AUTHOR'S NOTES: Originally this was going to be called "Shark Phobia", but then I was suggested a title that I feel favors both the main plot and the side plot.
This story takes place in August 2024.
CHAPTER 1:
One Tuesday night in Beca, Chloe, and Amy's apartment, Chloe and CR were sitting on the couch watching TV.
"I think it's amazing you and Denise finally decided to take Rachel camping." Chloe said.
"Yeah. We found this beautiful place up in the Adirondacks last month, and we were just waiting for the right moment to go." CR explained.
"Well, I think she'll be very excited to go on her very first camping trip." Chloe said.
"Just as long as nothing goes wrong." CR said as someone knocked on the door.
"Just don't say that in front of Rachel. Don't want to jinx it." Chloe said as she went to answer the door.
"Hey, Emily. Come on in." Chloe said as she let her in.
"Hey, Chloe. I'm sorry to come by at this hour, but I've been rather worried." Emily said.
"About what?" Chloe asked.
"Benji and I got a call from Russell's pediatrician earlier today. He wants Russell to get a vaccination." Emily said.
"So...what's the problem?" Chloe asked.
"I'm worried that if our son gets a vaccination, it could lead to him having autism." Emily said.
"Girl, where'd you get a crazy idea like that?" CR asked.
"I read about it once." Emily said, nervously.
"Well, I'm not a doctor, so I can't really vouch for you. But it sounds like this is something you and Benji should talk to Russell's pediatrician about." Chloe suggested.
"We plan to. Tomorrow morning, Benji's going to be booking an appointment for next week so we can both be there and hope for the best." Emily said.
"Well, I wouldn't freak out too much about it." CR said.
"I know. It's just...I had a friend in high school who has autism. Most days he had difficulties fitting in, and other days he felt so alone, like hardly anyone would sit with him at lunch. I was one of the very few that would." Emily explained.
"Aww, I'm so sorry. No one should ever feel alone." Chloe said, sympathetically.
"Exactly! I don't want Russell to be in that same situation...or worse." Emily said, worried.
"This old friend of yours...do you remember his name?" Chloe asked, to which Emily nodded.
"Garrett Barnes." Emily said.
"Garrett Barnes? Did he go to Barden with you?" Chloe asked.
"No; We both applied to go there, but he didn't get in." Emily said as Beca and Amy came in the door.
"Hey, guys." Beca said, carrying a bag of leftovers.
"What's going on here? Are we interrupting something?" Amy asked, curious.
"No. Emily was just telling us about some friend of hers from high school." Chloe recapped.
"Yeah. He's had some struggles throughout his life." Emily recapped.
"Do you think he still remembers you?" CR asked.
"I don't know. It's been so long." Emily said.
"Well, I would try calling him to see if he has the same phone number, or perhaps seeing if he's on Facebook." Beca suggested.
"I've thought of doing that so many times. There's just one concern stopping me." Emily said.
"What's that?" Amy asked.
"What if I make Garrett cry again?" Emily feared.
"What do you mean?" Chloe asked.
"Senior year, he asked me to prom...and I told him 'no' because I had a boyfriend at the time. He was so sad, he cried for the rest of the school day." Emily said, sobbing on Beca's shoulder.
"Emily...that was ten years ago. Maybe he found himself a girlfriend since then." Beca said, hoping to calm Emily down.
"I sure hope so." Emily said, wiping her tears as CR's phone rang.
"Hey, babe." CR said, answering.
"Are you coming back anytime soon? I need to get to work and I can't leave Rachel home alone." Denise asked.
"I'll be back as soon as I can." CR said.
"Don't be too long. I'll see you back at home." Denise said.
"Later." CR said, hanging up.
"Everything okay?" Amy asked.
"I have to hurry home before Denise is late for her shift. But listen; don't worry too much about all of this. Just call us if you need us, okay? Later, guys." CR said as she left the apartment.
"I guess I should get going too. I need to give Russell a bath if Benji hasn't done so already." Emily said.
"Okay. Listen, if you try to make amends with Garrett, we'll hope for the best." Chloe said.
"Thanks, guys. I'll let you know what happens either way." Emily said.
"Later." Beca said as Emily left.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Just to clarify, the autism sideplot is supposed to based on an ongoing struggle in my life.