AN: Thank you for the reviews, and thank you malexfaith and xNarcotic for helping me have more confidence in the story, I'm glad you like it so far! 3 As you can see I swapped the timeline a bit, but all of the bigger moments are still there, hope it doesn't throw anyone off to much. Enjoy! ~Speedy
The heaviness behind my eyes is making it hard to stay awake... I am severely lucky I only had one class today, then I'm supposed to go to the radio station where I get to intern. I am remembering more and more, even as I sit here, I recall Chloe and Aubrey, inseparable, and always around me. I think Aubrey was the healer, which makes sense, and Chloe dealt damage with her spells while I kept the enemies focus on me. I can't help but chuckle into my arms a bit, I remembered a bit about Amy and Stacie too... Stacie loving to make Aubrey jealous... because apparently they had a thing for me, but Chloe never seems to mind. I wonder how far that ever got... if I ever dated either of them... or both of them? I remember getting in all sorts of trouble with Amy... I feel more connected to them than before, and getting up early enough to actually sit and have breakfast with two of the four was helpful. Drinking my coffee as they re-enacted some of the more funny things was the highlight of my morning. Amy was swift to volunteer to walk me to school, kept offering to carry me since my leg still hurts... that was a hard pass. It feels a ton better than yesterday, sore, painful, and the bruising looks horrendous, but seriously, a lot better.
Now, I nuzzle deeply into my covered arms as the professor speaks on something about economics, I'm really not into it and my sword doesn't seem to mind the resting either. I find myself drifting to sleep, but before I can get to deep into my nap I feel a gentle prod at my shoulder, looking up at the student beside me, he gestures to the front and it seems the professor is packing up,
"He called it, and I thought about leaving you be but I know I would much rather sleep in my bed, not on the desk." With a gentle chuckle he offers his hand out, "I'm Benjamin Applebaum, but my friends call me Benji. Since we spoke verbally almost I would consider us friends." I blink a few times before taking his hand with a small laugh,
"Sorry, I'm Beca, thanks for waking me up, Benji, I'll catch you later." The weird, but charming boy makes his way out, curly head of hair peeking back one more time as if to make sure I wasn't back asleep. Waving to abate his worry I watch him return the gesture before I stretch widely and let out a yawn, wincing when I stand to make my way to the station.
When I go in at first all I can hear is the blasting of the radio, looking around rather awestruck at such a collection of music... it is a radio station of course, but it's so different when you see it right in front of you.
*Where is everyone? Maybe over there?* Not going to lie, she sounds about as tired as I feel, perhaps another quirk of being a literal piece of me. I meander my way towards the booth, looking inwards to find who I'm assuming is my boss considering he seems to be the only one here. Suddenly he turns and catches me staring, a bright blush pulling to my cheeks as he stands and slides out the door,
"Hey. Been there long?" I can feel myself fluster at his cocky grin, and I can't even find any semblance of dignity,
"Uh... no, I was uh... I just got here. Like now. I wasn't standing here for a while or anything..." I smack my hand to my face and drag it down in a gesture of frustration, taking a step to the side which he must deem as me trying to pass him. He stands a bit straighter and shakes his head,
"Sorry, but freshmen aren't allowed inside the booth." Instead of making it more awkward he extends his hand to me, which I gently take, "Luke, station manager, and you must be Beca." I go to answer but instead am interrupted by the door slamming shut,
"And I'm Jesse!" The tall, blonde, statuesque man in front of me, that just barely releases my hand, looks above my head,
"I'm Luke, and you're late." He steps down past me, looking none too pleased with this guy, and as I turn I realize it's that guy who had been playing air guitar for me the other day. Blinking a few times I inwardly groan as he seems to realize this as well,
"Hey! I know you!" Pointing right near my face I jut my head back, trying to get more space between us,
"No, you don't..." I look to my new boss who seems like he cares not an ounce, "He doesn't." I make sure to cement that, I will not be tied to someone who was late their first day, that and he doesn't even know my name! Well... I mean I guess now he does...
