Prompt: "The wonderful world of high school drama."

A/N: I'm so sorry. This drabble grew wings and took off! Also, warning for mention of a school shooting.

"Who's that?" Chloe asked, jutting her chin toward the petite, dark-haired girl who was strolling across the grass outside the window, earphones clamped firmly on her ears.

"Oh… she's new, I think," Aubrey replied. "I don't remember seeing her before."

"Mmmm… she's hot," Chloe mused.

"She's a little… alternative for you, don't you think, Chlo?" Aubrey chuckled. "I mean… that's a lot of piercings."

"I bet she has tattoos too," the redhead speculated. Then she slipped down from the desk and pushed her red hair back behind her ears. "I'm going to talk to her."

"Now?" Aubrey asked, getting up too. "We have history in like ten minutes."

"I only need five. I'll see you there," Chloe grinned and then headed off in the direction the girl had walked.

Xx

"Where the fuck is this classroom," Beca groused as she turned into yet another corridor. Then she realized the numbers were going in the wrong direction, so she turned around, almost bowling over a redheaded girl who had come silently up behind her. She knocked a folder out of the girl's arms, and it hit the floor with a thud. "Dude… shit… I'm so sorry," she said, crouching to pick it up, along with some papers that had fallen out of it.

"Oh no worries," the girl said and Beca looked up, blinking as the redhead beamed a gorgeous smile at her. She slowly straightened and passed the supplies back to her. "Are you lost? You look lost."

"Uh… yeah, kinda," Beca nodded.

"I'm Chloe Beale," the redhead grinned. "I'm a senior here. Why don't you let me show you where you need to be."

"Beca Mitchell," Beca replied. "Senior too."

"Cool," Chloe took the paper from the brunette's hand and looked at it. "Oh…" she grinned. "It just so happens that I'm going there too. Follow me."

"Thanks," Beca nodded and joined the redhead for the walk to their history class.

"So, you're new here?" Chloe asked as she picked up the pace. They were going to be late if they didn't hurry.

"First day," the brunette nodded. "This place is like a damn maze."

"You'll get used to it," the redhead smiled. "Where we you before here?"

"Seattle," Beca shrugged. "My Dad moved here to teach at a local college, so I had to come with. I WANTED to move to Los Angeles."

"Portland is much cooler than L.A.," Chloe solemnly advised. "I mean, who WOULDN'T want to live in Oregon, right?!"

Beca smirked. "Right."

"Hold that thought, we're here." Chloe led Beca into the classroom, winking at Aubrey as she crossed the room and took a seat that had a spare one next to it. "Why don't you sit by me?"

"Sure," Beca agreed, and she folded her petite body into the desk, setting a pen and legal pad on the desk in front of her and looking around. She frowned then and looked at Chloe. "Why is that blonde girl staring at me?"

"Oh," Chloe giggled. "That's my bestie, Aubrey Posen." She waggled her fingers at the blonde, who just rolled her eyes. "Don't mind her. She's just jealous I have a new friend." She reached over and squeezed Beca's hand, holding eye contact for longer than was strictly necessary.

"Ok, Ladies, Gentlemen and Other, let's get started!" the teacher, Mr. Bradshaw, said as he entered the room and closed the door behind him. The students all reluctantly settled down and his eyes moved round the room, landing squarely on Beca. "Miss Mitchell, I assume?"

"Beca," the brunette replied. "Yes."

"Welcome to the class, Miss Mitchell. I see Miss Beale has taken you under her wing."

"Uh…" Beca looked at Chloe who was gazing back at her as she absently twirled her red hair around her pencil. "I… yeah… yeah, she was kind enough to help me find this room."

"Oh… that was MY pleasure, Beca," the redhead replied, bringing the pencil to her mouth to bite coyly on it.

Beca swallowed and looked away. Chloe winked at Aubrey again.

Xx

"She's definitely gay," Chloe said a few days later as she and Aubrey walked into the cafeteria. "She wears way too much flannel to not be."

