"Morning guys" she greets. Everyone is shooting apologetic looks at her. She's about to ask what's going on when a voice makes her stop on her tracks.

"Beca.." she stays rooted in her spot, she hasn't heard that voice in ten years. All she wants to do is run instead of turning her back and face her father and that's exactly what she does. She runs.

Tweeners and Bagels

Beca dashes out without thinking where she's going, all she knows is she needs to get away from her dad. Memories hit her with the force of a truck. All the nights she stayed quiet in bed listening to her mother crying her eyes out for the man who didn't appreciate her enough. All the father's days she would ignore secretly hoping Robert decided to visit her, the times she had nightmares and all she wanted was to be in her dad's arms telling her everything was going to be ok. She couldn't help the tears streaming down her face, she didn't like to cry around others that's why she found herself sitting in a bench at the park. It was early and there wasn't anyone around. She cried for sometime not because she was sad, she was over that phase many years ago, all she felt was anger. Anger at how Robert had treated her and her mother. If she was being honest she was more mad at Robert for hurting her mom than ignoring her, at the end of the day she knew she was loved by her mother, her friends and the Simons but what about her mom? She devoted her life to her daughter leaving no space for dating, Beca tried over and over to convince her mom to go out with other people, all she wanted was to see her happy but her mom would always explain she was happy with her and she didn't need anyone else.

Once she was calmed enough she decided to call Stacie, calling her mom would have to wait until there was no trace of crying in her voice.

"Hi Becs!" her friend answered the phone excitedly

"Hey Stacie" she said trying her best to hide the rollercoaster of emotions she was feeling.

"uh oh, what happened?"

"Robert" I wait for some sort of reaction from her but only silence comes so I decide to continue "he showed up at the house today and Nigel told me yesterday that he wanted to be at my match. I just..."

"Seriously? who does he thinks he is?" Stacie sighs "look babe, I know this whole situation is something you weren't expecting at all but let me remind you, you are eighteen now, he can't force you to talk to him if you don't want to, I'll support you whatever you decide ok?"

I smile at her "I know Stace, thanks. Anyway when are you getting here? I miss you guys"

"I know you can't live without my sexy face, Mitchell." we both laugh "Amy and I are leaving tomorrow and Jesse and Luke will join us on the day of your match. Are you sure you want all of us there?"

"yes I'm sure, I need you guys to keep my sanity" says Beca chuckling. "Hey Stace, I gotta go, Nigel is calling me. Talk to you soon and thanks for listening to me"

"anytime babe. Love you! bye"

"love you too"

Beca answers Nigel's call knowing her coach won't be happy about her running out of the house.

"Beca? Are you ok? Where are you?"

"Whoa, calm down, yes I'm fine, I'm sorry for leaving like that I was just.."

"hey it's ok, Robert is gone now. Where are you?"

"At the park next to the complex" she says taking in her surroundings for the first time since she sat down.

"Ok, see you at the complex then? I'll bring your player credentials and all your equipment, wait at the entrance ok?"

"sure. See you soon"

Nigel made his way downstairs to have breakfast with the team when he saw Robert standing in the middle of the kitchen. He threw a worried look at Maria's coach. "Where is she?"

Robert turned around and faced Nigel, his face red from anger. "The brat ran away" Robert answered instead of Maria's coach.

Nigel couldn't believe the nerve of this man, usually he kept his emotions under control but the way Robert spoke about his own daughter just fired the man's anger. Without thinking he launched against Robert grabbing him by the neck of his shirt and backing him up against the nearest wall.

"You listen to me, sorry excuse of a man. If something happens to her, anything, I will make sure you will regret the day you were born. WHo the hell do you think you are? You can't just waltz in here expecting her to throw her arms around you. You have no idea all the things she has been through because of you but you know what? she's just fine without you. You have no right to mess her up again. You lost all your rights when you decided she wasn't important enough."

Robert tried to free himself from Nigel's grip to no avail "she's my daughter, I can talk to her whenever I want."

Nigel scoffed "is that so? where were you when she had appendicitis surgery? where were you when she turned ten and won player of the year for her dedication and results? where were you when she received her driver's permit or when she made it to the honor roll in highschool? What about the time when she injured her ankle and had to go through 3 months out of the courts and had to push herself at physiotherapy? Where the hell were you when her grandma was sick and died? Tell me Robert? Were you her father back then?"