"Okay. You two can figure it out while you're stacking CDs, and when you're done there's more over there. You're gonna be spending a lot of time together, so, please... no sex on the desk. I've been burned before." I balk at his words, sticking my tongue out in a movement so awkward even I can't explain it, making such a gesture to affirm it being gross. I watch him head back into the booth and close the door, sighing softly when I hear Jesse speak again,
"I do know you. I sang to you, I remember because you were totally ignoring the orientation girl, get your rape whistle?" He holds his own whistle up and I can't help the chuckle that leaves me as I shake my head and turn to start stacking the music. I don't know why, but he continues to speak even as I blatantly ignore him, "So... Luke's attractive. Excellent bone-structure, full head of hair, fancy undershirt, I think we just met my nemesis." I let my frustration show a bit as I move to plop down in a nearby chair and groan. My leg hurts, this guy is weird, and something smells like it has been in the heat too long,
"Man, this sucks. I came here to play music, not stack it." I mumble, arms crossing over my chest as I lean back. Seems everything I say, whether directed at him or not, opens the lines for odd steering of the conversation,
"Not me, I'm here for one reason only, I love stacking CDs. I was offered a job at a lab that tests the effects of marijuana on your appetite, but I said no. I want to stack CDs hopefully in the vicinity of a semen smeared desk... that's what we think happened here, right?" This guy seems harmless enough, and I let a smile pull to my lips,
"Too bad I didn't bring my blacklight... then we would know for sure." I get a chuckle from him, and of course... this leads him to keep talking... he talks more than Amy,
"So what's your deal? You one of those girls who's all dark and mysterious until she takes off her glasses and that amazingly scary ear spike and you realize she was beautiful the whole time?" His words are deserving of the eyeroll they receive, my mouth quick to retort,
"I don't wear glasses." He smirks slightly and tilts his head, hand almost resting on the desk before he thinks better of it,
"Then you're halfway there, and I am loving this." He turns back to stacking his CDs, and I chuckle,
"You're a weirdo." His retort is swift and I'm trying to keep up with the quick banter,
"Yes I am, and so are you. It's a good thing we're going to be best friends and/or lovers." My face grows serious as I try to continue without laughing,
"Please don't say lovers." My words are delivered abruptly and I think I've won... until he turns back to me with a smile,
"You know, I wouldn't pass this up. Once I'm a Treble, I probably won't have time for you." This pulls a scoff/laugh from me as I pull off the indifferent role really well,
"You know, I didn't think you could find a way to be less attractive to me, but congrats, you just did." And here comes his laugh, reaching down to grab another stack of music to put up,
"Ha! You're terrific. Just wait, you'll go all squidy and drape yourself all over me. It'll be fun, you'll see!" The confidence he exudes almost makes me believe it, but again I roll my eyes and mouth the words, 'Who is this guy.' to no one in particular. Grabbing my own stack, I hobble to the opposite side of the shelf, putting it away without being bothered again.
The weirdo offered to walk me home, a second hard pass for the day, and as I make my way slowly onwards I feel the twinge of pain turning moreso into a constant pain... odd. I sense, more than see something going on around me, feel the abnormality that I had running through my chest yesterday, and I know one of the corrupted has to be near,
*Tread carefully, I'm not sure this is such a good thing... and it could mean there are more somewhere nearby.* My hands relax and I breathe as Stacie guided me to, eyes ever observant to any oddities. For a while I find none, but then, off to the right of me, I watch a student disappear into thin air, *It's there, it has to be... we should go in and get rid of it... that is our job right?* I gulp softly, looking down at my aching leg before a determined look comes over my face,
"We should, I don't want anyone else getting hurt." I draw in a ragged breath, chewing my bottom lip as I cautiously make my way to where it had happened. Stepping further I feel the wall surround me, as if pulling me in itself, and there in the middle sits another ball just as yesterday, fear gripping my chest. The person that had disappeared didn't seem anywhere in sight, perhaps they walked through without being bothered? What a mystery this anomaly is,
*I don't think they are out for them, just us, so no one else seems bothered. We killed it so easily yesterday, it's going to be okay, just bring me forth, we can do this.* I do as I'm told, rolling my shoulders as I spy the arms coming forth from the ball just as yesterday, *Repetitive little beasts, aren't they?* Nodding the affirmation I dodge just in time for it to splat against the wall, though this time I slash at it immediately, the thing giving a light shriek as it shrivels into a puddle. This time though, the anomaly doesn't disappear, in fact, I hear the plopping and sloshing of more corruption. Turning rapidly on my heel I watch as two more come barreling for me, and I only have time to attack one. Deciding another slash is best I cut horizontally through one while I jump with a pained cry to dodge the other. With a quick jerk to the side, the little ball that's left avoids splatting to the wall and reaches to grab for me, only for its arms to be lopped off. I take a few hasty steps back as I watch more arms grow, but the body shrinks further, *Like it's learning from the other's mistakes?* I hear the question slide through my head, and I bite my lip hard as another heavy swing is thrown, missing the smaller corruption by inches. It slams into my shoulder but doesn't bite, it may as well have though, the deep burning sensation spreading eagerly as if through my very blood. My useless arm hangs limply, but I keep a wary glance on the ball that shot off to the other side of whatever this space is. The little thing comes back in a straight line, no dodging, no trying to avoid my attack, which of course was rather slow. I still slammed through it though, the sword cracking into the ground with the strength behind it, and it's then that I feel the anomaly dissipate. The release of tension is nice, and I breathe deeply, wincing just a bit as my shoulder aches harshly, but my leg feels better once again. *So... we kill whatever created the space... then it goes back to normal, makes sense. Good job, I'm glad we were able to take care of this on our own.* Nodding I go to rest on a nearby bench, breathing deeply to calm my heart, and relax my muscles.
