A secret that I'll keep

Chapter 1: Why Barden?

Katelyn sighed as she walked into her new apartment, her sixteen-year-old son following her. All of their stuff was there in boxes, Luke's Xbox yet to be set up. Beca, her cousin, followed her quietly and started to help her unpack.

"Ya know, I think Dad's forcing me to come to college at Barden. If that happens, can I dorm with you?" Beca asked, nervous. 

"There's four bedrooms. Go ahead. Just let Luke pick first." she sighed. Beca cheered and started to set up the Xbox in Luke's newly-picked room, along with his TV and sound system, while Katelyn went into her new room to start setting up. She got a call from her mom and put it on speaker.

"Hey, Ma. What's up?" she asked. "Everything good?"

"Hi, K. Yes, everything's fine. I just called to check up on you." her mom answered.

"I'm good. Beca and Luke are helping unpack." Katelyn said, wiping sweat off of her forehead.

"It's about time you go to college, K. You dropped out your freshman year." her mom congratulated.

"Ma, I had a ten-year-old to take care of. I didn't have the time or the money for college. Luke's sixteen now. He can hold his own if he has to and he has a job on campus." Katelyn said, sighing.

"Alright, dear. I believe you. I was just commenting on the happiness I felt that you're going back to college." her mother said with a chuckle. "Your uncle called. Beca's going to Barden too."

Katelyn heard Beca groan in exasperation when her mother said that.

"Rodger. I gotta go. I'll text you soon, Ma. Love you."

"Love you, too." her mom said, hanging up. Beca came into the room, her flannel open to reveal a tank top under it.

"I don't see why I have to go to college." she groaned.

"Well, Satan," Katelyn responded, using her hated nickname, "you could get a music degree, earning you more points toward getting accepted in L.A."

"Yeah, Fire?" she asked sarcastically. "What are you gonna do?"

"Get my quantum engineering degree as well as my other, cooler, degree in the field of bio-engineering." she answered back.

"Geez, busy much?"

"You're just jealous of my nerdiness." She sniped back.

"Totally am." She said, nudging her shoulder. "But if you tell people, I kill you."

"Of course, Satan."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Beca sighed as they wandered around the campus' Activities Fair.

"None of these clubs look interesting." she whined.

"What about the acapella one?" Katelyn asked her.

"No."

"It's music." she pointed out.

"Not happening."

"There's a cute redhead." Katelyn finally said.

"Where?!" Beca asked, her eyes betraying her excitement.

"The acapella booth." Katelyn laughed.

"You're dead to me." Beca muttered as they walked up to the booth.

"Hi. Any interest in joining our acapella group?"

Katelyn jumped as a flyer was shoved into her face, Beca reacting the same at the sight of the redhead.

"Right. This is a thing now." Beca snarked. 

"Oh totes. We sing covers of songs, but without any instruments. It's all from our mouths." the redhead said, bubbly blue eyes shining.

"Yikes." Beca murmured.

"Any interest?" the blonde cut across unhappily.

"Sorry, it sounds kinda lame." Katelyn apologized.

"Aca-scuse me?! Synchronized lady dancing to a Mariah Carey chart topper is not lame." the blonde defended. 

"We sing all over the world and compete in national championships." the redhead cut her friend off.

"On purpose?" Katelyn asked worriedly. She couldn't leave Luke alone for that long.

"We performed at the Cobb Energy Center, idiot."

"What Aubrey means to say is that we're a close-knit group of ladies whose dream is to return to the Lincoln Performing Arts Center this year. Help us turn our dreams into a reality?" the redhead asked, almost pleadingly.

"Sorry, I don't even sing, But it was cool meeting you guys." Beca told her softly before turning away. Katelyn threw an apologetic look to the two before following Beca.

"What was that, Beca?" she hissed when they got back to her apartment. Luke was still at school.

"I don't know. The blonde was getting on my nerves." Beca grumbled. "But the redhead-"

"I'm not having this conversation." Katelyn cut her off.

"Kate, she's just really adorable." Beca protested, her cobalt eyes shining.

"Okay. But she's your type, not mine." Katelyn said firmly. "Also, my shower is off limits today and for the next week until we can fix it. So, until then, dorm building showers it is."

"Dang it!" Beca yelled at her retreating back. Katelyn heard her whisper to herself. "Why is that redhead so adorable?"

"Because she's your type and the exact opposite of you!" Katelyn yelled back. She head Beca curse at her.

"Love you too."