2015

"Do we really want to do this? I mean you saw her right? She's scary! You know maybe...maybe if I call my mom she'll come pick us up, you know? I mean she just dropped us off, maybe she'll...maybe she'll pick us up," Mj said frantically as she paced the locker room.

Beca looked at her watch. Basketball tryouts were supposed to start in 15 minutes. She crouched down and tied her shoe laces before saying,"Dude, the basketball coach is no big deal. Besides we're the best. There's no way we aren't making the team."

"Ah ah but keep in mind Beca, we are the only freshmen who, by the way, aren't even real freshmen yet, are trying out! Did you see the girls out there Beca? Their shoes are bigger than my face!" Mj said hopelessly before continuing to pace.

She was right about the shoes but Beca decided not to mention that just yet. Mj really seemed to be going through it but Beca didn't understand why. As far as she was concerned nobody she'd ever seen could dribble better than Mj. Not even the girls they saw warming up when they'd first arrived before being yelled to go dress out by the coach.

"Look," Beca began, halting Mj's pacing," you are the best fresh out of middle school/fake freshman basketball player I know."

Mj looked at Beca while adjust her headband before Beca continued.

"Me and you are gonna go kick some upperclassmen ass out there and make the team and it's gonna be awesome and super badass, ok? And besides, once we make the team this entire locker room will be ours," Beca finished with a chuckle.

Mj chuckled as well before flexing her hands and shaking off her nerves. Beca was happy to see her friend significantly less freaked out and was proud that her speech actually worked.

"Yeah, yeah. We got this," Mj said confidently.

"Oh shoot, let's get out of here before we miss the tryouts," Beca said, checking the time again.

They locked their belongings up before leaving for tryouts.

"Holy crap! I don't think I've ever been this hot on my life, dude. Pour some water on me or something, shiiiit! Aren't there showers in here or something? " Mj said, entering the locker room.

"There's showers, yeah, but I don't think your mom would appreciate you getting in her car soaking wet," Beca replied before opening her locker.

"Yeah, no, she'd beat my ass for sure," Mj said, laughing before continuing. "So...did you talk to Jesse about...you know?"

Beca's eyes widened slightly before clearing her throat. She had been struggling to come to terms with her sexuality and went to the only person she thought would understand. Mj. They talked about everything and anything and Mj made Beca feel safe. She had shown and given her unconditional support. She had explained to her that she should come out to the people she cared about and felt most comfortable around first and Beca took that advice. She managed to tell her parents who, surprisingly, took it well. She hadn't expected them to be so cool about it if she was being honest. Her father even shed tears- like, full on waterworks in front of her and her mother, saying he wasn't ready for his daughter to grow up yet.

But Jesse had been a different case. She told him over the weekend and he seemed to be over the moon about it. He had hugged her tightly, whispering a quiet promise to be "the best lesbro in the history of all lesbros". Beca had shaken her head and punched him in the arm, mumbling about him being a weirdo.

"Uh...yeah I talked to him," Beca replied as she zipped up her bag. "He was fine with it and didn't make it awkward or anything, thank God."

She doesn't know what she would have done if Jesse turned out to be a homophobe. He'd been her bestfriend since forever. She couldn't imagine losing that friendship.

"Well I'm glad. Otherwise I would have had to punch him in the face," Mj said with mock seriousness as she punched her fist into her palm.

"Well I gotta go. My mom said she'd make me something for lunch when I got back. When do they post the basketball team roster?" Beca asked, walking with Mj out of the locker room.

"Like, the first week of school. So, like, 3 weeks? But I don't know what day. Oh look, there's my mom," she said pointing to her car across the parking lot. "See ya later Beca!"

"Bye! Also tell your mom I said hi!" she yelled the last part as she watch her friend depart.

Present Day

"Beca, I know it's been a long day, but can you work with me a little bit? Please?" her English teacher says.

Beca let out a soft sigh before lifting her head up and continuing to work on her rough draft. She couldn't wait to get to the gym after school. They were voting on team captains that afternoon and Beca was one of the longest standing members on both the basketball and soccer team. She knew she had at least a small chance to make captain, but she hoped she could handle it. She really didn't want to let down her teams. Also, Chloe being her lab partner was stirring up all kinds of old feelings inside of her that she couldn't seem to get a lid on. They hadn't talked in ages, but they conversed so comfortably, it felt like they'd been friends for a second. Beca was truly stumped.

"Hey. You okay?" Mj asked her.

Beca turned to look at her with a confused look on her face.

"You kinda just started writing and stopped. Abruptly. And your face looks weirder than normal." Mj chuckled before going back to her own paper

Beca nudged her on the shoulder as she said, "Shut up! My face is not weird, weirdo. I was just thinking about this afternoon. The big sports meeting?"

Mj nodded her head in understanding. "You nervous?"

"A little bit but we'll see."

"Well, when you become captain, you better give me special treatment."

"Who says we aren't going to be co-captains?" Beca challenged. "You've been on those teams just as long as I have and you're way better than me. You're gonna be a captain I gurantee. Me and you, captains."

Mj chuckled, "I guess we're about to find out, huh? Last bell ring should be ringing any minute."

"You don't even have a watch on. How do you know?" Beca asked as Mj packed her bag.

"I just feel it. Plus everyone else has their stuff packed too," Mj replied slyly.

Beca just rolled her eyes and packed up as well.