Every night I try my best to dream, tomorrow makes it better

And wake up to the cold reality and not a thing has changed

But it will happen.

—Last Hope, Paramore

Hold On Till May: Chapter Two

Chloe sighed as she fell into her chair again the next morning, huffing tiredly as the teacher strode into the class. Fifteen minutes into the class, Chloe felt someone slipping quietly into the seat next to hers, which happened to be always empty. Her head lifted up slightly and saw a smaller girl smirking at the teacher who let her slip past him unnoticed.

Rolling her eyes, Chloe propped her head up with her left arm, blocking the girl out and facing the other way, ignoring the teacher's droning. Just as Chloe's eyes fluttered shut, someone poked her arm and whispered something to her. She looked up at the teacher staring at her intently, waiting for her to solve the equation on the board.

Chloe panicked, her heart thumped wildly as everyone turned around in their seats to watch her.

"X equals to fifty-four." The girl beside her whispered again, nudging Chloe gently. Chloe repeated the girl's words to the teacher and he grunted, turning his attention away from the redhead. Chloe's eyes burned with unshed tears at the humiliation and embarrassment of needing someone to help her with such a simple question. She turned around again and lowered her head down to the desk as she bit down on her lower lip to keep it from trembling.

"Hey," the girl murmured and poked Chloe's back. Chloe shrugged her off and remained facing away, ignoring her when she felt another jab. The bell rang right at that moment, saving her from further trouble. Chloe quickly shoved everything into her back pack and picked it up, slinging it over her shoulder. A sharp pain shot up her left arm as she felt someone pulling her back. The redhead flinched and pulled away quickly, as if she were being burned by fire. The girl pulled back slightly and her eyes widened.

"I didn't mean to hurt you." She apologized and tore a corner of her worksheet out before handing it to Chloe. "I'm Beca." Was all Chloe heard before she walked away, her left hand clenched into a fist, the piece of paper held tightly in it.

The rest of the day went by without much commotion, Chloe shrunk away as usual, keeping to herself. She saw the girl—Beca—again during lunch, and she quickly avoided her, quickening her pace and making her way to the back garden again.

This time though, the gardener wasn't there, and she was relieved, to be honest. Chloe leant on the tree and slid down slowly, unraveling the piece of paper still tightly clutched in her hand. A phone number was scribbled on it, with the girl's name–Beca. Chloe rolled her eyes and twisted her lips.

As if anyone wanted to be your friend. Chloe pushed the thoughts out of her head and breathed deeply.

She crumpled the piece of paper up and shoved it into her bag before pulling her phone out and plugging her headphones in. Chloe shut her eyes and let the music take over her mind.

Chloe didn't see the girl again for the rest of the day. She walked home that afternoon, her headphones secured around her head and her arms tightly held to her sides. Just as she was about to reach her home, she saw the girl again. Chloe froze in her steps and stared at the moving van and a small family shuffling in and out of their house. She blinked twice and continued walking quickly away, determined not to let Beca see her.

Chloe was about to congratulate herself when she heard someone behind her.

"Hey!" Beca strode forward and stepped out from her porch. "You're Chloe right?"

Chloe stared at her and mutely nodded, feeling guilty suddenly about the ball of crushed paper in her bag.

"I just moved here." Beca pointed to the house behind her and motioned to her family. "My mom got sent here to work."

Chloe's gaze bore back into Beca's and her stomach fluttered at the smile on the girl's face. She arched an eyebrow, as if it would answer the girl.

I didn't ask, dumbass.

"Do you live around here?" Beca asked, scanning the houses around her. Chloe nodded and jabbed her finger towards a house three houses away from Beca's. Beca's face lit up and she smiled wider. "Cool, we're sort of neighbors."

Chloe nodded and Beca gave her a smirk. "You don't seem to like to speak."

Duh.

"Don't find it necessary to speak." Chloe retorted and Beca grinned at her. A small smile appeared on Chloe's face as Beca cocked her head and nodded.

"Fair enough," the brunette stepped back. "I'll see you tomorrow then." Chloe nodded and stepped away, walking the remaining few steps to her house. She unlocked the door and caught a glimpse of the short girl three houses away before stepping in. She usually got the entire house, considering how her parents were always out.

That night, Chloe lay on her bed and retrieved the crumpled piece of paper from her bag. She unfurled it and whipped out her phone, holding both items up and staring intently at them.

Chloe's phone didn't have any contacts, she didn't feel the need for any. No one ever tried to contact her, not even her parents, she had their numbers memorized anyway. That night, as the moon shone brightly through her transparent window pane, Chloe saved her first contact.

Beca

A/N: I apologize for Chloe and Beca being so out of character, I wanted to try something new, so.