Never Fly Too Close To The Sun

It's Not What It Looks Like

Monday Morning (Prior To Registration)

As she heard the familiar cheerful bounce of blue suede boots stride through the corridor outside, Beca put her book ('War and Peace', Tolstoy) down on the desk and awaited the familiar ginger's entrance to the tutor room. The brunette had grown to enjoy the early mornings, solely because she and Chloe could chat contentedly. They had arranged to try and get there before the class was full of possible eaves-droppers and indignant students.

Chloe entered and walked past the few quiet classmates present who were completing due homework. She headed to the smaller girl sat at their table in the back and slid into her chair.

"This is.. a new look," Beca mused, focusing on the ginger's tight-fitting stripy regal blue and black turtleneck, "I like it, it shows off your figure AND jawline". Smiling at the compliment, Chloe turned to face the brunette. In a swift movement, one slender hand swept aside her hair from the right-hand side of her neck as the other pulled down the turtleneck. Laughing at the other girl's wide eyes examine her bruised neck, Chloe pulled the stretchy fabric further to display how the marks descended both outwards across her collarbone and down her chest.

"It also doesn't show off these," she replied, before adding, "You're really good by the way.." The taller girl bit her lip as she skimmed over the other girl's exposed skin emerging from her skin-tight navy vest top which ended just over her black skinnies' waistline. Hearing voices of a few more classmates enter the room; Chloe hurriedly placed her top and hair back in their original location.

"Your skin isn't as pale as mine.. I didn't think it would be THAT sensitive.. It's also been TWO days," Beca whispered. Chuckling, Chloe replied, "Yeah, people with freckles and ginger hair are basically the equivalent to ghosts like you". Clear worry still etched across the brunette's face, the taller girl proceeded to offer reassurance, "Don't worry, Becs. My hair being down and wearing this top will keep it covered."

"Chloe," a husky voice breathed, "Lessons one and two today are being dedicated to sports awareness for all year 12 students.. with visitors coming in. That means you're going to have to wear your white polo AND tie your hair up, seeing as the teachers won't want us to represent the school messily or whatever. There's also no way they'll will let you not participate; you'd be forced to wear lost-property kit if need be." Horror dawned on the ginger's face and a crimson blush seeped from her face to her covered neck.

"Oh, fuck," the shocked girl breathed.

---

15 Minutes Later

Having collected their sports kits from their lockers, the two girls quietly started to walk towards the sports hall. Beca wished she could assure Chloe somehow, but she couldn't. After the rumours which had spread the previous week people were bound to connect the dots and that would be that: social suicide at Barden for the couple.

"Hey guys, wait for me," a female voice chirped from behind. Seconds later Stacie had joined them and noticed something was wrong; Chloe looked as if her glossy blue eyes were going to spill a waterfall of tears and Beca's mouth had formed a grim line.

"What's wrong?" The ginger didn't answer (still unaware that the taller brunette knew about hers and Beca's feelings towards one another). Dejected, Beca answered with the truth, "I err.. left some.. m- marks on Chloe.. and everyone's going to see them at this sports thing.." Turning to look at the bewildered girl next to her, Beca explained, "Chlo, Stacie knows about us. She's not going to tell anyone anything though, right?" She shifted her expression to the other brunette who nodded sincerely and answered, "Don't worry, you guys are my friends and I'm not going to hurt you". Chloe let out a deep breath and smiled in thanks, still speechless about her looming fate.