2015

"Wow. We're really in high school. We're high schoolers," Jesse said in awe. He seemed truly enamored by the simple courtyard they were stood in.

As Beca surveyed the courtyard, she didn't notice many people. They had arrived earlier than normal because it was orientation day and their parents couldn't wait to get them out the house. So, after a hearty breakfast consisting of one waffle, two apple slices, and half a cup of orange juice, they were on the move.

"Come on Jess. Let's go find Stacie and Alex. They texted they were at the tables closest to the water fountains, which are over there somewhere," Beca said impatiently, pointing to some tables across the courtyard.

They made their way over to the table where Stacie and Alex were sat.

"Hey guys, we were wondering if you were going to keep standing there looking lost," Alex teased as Beca and Jesse sat down.

Stacie flicked him in the ear before saying," I hear today's going to be pure shit. Apparently, they aren't feeding us lunch and after we go through our schedules, it's going to be icebreakers for the rest of the day.

"Yeah and going through the schedules is only gonna take like 30 mins," Alex added while rubbing his ear.

"I'm going to ditch," Beca said seriously.

"You don't mean that. Plus we'll be in the gym! That's like, our spot! Look on the bright side," Jesse said grinning.

"Yeah, with like 100 other people! Plus all the teachers, so it's really like 150 people! But I agree with Jesse, Beca's not gonna skip," said Alex.

"Ughhhhhh we'll be miserable!" Beca groaned.

"But we'll be miserable together," Stacie replied warmly.

"So now we're going to go around and each of us are going to tell a short story about ourselves. I'll start," said Rory, their freshman orientation group leader.

They had been split into groups and were spread out throughout the gym. Not surprisingly, Beca and the rest of her friends had all been separated from each other.

So much for being miserable together... Beca thought glumly.

As Rory droned on about some ridiculous adventure, Beca's gaze wandered to the only person in her group she knew. Chloe. She looked past Chloe's shoulder and couldn't help but notice a blonde girl that was sitting in another group eyeing her as well. The girl's face looks familiar, but Beca knew they'd never met before.

I think her name's Audrey...Beca thought to herself.

"And that's how I got this gnarly scar," Rory said pointing to a large scar on his forearm as he finished his story. "So who's next?"

The group looked at one another with wide eyes. Chloe met Beca's eyes and mouthed "You should go."

Beca rolled her eyes in response and Chloe shrugged her shoulders.

"I think Beca should go," Chloe said brightly.

Beca looked at Chloe menacingly, but Chloe just grinned and winked at her.

"Alright, Beca's up! Tell us something about yourself or, if you're up for it, share something crazy that happened to you," Rory said with enough enthusiasm to somehow make Beca feel more uncomfortable.

Beca cleared her throat. "Um...wow...ok. Well when I was in...like...third grade? I think, maybe it was fourth grade actually. Anyways, I was in class and we were taking a test, and the kid sitting next to me was the smartest in the class. So everyone around me was trying to cheat off this one kid's paper and I told them 'hey take your own test' and I thought I was being quiet but the teacher heard me. She gave me, the only innocent one, a zero on the test and I got a detention for cheating. In the third grade! And yeah...that's my story. Someone else please go."

There was a collection of "Ohs" that could be heard within their group. Beca was pleased with herself for coming up with something so quickly.

"Wow...round of applause for Beca over here! That is pretty wild! Alright who's next?" Rory said.

Beca could feel the tips of her ears burning. She could believe Chloe set her up like that! She felt eyes on her and looked up to see Chloe looking at her, eyes gleaming.

"Meet me outside after this," Beca mouthed.

Chloe nodded her head and seemed to stifle a giggle as she listened to the next person babble on about themselves.

"Ay Shortstack!" a voice called out.

Beca was standing outside waiting for Chloe. She turned her head and was met with a large blonde girl she recognized from her orientation group.

"Hey. Amy, right?" Beca asked. She honestly couldn't remember the girl's name.

"That's Fat Amy to you. And before you ask, it so twig bitches like you don't call me fat behind my back," the girl, Fat Amy, replied.

Beca's eyes widened before she stepped to the side. "Dude, there's a teacher like right there. Do you really want to get detention for cursing before school even starts?"

"Huh? Who cursed?" the girl seemed genuinely confused, "But speaking of detentions, that story you told during that fiasco was pretty wild. I think I'll call you Shawshank, you know, since you got falsely accused and all. But just so you know, I'm the sneakiest girl in Tasmania. With teeth, that is."

