Popularity

Barden is almost still high school. Just with a lot more drink and sex. In high school it's easy to tell the difference between the losers and the winners. How do you win? One word. Popularity.

And that of all things, that was not what Aubrey wanted to be. Not in the beginning. Not really.

"Aubrey Posen?" called the girl at the desk. She was firm and proper, with an elegant, superior air about her. Even just in her voice.

"Yes. Hi, I'm Aubrey." The blonde smiled showing her perfect pearly whites. She waved her hand awkwardly, her oversized knitted sweater sleeve flopping with her hand.

"I'm studying music therapy and this is my first year and it's really exciting to be.."

"We don't need an introduction Posen. This isn't an interview, it's an audition now just sing us the song." The girl at the desk had barely looked. Her superiority washed over the audience in the hall. She was obviously the queen bee here.

I thought I left this in high school. Aubrey rolled her eyes as she dropped her bag to the side of the stage.

"I don't even get a please? Bitch." she said warily under her breathe as she walked back to the centre.

The brunette at the desk looked up and cocked her head. Aubrey felt the sides of her lips curling into a smirk. Her snarky smart arse comments were always getting her in trouble back home.

"Aca-scuse m-" the brunette started but Aubrey started singing and drowned whatever the rest of her oh so aca-awesome sentence was.

When Aubrey had finished the room was still silent. The brunette had forgotten to close her mouth. So ofcourse, Aubrey saw this as her cue to take a bow and leave.

Talents

Aubrey didn't think she got in. Her mouth always ran her into trouble, it was a problem really. She just never thought of it that way. More a talent other people should be scared of. Now this talent had perhaps lost her the one thing she really wanted to do. Perhaps her only other talent; singing. As soon as she left that auditorium her eyes had started to swell with tears. She didn't realise until she hit the bathroom in her dorm that they had overflown and ruined the best attempt of her Taylor Momsem impression so far.

"Why am I crying?" she asked her reflection.

Because I messed up, again.

The blonde frowned at herself, trying to wash the streaks off her cheeks.

"It's only a stupid singing group." She watched the sink bowl get splashed with drops of mascara. Not wanting to look at herself when she won the argument.

That I really wanted to be a part of, not just really but REAAALLLYY. This was supposed to be a new start and I ruined i before it even had a chance to begin.

Aubrey felt the blood rush to her face and instantly broke down over the sink. Her legs weakening bringing her to her knees, then to the floor.

So she just lay there. Crying on the floor about the stupid singing group that she didn't think she got into because of her stupid mouth. (Which was definitely a problem.)

Changes

When Aubrey found herself with a bag over her head in a room that smelt like old gym socks and vanilla incence she thought about alot of things.

Like how kidnappers definitely weren't this fancy so it must be some college prank. How she didn't actualy know anyone well enough for them to pull a prank on her, so it must be some initiation ceremony and how she still had her clothes on so it must not be an initiation ceremony.

Nevermind the fact that she hadn't tried out for any clubs since the 'Bellas'.

(The stupid singy one, that actually wasn't a big deal anyway. At least not until her new roomie Chloe found her asleep on the bathroom floor and told her that she saw her at the audition and hoped they'd both get in. Maybe it was a big deal... For Chloe. Definitely not Aubrey though, definitely.)

A familiar voice broke Aubrey's stream of thoughts.

"So Ladies. I guess you're wondering why you're here." It was calm and collected yet, unnerving.

"Bags" the voice said sternly. She paused.

It took a second for Aubrey's eyes to adjust to the dim light of the room. It was the Barden gymnasium. The seats were packed away. Replaced by a single desk, like an altar covered in candles and flowers. In front of them a row of prim and proper ladies all dressed in flight attendant outfits with little blue and yellow scarves around their necks. Aubreys mouth opened slightly.

"Well Ladies." It was the desk brunette.

"Welcome to the Barden Bellas."

There was a scream and Aubrey can't remember if it came from her or the redhead next to her.

A few elated giggles errupted and then a hush from the older members. They went on with the initiation, complete with an oath and "blood" drinking. They eventually got to the Aca-people party somewhere on the campus. Aubrey did a double-take when she realised the redhead who had been beside her was actually her roommate Chloe who squealed in excitement when she saw her friend.

"BREE!" Chloe grabbed Aubrey's wrists and pulled her into a hug. The redhead had decided that Aub sounded like somebody forgot to close their mouth and that Bree was more suited to her personality anyway. Usually Aubrey didn't approve of nicknames, but Chloe was different. She was endearing. She did it in an annoying way, but he was endearing. She was definitely one of those people that you couldn't be mad with. Definitely.

"We made it! I told you! Didn't I? You blew everyone away. This is amazing!" She sang

letting go of Bree's hands and flying over to talk to another girl.

Chloe was an unconventially lovable person. A bit weird, a bit quirky, but filled with so much love for life that smiling becomes a must. She was electric, even back then and Aubrey knew it. There was definitely something special about that girl.

"Posen."

Aubrey almost spilled her drink down her freshly-not-ironed-ever shirt. She turned with a grin still on her face from Chloe's little spurt to see, desk girl. And then the smile was gone.

"I want to talk to you." Aubrey began to open her mouth but desk girl grabbed her arm and brought her away from the crowd making it obvious that really, Aubrey didn't have a choice.

"I realise we may have gotten off on the wrong foot." Her voice was sickly sweet.

"And perhaps you were cool with your 'I don't care' attitude in high school and your little homemade outfits." The brunette tilted her head slightly giving Aubrey a once over.

"But here in Barden we do care and you must understand how seriously we take our aca-careers. So therefore you must understand." Her voice lowered to a growling whisper.

"That no freshman will undermine, MY authority, MY rules or enter MY club with an attitude so shit it alone was the cause of global warming. I want to tell you now, Aubrey. " She drew out her name as if it was poison.

"That you need to make some... changes, with your life if you want to stay a part of this club. Your mouth got you in her but if you dare use it against me again? It'll get you kicked straight back to Okalahoma."

The brunette gave Aubrey a dirty look and walked back to the other bellas. Aubrey watched as some of the newbies flitted around getting her drinks and thanking her for letting them into the club. Aubrey threw her cup to the ground and marched home.

Climbing into bed was herself that she was going to sleep, that was easy too, but sleeping? No. So she decided to write Chloe a quick note, she'd probably be worried anyway.

Felt sick. Must have drank too much. Came home early.

Talk in the morn,

Bree x