Robert stayed silent. Nigel let go of him but still glared at the man, Maria was silently observing the scene and she was surprised at how mad her father was but knew the man was right.

"that's what I thought, look, I've been trying really hard to make sure your daughter doesn't hate you, not for your sake because quite honestly I don't give a damn about you but because of her. She's a good girl and she deserves to be happy. I bitten my tongue all this years and I will never let her know how much of an asshole her father really is but you can't fool me, I know you aren't here because you care about her or want to fix things with her, so tell me now. Why on earth are you here?"

"I.. want to fix things" Robert answered.

Nigel pushed him again "I'm not an idiot Robert. Tell me what the hell you want now?"

Robert raised up his arms in surrender "fine! I need money"

That was the last string before his fist could make contact with Robert's face someone had already slapped Robert. Standing next to Nigel was a visibly upset Maria.

"How the hell do you dare? Look, you have two minutes to leave this house and leave Beca alone. " the blonde spat at Robert who only shook his head. "No, I need money and she's getting attention. It's time for that brat to be useful"

Nigel couldn't contain himself and now he punched the man who was on the floor yelping in pain.

"Listen Robert and listen carefully because this is the only chance I'll give you. For ten years I've sent checks to your daughter in your name so she didn't know how much of a real asshole you are, ten years you didn't call her, visited her or even send her the money she was supposed to get. I don't care about that money, all I wanted was for her to be ok, to have everything she needed and not have to worry because you, the person who should have provide for her didn't do it. You stay away from Beca, if I see you near her if you try to contact her I will end you. You think I don't have proofs of the scam you tried to pull on us? That would give you a good ten years on jail. Get the hell out of Beca's life and don't you even dare to get near Angie as well. Are we clear?"

Maria was shocked, she knew Robert was an idiot and she hated him for missing everything in Beca's life but she didn't know her father had been the one sending checks to Beca. She felt a fire spreading through her veins, as much as Beca tried to hide it the fact her dad still remembered her enough to send her money made the brunette feel a little better, knowing now that was a lie hurted her just as much as if it was her instead of Beca.

"No, I need money. You don't understand, there are people I owe money to and they will kill me if I don't pay them."

Nigel was seeing red. Then a thought crossed his mind and it made him shiver "Did you.. do they know she's your daughter?"

Robert shook his head and relief washed over Nigel. Maria got an idea to get rid of Robert and protect Beca at the same time.

"What would you do to get the money?" she asked.

Robert and Nigel turned to her with confused looks.

"Anything. My life's down the line. I need the money today"

Maria scoffed. "Well, how much do you need?"

"fifteen thousand" he replied.

Nigel was trying to understand where his daughter was going with her questions.

The blonde arched an eyebrow at the man "Listen Robert, I'll offer you a deal" Nigel tried to ask his daughter what she was doing but she motioned for him to listen.

"I will give you those fifteen thousand if you sign up an agreement stating that you'll leave Beca, Angie and us alone. What do you say?"

Nigel didn't like the idea of providing anything for Robert but her daughter's idea was good, that way he would be legally forced to stay away from Beca.

Robert thought for a moment, seeing the hype about his daughter he knew she could be marketable in the future but he needed the money in that moment and he needed to make the decision now.

"I'll take thirty and she'll never hear from me again"

Nigel and Maria exchanged a surprised look. Nigel took the reigns of the conversation. "You think you are in position to negotiate? You take fifty and get the hell out or you die, your decision"

"She'll be worth much more soon and you both know it. Thirty thousand is nothing to you"

"have fun picking your coffin Robert" Nigel said with finality.

"Fine! I'll take the damn fifteen and I promise I'll leave her alone"

"not so fast, you sign the papers first, I'll get my lawyer to write it. Meet me at the restaurant three blocks down from here at 2 pm so we can close the deal" Maria informed the man.

Robert agreed and left the house. Nigel turned to everyone that was gathered in the kitchen still in shock from all thy heard. "What just happened here never has to reach Beca's ears. Understood?" he asked and everyone agreed.

Maria sighed feeling the tension leaving her body, she hugged her dad "You are the greatest man ever, I'm so lucky to have you"

Nigel smiled at his daughter "I have an amazing daughter as well. Thank you for having Beca's back. I know you were just joking yesterday but never doubt I love you. I might be a little more protective over Beca but that's because she's younger and she didn't have a father like you did, I'm proud of you Maria and I always will." he said placing a kiss to his daughter's head.