"Chlo," Aubrey admonished. "You've been talking about nothing but Beca Mitchell for days now. You're developing an unhealthy obsession with her."

"She's hot, not to mention smart and nice. I want to have sex with her. What's unhealthy about that, Bree?" Chloe tutted. "Come on." She smiled then as Beca made an appearance, tentatively approaching their table. "Hey, Beca. Want to join us?"

The brunette nodded and dropped into a chair. "I've never been so lost in a high school in m'damn life," she complained. "Who the fuck designed this place?"

"Must have been a man," Chloe replied seriously. "They suck."

"I know, right?!" Beca exclaimed and the redhead grinned triumphantly.

Aubrey rolled her eyes. "Jesus, Chloe. Stop beating around the bush and just ask her!"

"Ask me what?" Beca said, frowning.

Chloe made glary-eyes at her best friend. Aubrey rolled hers again. "Chloe thinks you're a lesbian. Are you?"

Beca took a breath to reply, then she stopped for a moment. "Um… no, I'm not a lesbian."

"Shit," Chloe sighed. "My gaydar needs repair."

The brunette chuckled and shook her head. "No, it doesn't. I'm actually bisexual, so you were close."

The redhead perked up at that. "Ohhh…" she nodded. "That makes sense."

Just then, Aubrey's boyfriend pulled out a chair and sat next to her, giving her a sweaty kiss. "Ewww," she groaned. "What the hell have you been doing?"

"Basketball," Jed replied. "Me, Tom and Jack versus Paul, Adam and Zach."

"That rhymes," Beca chuckled. Then cleared her throat self-consciously. "Sorry."

Chloe gazed affectionately at her and squeezed her hand. "You're cute."

Jed's eyebrows lifted and he looked at Aubrey, who just shrugged. "So," he went on. "Are you guys coming to the party tonight? You can bring your new… friend… if you want, Chlo?"

The redhead nodded. "I'll be there. Beca, you free tonight?"

"Uh… sure, I think so," the brunette replied. "What do I need to bring?"

"Just yourself," Chloe advised. "I'll give you a ride if you'd like. Unless you want to drive yourself?"

"A ride would be great," Beca nodded. "Thanks."

"Cool, give me your phone." The redhead held out her hand imperiously.

The brunette did as she was asked, unlocking it before handing it to her new friend. Chloe beamed a big smile and created a contact for herself, snapping a quick selfie and adding it to the screen before saving it. "There, now you can text me your address later on."

Beca nodded as she pulled a sandwich out of her bag and carefully unwrapped it. "Whatcha got?" Chloe asked, scooting her chair closer to the brunette. Then she took Beca's hand and guided it to her mouth, taking a bite of the sandwich for herself at the same time as nibbling on the brunette's fingertips and moaning softly. "Mmmmm… chicken, my favorite."

Beca swallowed and licked her lips as she took her hand back. "Uh… yeah… I made it."

Then Chloe jumped as a pair of arms surrounded her and a pair of lips kissed her neck. She giggled and swatted the guy away. "Get off, Tom."

"I'm hurt," the young man replied with a bright smile. He was tall and ruggedly handsome but not really Beca's type. Then he looked at her and held out a hand. "Hi, I'm Tom. You're new, right?"

"Beca Mitchell," Beca replied as she shook his meaty paw. "Are you Chloe's boyfriend?"

"No," Chloe stated.

"Yes," Tom said at the same time.

The redhead sighed and shook her head. "Sometimes," she amended under her breath, winking at the brunette. "But not recently."

Beca nodded as she went back to her sandwich. The chatter continued at the table, and she found herself liking Chloe's friends… and Chloe too. Even if she WAS a sandwich stealer.

After lunch, they went their separate ways and she didn't see Chloe for the rest of the day but, after she texted her address to the redhead, she immediately got a reply.

Thought you were going to back out!

Nope, just a busy day. What should I wear to the party?

