Toby was relieved when the Bella's got back to campus. Beca hadn't taken her up on coming back to the dorms like Toby thought she would. Beca confessed that she would try this break to get along with her stepmom but only because Chloe said she would talk to Aubrey about the set list if Beca did. Two weeks with only the team as company wasn't horrible but it left Toby starving for more social interaction. The Bella's came back three days before break was over to get more practice in.
Beca was sprawled on her bed when Toby came in after her own practice.
"Let me guess, you didn't work out once over break?"
"How'd you know?" She asked into her pillow. "Aubrey killed us today."
"Oh Beca, Beca, Beca. That was such a rookie move. I could have told you Aubrey would do that. That's every coaches first day back from break practice plan: run them until they die." Toby laughed which earned her a glare as Beca struggled off her bed and towards the shower.
Toby followed her out. "Well this is awkward."
"You have no idea about awkward shower encounters. I ever tell you why I joined the Bella's?"
"No, just that Chloe convinced you."
"Ha! Yea, by jumping me in the shower!"
"What? For real? And that's what made you join? Weirdo."
"Hey! Regardless of the circumstances we sounded really good together. But, yea, she heard me singing while I was in there, barged into my shower and made me do a duet with her. All while she was completely naked. Me too. That shit was so awkward. Then this dude she was with came in and told me I had a nice voice." Beca shook her head. "I'm so glad she's done with him. He was a creep."
"That sounds like something Chloe would do." Toby laughed as the pair walked into the showers. She had tensed at the mention of Chloe being with a guy in the shower but shook it off. Beca said she was done with him. "Alright, I'm going to the far end. We're cool and in different stalls but it's still weird to me."
"Never gonna argue with that."
…
Beca had gone to Jesse's for a movie and Toby was settled in for the night. Rachel and Grace were over at Maddie's but she wasn't in the mood for a big hang out. Relaxing seemed much better than a big hang out.
Toby entertained herself with some TV but quickly got bored. She scanned the room looking for something to do. Her eyes quickly zeroed in on her guitar. Toby pulled it out and started strumming, working through a few chord combos to warm up. It had been awhile since she played last; her fingers felt a little clumsy on the strings.
"Beca Mitchell! I swear if you don't -" Chloe threw the door open and was mid-rant before she noticed that Beca wasn't home. "Oh. Sorry. Where's Beca? You play guitar?"
"It's fine. Uh, she's at Jesse's and yes…obviously."
"That's why she's not answering my texts! Can you play any songs?!" Chloe sat excitedly on the bed across from Toby's seat at her desk chair. Beca completely forgotten.
"Yea."
"Wait. How do you even know how to play? And how did I not know this?"
"My dad taught me how and you never asked so I never said anything about it."
"Play me something! Wait! Do you sing?!"
Toby thought Chloe was going to explode from all the excited questions. Her face lit up a little more at the possible that Toby could sing. Toby laughed at Chloe and shook her head. "Not really. Not like you guys."
"Can you sing to me? Like while you play?"
"N-no." Toby felt her face get red. "I really can't sing, trust me."
"That's what Beca said, and she can definitely sing! It's okay though. I'm not expecting you to belt out Adele level notes or anything. Just serenade me!" She gave Toby a wink followed up with a comforting smile. Toby sighed and relented. There wasn't much she would say no to when it came to the girl sitting in front of her.
"Any requests?"
"Nope! Whatever you want!" Chloe folded her legs Indian style and put her hands in her lap, eagerly waiting for Toby to start.
"It's been awhile." Toby said as she started strumming.