"I know dad. I love you too and I love that sarcastic smurf like a sister."

Practice goes over normally with Beca nailing her shots and even showing off a little when she returned one of Nigel's shots with a tweener and earning the point. She couldn't help the excited yell and the fist bump that followed the shot. It was Nigel turn to serve when she noticed the same redhead girl from yesterday watching her practice again. Is she a fan or is she trying to spy my practice? Beca thought. She didn't notice Nigel's serving and the ball hit her straight in the face.

"Ow" she yelp and automatically placed her hands around her jaw.

"Beca? are you ok?" Nigel asked rushing to her side while her physical trainer got her ice.

Chloe gasped when she saw the ball hitting Beca's face. "Bree!" she shrieked.

Aubrey made a face when she saw the same thing. "that must hurt"

Chloe was really concerned what if she had a concussion? she didn't notice what she was doing until a man stopped her before entering the court. "sorry ma'am but only players and authorized people can get in the courts"

"Thanks Jeff" Beca said taking the ice from her trainer. After Nigel was sure she was ok he scolded her "What were you doing? You are supposed to be focus Beca" the girl nodded "I'm sorry, I got distracted and I wasn.."

"No shit Sherlock?" Nigel said and earned him a laugh from Beca "I swear showing you Reddit and Memes was my worst idea Nigel" said Beca still laughing.

"haters gonna hate" he answered "but in all seriousness, you need to pay more attention, one mistake like that in a match could cost you the win or you could get yourself injured. You need to be here all the time Beca. Tennis is two games in one, you can be good in the physical side but if your mind is not in it, you will lose. Mind and body, this is give it all or lose."

"I know" the brunette mumbled.

Aubrey followed Chloe "Chloe? you can't just get in the middle of a practice" but the her friend seemed to be deep in thought "not even if your crushed is hit with a ball squared on the face" Aubrey teased her.

Chloe slapped Aubrey's arm. "I don't know what you are talking about. I just said she was cute"

both started walking around the complex, Chloe still wanting to see if the girl was ok but she knew staying would only make Aubrey keep the teasing.

"Sure Chloe, that's all it is" she winked.

They kept walking until Aubrey found some doubles partners to interview. Chloe saw her chance to check on Beca without having to endure Aubrey's remarks. She left Aubrey and the Doubles partners and walked back to Beca's practice court. The practice was already over and Beca's team was filling out of the court with the girl following them behind. "I'll catch you guys at home, I'm going to grab some food" Beca told them. Chloe smiled to herself, she had a plan.

Beca plopped in the chair while she scanned the menu, she was really tired after practice specially with the ten laps she had to run as a punishment for distracting while Nigel served, her jaw was still red but it didn't hurt anymore, it definitely wasn't the first time she was hit with a ball.

"Hi..."

Beca didn't look up from her menu. "Hi, I'll have the stake with mashed potatoes and green salad please"she heard a giggle and looked up to find a beautiful tall girl smiling at her.

"I'm sorry to disappoint but I'm not your waitress" the girl explained. Beca blushed "Sorry" she said awkwardly.

"are you ladies ready to order?" a waitress asked this time.

Beca and Chloe looked at each other a little surprised. "No, sorry I'm not sitting here, she was about to order, though" Chloe said.

Beca gave her order to the waitress still confused about why Chloe was standing there.

"I just wanted to check if you were ok, I was watching your practice today and saw you were hit with a ball" Chloe explained.

"Oh thanks, yeah. I'm fine."

"Well, it's nice to know you are fine. I guess I'll see you around. Good luck in the tournament" Chloe said and turned to leave.

Beca stared at the girl walking away and couldn't keep the smile off her face. If only she knew she was the reason I got hit she thought to herself. Once she was done with her meal she walked back to the house, going over the practice but always ending up wondering about the bubbly redhead as she decided to call her. Once she reached the house she stopped herself when she noticed when was smiling. She scolded herself, she needed to focus in the tournament, she wasn't going to waste her hard work on distractions like her dad or anyone else, she had a mission and she was going to achieve it.