Something hot. You have great boobs.

Beca frowned and reread the message. Then she set her phone down, biting her bottom lip. Was Chloe flirting with her? Another message came through then.

What's your favorite color?

Blue, why?"

Just wondering. I'll pick you up at seven.

See you then.

Beca looked at her watch. It was a quarter to six, so she quickly stripped out of her clothes and went to shower. She did her hair and makeup, then slipped into a black bra and matching boy shorts but she paused a moment, chancing a rare look in the mirror and acknowledging to herself that maybe she did have ok boobs.

By the time seven o'clock came, she was ready to go, and she chuckled as a car horn honked outside. Beca trotted down the stairs and opened the front door to find Chloe standing there. "Hi," the redhead said softly, but Beca couldn't speak for a moment.

Her friend was dressed in a dark blue, silk, strappy top with Levis and matching heels. The redhead's makeup was perfect, making her eyes pop, and her hair was loose and straightened, giving her a more mature look. She was also not wearing a bra.

"H-hi," Beca stuttered. "You look… um…"

"Thanks," Chloe grinned. "You look... um... too." Her eyes roamed over Beca's black skinny jeans, black silk shirt and boots. "I told you, you have great boobs. Is that a pushup bra?"

"Uh… no," Beca replied.

"Mmmm…" Chloe's eyes focused on her friend's chest. "Impressive."

The brunette blushed and cleared her throat, fearing that her friend would take it upon herself to do a squeeze test at any moment. "We should go, right?" she said.

"Right," the redhead's eyes lifted, and she smiled. "We should." She turned on her heel then and led her friend to her convertible.

Beca was impressed with the vehicle. "Nice car," she complimented.

"Thanks," Chloe replied. "My parents got it for me for my eighteenth birthday. It's my baby."

"Sweet," the brunette replied. She snorted then. "You're lucky. I got a gift card for a new pair of earphones."

Chloe just nodded. "Yeah, I do know I'm lucky." It was a short ride to Jed's house and Chloe skillfully parked before killing the engine and shaking her head at the two guys indulging in playful fisticuffs in the front yard. "The wonderful world of high school drama," she sighed as she watched one get knocked on his ass, holding his nose as his buddy pointed and laughed. "Come on, Becs."

They made their way inside and quickly found Chloe's friends lounging by the pool on the back patio of the house. The pool was covered with a tarp, but it was warm enough to sit outside and chill out. Chloe disappeared for a moment, then returned with two solo cups filled with something she called jiggle-juice. Beca smelled it cautiously. It was definitely alcoholic, but she didn't ask what was in it, instead smiling at the delighted look on her friend's face after swallowing confidently from it.

Chloe took her hand and pulled her along to sit with her on a lounger, not bothering to let her hand go once they were seated. "It's Beca's first time having the juice and she just drank it right back!" she exclaimed proudly.

Apparently, it was some sort of initiation, judging by the impressed looks on the others' faces, but Beca thought it was no big deal... until it was... and she suddenly started feeling buzzed. "Woah," she murmured, looking into the cup.

Chloe giggled softly. "Yeah," she said. "Better slow down." Aubrey arrived then and spent a few minutes making out with Jed before taking a seat next to Chloe on her other side. They chatted for a while as the brunette just listened and sipped on her drink, feeling it warm her all the way down to her stomach. Or was it Chloe's thumb rubbing absently against her hand that was maybe doing that to her? She wasn't sure so she just squeezed the redhead's hand gently as the music suddenly got louder. Chloe immediately squealed and got up, pulling her new friend to her feet too. "Ooohhh, I love this song. Dance with me, Beca?"

"Sure," the brunette nodded, and they found a spot on the patio among the other dancers. Slightly tipsy, it didn't take Beca long to close her eyes and lose herself in the beat, as she moved her hips. Then she felt someone press against her back and match her movements, hands gently gripping her hips to hold them together. She looked back over her shoulder, smiling when she saw it was Chloe.