Beca was dumbfounded. She didn't know who this girl was or why she approached her. And don't even get her started on how weird the conversation was.

"Amy! Are you bothering Beca?" Stacie suddenly appeared, sidling up next to Beca.

Beca shrugged out the embrace. "We were just talking. How do you know her?"

"Same middle school," they said in unison.

"Makes sense," muttered Beca.

The three of them chatted for a minute before Beca spotted red hair across the courtyard.

"Why don't you two go find Jesse and Alex and Mj. They're probably lost. We're still hanging out this afternoon, right Stace?" Beca said cutting their conversations short.

"Um...yeah sure. Come on Amy! See ya Beca," Stacie said a bit confused.

Beca waited a bit before taking a deep breath and making her way towards Chloe.

"You know you didn't have to walk home with me," Chloe said nudging Beca shoulder.

"Well, I was already heading to Stacie's and we supposed to be talking anyways," Beca replied. She turned her head and looked at Chloe. "Schedules, remember? We gotta see if we have the same classes."

They continued on the walk, Beca kicking the rocks on the sidewalk, Chloe pointing out every butterfly and cloud she could see.

"I got to hand it to you Beca, you handled me throwing you under the bus pretty well," Chloe said as they made their way to her house.

"What can I say, I'm pretty smooth," Beca replied, laughing lightly. "I still can't believe you did that."

"Oh you enjoyed it, don't even lie."

As they reached Chloe's house, Beca shoved her hands in her pocket while Chloe opened her front door.

"Mom I'm home! And Beca's here too!" Chloe yelled through the house.

"We're in the living room sweetheart," Mrs. Beale's voice called out.

Beca followed Chloe through her house to the living room where her mother and Chloe's dog, Rudy, were sat. Rudy barked and made his way over to Beca, who flinched a little. Although she'd encountered the dog numerous times, Rudy was bigger than her. But he was a sweet dog and his only real weapon was the amount of slobber he had. Beca did pride herself on how well she handled her recent encounters with the dog though. She scratched lightly behind his ears, which he seemed to be enjoying.

"Hey Mom, me and Beca are going up to my room if that's ok," Chloe said quickly.

"Hi Mrs. Beale," Beca said shyly while Rudy circled her and sniffed her pant leg.

"That's fine Chloe, and Beca, I've told you a thousand times call me Katherine, " Chloe's mother replied smiling. "There's snacks in the kitchen if you guys are hungry by the way."

"Okay, thanks Mom. Let's go Beca," Chloe said. "Awww you and Rudy are so cute."

Beca looked up and met Chloe's eyes. And it was moments like this, when Chloe would say things like that, that made Beca think that Chloe liked her the way she liked Chloe.

"Damn, we don't have any classes together," Beca said as she looked over their schedules side by side.

"What are you talking about? And stop cursing, my mom's gonna hear you." Chloe said as she slid onto the floor across from Beca.

"Hey watch out for water," Beca said hastily moving the bottle. "We have zero classes together dude."

"Look we have homeroom together," Chloe said pointing at the piece of paper.

"Nope, I'm in 203 and you're in 208. And we only have the same lunch period like 3 times."

"Wow. We're finally going to the same school together but we're never going to see each other? This is like Romeo and Juliet!" Chloe said exasperated.

"I don't think that's how that story went," Beca mumbled as Chloe continued on her rant. She watched as Chloe paced her room with her arms raised.

"I mean, how are you supposed to keep your friends if whoever's in charge of schedules isn't doing their job right? And then making you pay to reschedule your courses? Ugh the nerve!"

Beca couldn't tell if Chloe was joking or being serious but she seemed to be fuming so Beca decided to hold her tongue until she cooled down a bit.

"I mean look at this! You have Geometry third period and Art fourth period. I have Art third period and Geometry fourth! And I have to pay to change those two classes? When you already have them set for you? This school makes no sense!" Chloe let out a deep breath before sitting down next to Beca.

Beca ran her hand over Chloe's arm and watched her breathing slow down. Chloe rested her head on Beca shoulder.

"What if we stop being friends because we never see each other at school?" Chloe said.

Beca could hear the tears in Chloe's voice and felt her heart break a little.

"We'll still be friends Chlo," Beca said continuing to soothe Chloe.

"You promise?" Chloe said quietly. She raised her head from Beca shoulder and look her in her eyes.

Beca could feel Chloe's breath over her face. She had the urge to lean in and kiss all her doubt away but she steeled herself and whispered back, "I promise."