All the team gathered around the tv while they waited for the draw of the tournament to be revealed. Since Maria was the number one player she was at the top half of the draw, her first opponent was a girl from Slovakia that she had played against a couple of times, Maria lead the series 4-0. She was confident about her first match, looking ahead at the hypothetical next opponents she had a pretty easy draw until quarterfinals. Her team was happy and felt confident, Beca, Nigel and the rest were anxiously waiting for the bottom half to be revealed. Everyone let out a gasp when they saw who was Beca's first opponent. Non other than number two player in the world, former number one who lost her spot to Maria, she and Simons had a personal feud their matches were battles in which you could never guess the outcome. Beca felt a little nervous knowing she would have to face the very best of the best since round one, looking ahead her chances were just as difficult as the first match. Nigel patted her back.

"Don't worry Beca, you can do this. We'll work on it tomorrow. As long as you keep yourself focus you can make it."

She nodded, she knew there were two parts in every match, what happened before and what happened on court. If you felt defeatist before the match started then you were surely going to lose the real match. Beca liked to win of course but more than anything she hated to lose, she wasn't going to give up until the last point was played.

Aubrey and Chloe were watching the draw announcement as well, Chloe had become more interested since she talked to Beca, she was asking Aubrey a million questions about tennis and her friend was happy to answer all of them.

"damn, she's going to face Daniels." Aubrey said when she saw Beca's first round opponent.

"Is that good or bad?" Chloe asked her.

"Bad, Daniels is just as difficult to beat as Simons. She's the second best player in the world and she has no mercy. Beca will be lucky if she gets to snatch a couple of games, I've seen this girl giving bagels all season, the only one she hasn't been able to beat is Simons."

Chloe looked extremely confused "I didn't understand anything you just said. Why would this girl give bread to her rivals" realization hit her "OHHH so they have it more difficult to stay in shape! wow she's sneaky"

Aubrey stared at her friend before she burst into a fit of laughter she had to wipe the tears of her face "Oh my god Chloe, that was the funniest thing I've heard in a while." The redhead crossed her arms "A bagel in tennis means someone won a set 6-0 or a double bagel if is 6-0 6-0."

Chloe pouted "it's not my fault you guys use such ridiculous names!" she defended herself.

"awww you are adorable." Aubrey said still laughing at her friend.

"anyway, do you think Beca has a chance though?" her voice full of hope.

Aubrey twisted her mouth and tilted her head analyzing the situation. "well, the crowd is definitely going to be behind Daniels, Beca's the underdog here. The crowd can screw up your game but it will all come down to how mentally tough she is. Her game is really impressive, I've been checking old footage of her and the girl is spectacular." she concluded.

Chloe smiled "Can I see that old footage? I want to learn more about her" she then back tracked "about her game, you know.."

Aubrey smirked "wow, you have it really bad Chloe, you are willing to learn about tennis now? I feel a little hurt. I've been trying to get you interested in it for what? four years now?"

"sorry Bree, you are not as cute as her" she snickered.

"aca-bitch!" Aubrey laughed "you haven't even talk to her"

"That's what you think" said Chloe winking while walking to the bathroom to get a shower.

Aubrey sat up with her mouth agape "Chloe Arianna Bale, you little minx! Tell me all about it in this instant!"

Chloe laughed while she entered the shower, replaying her conversation with Beca, she stopped in her tracks when she realized she didn't give her name to the girl. Way to go, you had one job! she thought to herself, but well, she was very nervous and distracted by the girl to even pay attention to what she was saying. Beca looked beautiful all flushed after spending some time in the sun. Her cheeks had a nice pink shade and her eyes were deep blue, it reminded Chloe of the sky at night.

Beca's dreams were filled with a certain friendly redhead. A content smile spreading on her lips. The memory of her father's visit long forgotten thanks to a bigger and much more pleasant occupant in her mind. The redhead girl, if only she knew her name...

A.N: Thank you to everyone who took the time to follow, favorite or review the story so far. In this chapter I had a longer Beca/Chloe conversation but decided to cut it because it didn't make much sense. I know the story is going slow, sorry for that. I just don't want to rush it. I know there's a bit of tennis talk (my apologies if you don't get it). As the tournament begins there will be more tennis talk, I'll try to explain it for those of you who don't know it, that's why Chloe is learning all about it. English is not my first language so I apologize if there are some horrible mistakes or some phrases don't make sense, please feel free to point them out if you see them, the only way to learn is to know what I'm doing wrong.

I have no idea what Chloe's middle name is but I love the name Arianna xD

Also I need your help with something, what profession should we give Chloe? My first option was a doctor but she's too young to be one, or not? what are your thoughts?

Hasta el próximo capítulo! :)