"You can dance," the redhead said into her ear. "It's hot." Her breath ghosted hotly against the pink shell. "YOU'RE hot."

Beca chuckled. "Are you coming on to me, Chlo?" she asked, letting her hands rest on Chloe's and grinding her ass back into her. "You barely know me."

"Mmmmm..." the redhead moaned softly. "What if I WAS coming on to you?" Her hands moved from Beca's hips to her stomach, caressing unashamedly. Maybe it was the jiggle-juice clouding her judgement, but Beca didn't hesitate to take Chloe's hand and slide it under her shirt, letting her head fall back against the taller girl's shoulder.

Then Aubrey was there, and she was pulling Chloe away. Beca sighed and shook her head as she watched them disappear into the house, the redhead gesticulating annoyedly, and went back to take her seat on the lounger again.

"Aubrey looks pissed," Jed laughed. Then he elbowed the brunette in the side. "You and Chloe were getting kinda close out there."

Beca drank more of the juice and nodded. "She's kinda awesome and really beautiful."

"And impossible to say no to," Tom added as he dropped into a seat on her other side. "She pretty much always gets what she wants. I bet she didn't appreciate Bree dragging her away like that."

Beca blinked and then got up. "I'll be back," she said as she headed in the direction Chloe and Aubrey had gone. It didn't take her long to find them in the kitchen, where Chloe was crying softly, sniffling as Aubrey stood facing her with her arms folded annoyedly. "Hey," the brunette said, crossing the kitchen to take the redhead by the shoulders and look into her eyes. "What's wrong, Chloe?"

"Is it true?" the redhead asked, blue eyes moving to Aubrey and then back to Beca.

The brunette frowned. "Is what true?" she asked, confusedly.

"Is it true that you moved here because you just got out of juvie? And that you went to juvie in Seattle because you hurt someone?"

Beca held up her hands. "Wait, what?"

"Aubrey heard that you almost killed someone."

The brunette slowly looked to Aubrey. "Where did you hear that?" she asked softly.

"The rumor mill," the blonde replied, arms still folded defiantly. "Is it true, Beca?"

Beca looked back at Chloe to find her eyes soft and tearful. "It's not true," she said, putting her hands on the redhead's cheeks and basically ignoring Aubrey. "I swear." She swallowed hard. "I didn't hurt anyone. I was the one who got hurt, Chlo."

Chloe leaned closer. "What? You got hurt? How?"

"You probably heard about the high school shooting in Seattle about a year ago?"

"Yeah," the redhead sniffled.

Beca opened a couple more buttons of her shirt and pulled it down off her right shoulder to reveal two distinct scars. "I was hit twice. The bullets did some damage to my shoulder but by some miracle, they both passed straight through." She turned a little and showed Chloe the two exit wound scars on her back. "I was in hospital for weeks and then I went through months of therapy before my dad decided to move me to a new school. He happened to get a job in Portland, so he made us move here. Said it was a fresh start."

Aubrey's posture had softened, and she leaned back against the island as Chloe reached her hand out and gently touched the scars. "Jesus," she whispered. "Do they hurt?"

"Only in cold weather," the brunette chuckled. "And I can't raise my arm all the way over my head. But I survived, Chlo, and that's all that matters, right?"

The redhead stepped even closer, nodding gently. "I'm glad you did," she said, hand lifting again to cup Beca's cheek and caress her cheekbone with her thumb.

Aubrey took that as her cue to duck outside.

"Me too," the brunette whispered as she registered the music playing outside. "So, now that we've established that I'm not a criminal," she said. "Where were we?"

Chloe giggled softly and wrapped her arms around Beca's neck, as the brunette's arms came around her waist, pressing their bodies together as they swayed to the music. "Right here," she replied as she slowly closed the distance between their lips.

And Beca, only survivor of her close-knit group of Seattle high school friends, was suddenly even more overjoyed to be alive than ever.