Chapter 5-The Fall

Beca and Chloe hiked down the hill to the staff house in silence, just enjoying being in each others company. Although Beca was still a bit unsettled with what had just occurred, she couldn't help but notice how easy it was to be around Chloe, she just made everything seem, well, easy.

When Chloe and Beca arrived at the staff house for the second meeting of staff orientation, they were 20 minutes late, and Aubrey Posen was not pleased. "Thank you for joining us...FINALLY you two." Aubrey announced with a glare. "Ladies, please remember that punctuality is expected of each of you." She raised her voice addressing the entire group. "I will not tolerate tardiness of any kind." and again she glared in Beca's direction.

Chloe rolled her eyes slightly, and whispered in Beca's ear.."It's ok, don't worry about it."

Beca could not concentrate on what was said however, as all she could notice was the feel of Chloe's breath on her skin.. she felt goosebumps arise seemingly everywhere.

Chloe walked towards the front of the meeting space, saying hello to everyone as she stood next to Aubrey, and apologized for the unavoidable tardiness. She explained that she had felt unwell and had asked Beca for assistance down the hill. Aubrey turned to her and leaned in asking if she was ok, and Chloe nodded, with a quick reply.."I'm better now, thanks"

Beca blinked hard, as the tears welled in her eyes, she appreciated greatly that Chloe did not share her fainting spell with the rest of the group, as it really made her quite uncomfortable and embarrassed. It was a classy move Beca thought to herself, and she smiled at the red-head who met her eyes from the front of the room.

After a two-hour training on Basic First-Aid, Aubrey allowed the group a 10 minute break. Beca stepped outside, purposefully to get some space. She heard the door open, and was quickly joined by a very tall brunette.

"Hi"

"Oh, hi..Stacie, right?"

"Yeah, I call my Vajajay a dude, remember"

"Yes, how could I forget" Beca laughed.

"Can you believe the tight ass slave driver we are working for?" Stacie whispered, looking around for their torturer.

"I couldn't help but notice" she muttered out of the corner of her mouth.

"Yeah, you know she already fired Mary Elise."

"What? Someone's already been ditched?"

"Yep, her folks had just dropped her off yesterday morning and were heading back home to Michigan, I heard they had to turn around in Ohio to head back, they made it here just before our meeting." she leaned closer "I also heard it was because she snuck out last night and met-up with a Treble-maker and Aubrey caught them skinny-dipping, or something." She said with a wink, wink and elbow into the much shorter girls side.

"Oh, Come on, you mean that no fraternization rule was serious?" Beca began to worry about her visit from Jessie that morning.

At that moment the door to the staff house opened, and Aubrey yelled for Stacie and Beca to return to the meeting.

"Last chance to make a break for it" Beca joked.

Stacie took a deep breath, readying herself for another marathon training session, and they both walked slowly back inside.

Three hours later, and the staff meeting finally came to a close.

"Now, we all will meet up here at 8:00p.m. and will head ATR together" Aubrey confirmed.

"What's ATR?" Beca asked.

"ATR means Across the Rode, that's where the cave is." Chloe explained.

"Cave, no one said anything about a cave, in Tasmania my aunt and uncle live in a cave, and even I won't go visit, and I've wrestled Dingos and Crocodiles simultaneously." the Aussie said with concern in her voice.

"It's ok Fat Amy, this is a very clean and very large cave in the side of the mountain. You'll be totally safe, no worries" Chloe said comfortingly, not completely understanding the issue, thinking maybe claustrophobia.

"Fine, but if one of you sneezes, or breaks wind, I'll be out the door, happily running over your skinny asses, as my natural devil defense will just kick in."

"Huh?" Everyone looked at each other thoroughly confused.

"I'm Australian, and I'm from Tasmania, geez what kind of devil did you think I meant? Keep up Yanks."

"Once again, everyone, we will ALL meet here at 8:00p.m. on the dot." Aubrey completed her sentence with a stern look in Beca's direction.

As the group began to file out, Aubrey called out for Beca to stay for a moment.

Beca recognized the voice, it was just like when a teacher asks you to stay after the bell, it was never a good thing...ever.

"Aubrey" Beca said meeting the tall blondes cold, dark eyes.

"Beca, you know you'll have to take out those ear monstrosities before the kids arrive right?" Aubrey said bluntly.

"Wow, you really don't like me do you"

"I don't like your attitude" Aubrey volleyed.

"You don't even know me" Beca returned.

"I know you had an unauthorized visitor at camp today, and by the looks of things you have quite a toner for him."

"I have a what?" Beca gaped, hardly believing what she just heard.

"A toner, a musical boner, it's distracting" Aubrey stated, no hint of realization at just how insane she sounded.

"uh, that's not a thing, and although you may currently be my boss, you are not the boss of me, so just back off" Beca huffed.

"Don't let it happen again Beca.. remember, I'm watching you and your toner" Aubrey stood her ground.

"That's just creepy" and with that, Beca stormed out the door.

"I can see your toner through those jeans Beca" Aubrey yelled after her.

"That's my dick" Beca yelled back, looking over her shoulder but continuing to walk forward, suddenly running right into Chloe.

Both the redhead and the brunette went tumbling down the heavily wooded hill, ending up in a tangled heap. Beca focused her eyes, realizing that Chloe lay directly on top of her, their faces only centimeters apart, lips almost touching. Her heart was pounding, however this time, she wasn't panicking, she was mesmerized. They just stared at each other for a few moments, but each regained their senses, when pain took over.

"Owww." Chloe was the first to move, uncoiling her limbs from Beca's and spitting the dirt out of her mouth.

"Uggh, that's my bad, so..uh, my bad. Ouch..." she said pulling stickers from her hair and back. "I'm so sorry Chloe, are you ok?"

"Yeah, nothing that won't heal in a day or so. How about you, any damage?"

"No, just a few scratches, nothing too bad."

"Well let's get you checked out just in case, follow me to the infirmary, we'll get you showered and I'll check your back and we can get those cuts cleaned up."

"No..Chloe, really, I'm ok."

"Beca Mitchell, you most certainly are not..OK. I can see blood on your shirt in multiple spots, just let me take care of you."

"Fine"..Beca gritted her teeth but acquiesced.

They walked across the bridge in silence and headed up the stairs to the small First Aid cabin. As they reached the doorway, Chloe was first to break the silence.

"So, that's your dick huh, I thought I felt something odd back there" Chloe giggled.

"Oh shut up" Beca grinned back at her.