Never Fly Too Close To The Sun

The Catching Of The Eye

October (first weekend of half-term holidays)

"Beca, I just still don't see how you can say you don't like it at Barden when you're not even trying to like it. I mean, you say you have friends but have your step-mum and I actually met any of them? No, we haven't. Beca," her Dad sighed exasperatedly, "are you sure you have friends? I mean, you haven't been out with them afterschool or at the weekends and you've been so-called 'buddies' for basically 2 1/2 months now..they're not using you are they?"

"No Dad, they're not using me. I'm not paying them for drugs or to do my homework or anything, don't worry," Beca replies monotonously, her voice heavily layered with sarcasm - which she knows her Dad hates. Sure enough, this retort provokes a raised eyebrow from him and he scratches the back of his head nervously before replying, "Okay okay I believe you. I get that your friends are kinda..nerdy and don't necessarily do the whole hang out thing when they could be studying," he chuckles at his remark, "But what about you? Sheila told me that the other parents have mentioned the masses of clubs available at school. For all ages, I might add, if you think it's just snotty little kids buzzing around making up languages with their classmates. Or why don't you ever invite any of your friends round to meet us? I'm starting to get the idea you don't like me.." He trails off and breaks eye contact with his daughter, feeling the pit of his stomach squirm in fear that she might confirm his notion.

"Aw no Dad, I don't dislike you! I dislike SHEILA," she spat the name with clear distaste, "But.." she huffs reluctantly seeing her Dad's wounded expression, "I know she makes you happy and she has been fine with me. I would blame anyone who married either of my parents after they'd split up. I guess I'm immature that way." Beca shrugs with nonchalance, knowing how stubborn she is and that she never tends to alter her opinion on matters like these anyway, "As for clubs..I truthfully haven't looked at the list."

Beca's Dad smiles as he sees an opportunity arise in the conversation and him being able to gain leverage over his now guilt-ridden teenager, "Brilliant! I believe Sheila got an email with the list from the school. Should I get her to print it off for you once she's back?" He decides to chance it, "Maybe..maybe you could go through it together..? You know, let her know when to put dinner in the oven for you and make sure laundry washes fit if you need..err sports kit."

Still feeling regret for saying what she did about the step-monster, despite her being a monster nevertheless, Beca didn't want to have any further arguments with her Dad after their previous one, so decided to please him by nodding at the ground and murmuring, "Yeah..maybe..thanks Dad." Beca's Dad grinned a toothy grin from managing to actually get through to his daughter for once, and left her room, closing the door on exit.

For some reason, which Beca couldn't quite place, she felt like making her Dad feel happy. That's why she immediately logged onto Facebook and created a group chat with Jesse, Benji & Emily (still the only 3 friends she had at school). She casually typed:

You guys wanna hang out tonight?

Within 30 seconds and before she could even open her book (Anna Karenina) to her current page, there was the ping of a reply.

Jesse: I'm defo in! Whatcha wanna do Becaw??

Rolling her eyes, Beca typed a reply.

I dunno, just wanna get out the house (and prove to Dad that I have genuinely got friends).

Jesse: You have friends?! That's news to me! ;P

Huffing, Beca decides that she's going to read a couple of pages of her book before giving Jesse the smart ass any satisfaction from a reply. But before she could make Jesse suffer in silence, there was a series of excited pings. Wonder who that could be..Beca sarcastically thought to herself.