Age Is Just a Number

Chapter 17: Fresh start

"Uh-I..." Beca stuttered, her face flushing red as she glanced up at Chloe who was just frozen, her cheeks matching Beca's.

"Kat, I can-" Chloe began but was cut off by the older woman who still stood there, shocked.

"John!" She called on her husband who just so happened to appear seconds later.

"Honey, what's wrong?" He asked, placing a hand on her shoulder, taking note of Beca and Chloe's terrified expressions.

"I need to talk to you outside." She said, pulling him out the room, closing the door behind her.

"Chloe what do we do?" Beca whispered pleadingly, tugging on the woman's hand.

The redhead took a deep breath before turning to her girlfriend. "Don't worry, I'll take it."

"No, you can't because they'll make you out to be some child groomer. I'll take the blame." Beca protested, still holding onto Chloe's hand.

"Beca you're 18, you're not a child. You're not underage, the only issue with our relationship is that we're teacher and student. Don't worry I can handle it." The redhead reassured.

"Then if you're going down, I'm coming down with you." Chloe couldn't help but smile when those words left Beca's mouth, although that smile instantly faded once the door reopened.

Chloe and Beca quickly realised they were still holding hands and pulled away from each other as quickly as possible.

"I want a full explanation. Now." John said sternly, crossing his arms across his chest.

"Well-" Beca and Chloe both began at the same time but it seemed like John couldn't contain himself long enough for the girls to explain themselves.

"Do you girls realise how wrong this is?! Chloe you're a grown woman, what the hell were your intentions with my teenage daughter, huh?!" He exploded, throwing his arms in the air before pointing his finger accusingly at Chloe.

"Honestly it's not like that-" Chloe tried, pretty much accepting her death at this point. "Beca..." She turned pleadingly to the girl, asking for a little help.

"Dad I'm 18." Beca said seriously.

"I don't care, you're still a teenager." Beca closed her eyes, god her father was so stubborn.

"Dad she's only 23! She's 5 years older than me. You and Kat are 7 years apart!" The short brunette protested from her bed.

"That's not-" John began but his wife cut him off.

"Can we get away from the age thing and focus on the fact that, Chloe, you could lose your job..." Kat said carefully and the redhead placed her hand over her forehead.

"I know...We met before school started though." Chloe explained, trying her best to keep her eyes on Kat so she could ignore the burning eyes of her girlfriend's father.

"It's true and Chloe didn't know that I was only 18. I lied and said I was in college. It was my fault, not hers." Beca chipped in. "Dad please you have to believe us, our relationship isn't anything weird or inappropriate, we actually really like each other and care about one another. You know for a fact that I've never had a proper relationship and now I'm finally in a happy one." Beca said sincerely, glancing up at her girlfriend with a warm smile.

John exhaled loudly and pinched the bridge of his nose as he paced the room. "You girls still can't be together though. Chloe I'm sorry for snapping back there, I know you're a lovely girl but this just can't work if you're going to be Beca's teacher. You could get into serious trouble and since Beca is the younger one, she'd come up smelling like roses."