It's about fifteen minutes later that I see Amy out of the blue, the woman turning to yell off somewhere that I soon realize is to Stacie, before she sprints towards me... let me say that again... sprints towards me. She bounces back and forth on both feet,
"We made it into the Bellas! We had to hunt you down! We're going to be late for orientation!" She sings songs, and I suddenly find my world is black, face covered by a deep red cloth. Yelping softly I feel gentle hands rest on my shoulder, an abnormal warmth filling the bruised space,
"I know you are hurting, but we have got to show up for this, you can leave as soon as we are done if you want." I think it's Chloe who whispers in one ear, and a kiss is planted to the other side,
"She's right, we can go home, but since Chlo and Bree are the captains they have to stay, but in order to be in the group we have to show up!" A giggle erupts and my tired body is lifted, carefully laid in the side of a vehicle, I take the time I have to rest my eyes.
Next thing I know the hood is being ripped off, and there before me stands Chloe and Aubrey, one holding a gold chalice of sorts while the other smiles radiantly and wiggles a bit in her space, what are they wearing...
"The Sopranos, Jessica, Mary Elise, Lilly. The Mezzos, Cynthia Rose, Denise, Kori. Of course our Altos, Fat Amy, Stacie, Ashley, and... Beca." I look around the room as Aubrey states which singing position they have decided for us, and I find the dark, candle-lit room a bit dreary, easily a place where I could take a na- "As your music director and possessor of the pitch pipe, I'd like to welcome you to the Bellas' initiation night. We shall begin by drinking the blood of the sisters that came before you!" Chloe grabs the chalice and offers it up to me,
"Hell no..." I don't know what sort of club this is, but I know damn well I'm not drinking an-
"Don't worry, it's Boone's Farm." Oh... well in that case... I take the cup and sip it, the fruity wine showering my mouth with such simple flavor. I'm quick to hand it back, wiping my mouth with the back of my sweatshirt,
"Why are we doing this, again?" I whisper softly to Amy, and she gestures to the taller blonde at center stage,
"It's Aubrey's dream, something about when she was in college before the corruption she had an incident or something? I don't know." Taking the chalice when it's offered to her, she chugs more than half the cup, and Chloe has to pry it from her fingers as she tries to drink more. When everyone has had a sip, the duo stand at the front again,
"Now, if you'll all place your scarf in your right hand..." Chloe asks sweetly, and I see her watching me while I do as I'm told. Pressing the cloth into my hand I look up in time for Aubrey to begin,
"I, sing your name..." The melody that follows as everyone sings their own name... is probably the equivalent of someone accidentally dropping a bag of trash, all over the place, and messy... the captains blink a few times before blondie continues, "Promise to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of a Bella woman. Neither sickness, nor midterms, nor my lady times will prevent me from her-monizing with my sisters. And I solemnly promise never to have sexual relations with a Treblemaker or may my vocal chords be ripped out by wolves..." The oath is repeated... sort of, a little rough there at the end but it is repeated back. Aubrey plasters a fake smile on as she nods firmly, "You are all Bellas now." The cheer that erupts after those words nearly blows my eardrums, and I cover them as I watch Chloe and Aubrey exchange some words, the redhead looking excited as ever, while the blonde crosses her arms and furrows her brows.
((The afterparty will be in the next chapter, I think I pressed my brain for a lot today, thanks!))