough." Her father shifted uncomfortably on his feet. "And my silence is not a childish prank to piss you off, it's because I have nothing to say to you."

"That is not the issue here!" her father thundered, losing his temper for the first time. "Dammit Beca you will not shut me out on this! Now why were you fighting?! This is what got you into trouble when…"

"I stopped my friend from being raped." Beca yelled interrupting her father who looked shocked at her words. Balling her fists up Beca scowled heavily at him. "Some creep was forcing himself on her so I pulled him off."

Benjamin didn't seem to know what to say, his mouth opened and closed a few times. "Well…" Was all he could manage.

"That's what I thought." Beca huffed dropping back into her seat. "Now if you're done pretending to be the concerned father I'm kind of tired and sore. "

"Don't think you're getting off that easily, what happened today?"

"That arsehole was asking for it!" Beca snarled.

"What if he decided to press charges?!" Benjamin demanded.

"I have a feeling he's not going to be in a hurry to admit that he was floored by a girl." Beca smirked casting a look at Jesse who gave a nervous smile in response.

"That's not the point! You can't just go around head-butting people because they rub you the wrong way!" Benjamin rubbed his temples fiercely, he had the beginnings of a major headache coming on. Beca had lapsed back into silence, eyeing her father contemptuously.

Benjamin cast another despairing look to Jesse, not sure how to proceed. "Beca." He said finally, as levelly as he could. "Maybe…this violent behaviour is a cry for help, a sign that you're still not dealing with…" he was interrupted by Beca leaping up from her chair for a second time, her bruised face twisted in rage.

"I've told you before that we are not talking about it. Her right hand unconsciously flitted to her side and a pained look flashed her side before she raised her hand to point an index finger at her father. There's no cry for help, I dealt with it."

"Oh have you?!" her father snapped. "So the drinking, the women, the stony childish silences and acting out with everyone you meet who might have a chance of helping you is you dealing with it?" he took a step forward, anger flashing in his eyes. "You are not a teenager anymore Beca, you can't keep burying your head in the sand, at some point you're going to have to admit it out loud…that you're not over it."

"I don't have to admit anything to you." Beca growled. "I just want to forget about it."

"Life doesn't work like that." Benjamin said heavily. "You can't just run away from the past and forget about it."

"You did."

Beca's reply was lightening quick and icy cold. "You've been running and trying to forget ever since you decided me and mum weren't good enough and you walked out the door with that woman! You couldn't wait to get us out of your life."

"That's not how it was, I know I messed up but I'm here not, trying to make it right, trying to help you!"

"Only because I almost died!" Beca screamed, a stunned silence falling over the room at her words. Benjamin's face blanched. "If you hadn't have gotten that phone call you'd have never looked back. Even when it was all building up, when all the shit went down you didn't care!"

"Now Beca that's not fair! I didn't know the full extent of the situation." Benjamin protested.

"Because you didn't bother to find out, it took that night to bring you skulking back." She was still shouting, unable to keep the emotion from making her voice tremble, angry tears forming at the corners of her eyes.

Jesse stepped up at that moment, placing a comforting hand on his best friend's shoulder. Beca started at the contact, it appeared she had forgotten he was there.

"It wasn't like that." Benjamin defended. "Your mother never…"

"Don't you dare try and pin this on her!" Beca hissed venomously. Even Jesse took a step back at the tone of her voice. "She did more for me than you ever will." Her father bowed his head, a pained expression on his face.

"Beca I'm…"

"I think you should go, I'm tired." Beca looked pointedly at the door, Benjamin looked like he might protest but the look in Beca's eyes stopped it, he had seen it enough over the years to know that anything he had to say from now on would fall on deaf ears. With a heavy sigh he crossed the room and pulled the door open, pausing in the doorway to shoot one last mournful glance over his shoulder.

"One day you'll let me in." he murmured before walking out the door pulling it closed behind him.

Beca sank down into her chair growling low in her throat.

"I'm sorry." Jesse spoke tentatively after a moments silence. "I didn't mean to get you in trouble."

"It's ok." Beca sighed. "He was bound to find out sooner or later, I just wish we didn't have to keep having the same argument." Rubbing her temple, the brunette smiled tightly at her friend. "So I won't deck you this time." Jesse chuckled and crossing over to his friend pulled her to her feet so he could pull her into a hug. Usually Beca would have pushed him away, but the recent exchange with her father had left her emotionally drained so she sank into his embrace.

"You can deck me if it'll make you feel better." She felt his voice vibrate in her chest and couldn't help but laugh with him.

"Thank you." She murmured. Jesse squeezed her a little tighter, being mindful of her bruised face.

"Anytime."

I hope you enjoyed that and please let me know what you thought by leaving a review, they make me write quicker! Next time it's the Riff-off and the Trebles have a party! Until next time!

Pirate-x-Girls