A/N Sorry for such a late update; the summer season appears to call for holidaying in areas where it turns out there's no internet! Without any further delay however, enjoy the chapter :)

Tuesday (After School)

The heavy door thudded shut behind the small brunette as she slowly entered the quiet changing room. A cold breeze hit Beca's lungs and she wheezed a little before adjusting herself to the harsh layers of damp and dust settled in the atmosphere. With caution, the teenager walked from the school corridor's entrance around a tall block of red and grey lockers, deciding to drop her bags on an empty bench space opposite one side. On the other side of the locker-tower were a set of ugly, faded white-tiled shower cubicles with ragged cloth representing curtains strewn across.

Sighing to herself (and the silent room), the girl set about extracting items of sportswear from a black and white rucksack she'd set down next to her schoolbag. Why did she agree to participate in an extracurricular? Beca grumbled internally. And why did she choose SELF DEFENCE?!

Ping

A message illuminated Beca's screen and she frowned at her girlfriend's words as she finished swept her hair into a ponytail:

Chloe: Guess who ;)

As Beca's brow creased at the screen in confusion, she felt a pair of sleek hands slip around to lightly cover her eyes from behind. Within a second, the brunette's breathing was shallow and her heart skipped a beat as the unexpected arrival's body shuffled closer. Chloe's warm breath tickled the hairs on the nape of the smaller girl's neck, "Did you guess?" The melodic tune of the ginger's words shot through the cold air between the two girls and Beca found the energy (and awareness) to spin around. The taller girl's hands rested across the brunette's shoulders and her fingers eagerly nestled into the ponytail's loosening locks. Without replying, the smirking smaller girl leaned forward, lips parted, and closed the distance between the two. Lacking hesitation, Chloe's tongue licked hungrily against her girlfriend's rosy lips before gaining full entry. Meanwhile, Beca's hands drifted down the soft grey fabric of the ginger's baggy hoodie before slipping under the hem and up the girl's sides. Her fingers slid smoothly across a swimming costume's nylon fabric which tightly clung to the taller girl's sleek frame. Pulling back briefly from the kiss, the brunette smirked, "How am I meant to undress this gift without damaging the packaging?"

"Actually," Chloe smiled however her bright eyes dimmed a little, "You aren't meant to.. Not right now, anyway. I need to stay focused on the swimming competition."

"And sneaking up on me is maintaining your focus?" the smaller girl chuckled softly.

"Fair point," the ginger took a reluctant step back and her girlfriend released a quiet whimper of objection, "This was just a treat to keep me going." Chloe leaned in to give Beca a brief peck before spinning and marching diligently to the door she'd stealthily entered through. However, she paused before fully disappearing and turned her head slightly to the side. The taller girl's confident words echoed along the space outstretched between the two teenagers and resonated in Beca's mind long after her girlfriend had left, "You know, the shower stalls at the swimming pool are pretty private.. I'll see you after the competition."

Shaking her head in awe, Beca smirked inwardly as she quickly changed into her sportswear in order to make up for lost time. Shoving her bag into an empty locker and readjusting her messy ponytail, the brunette hurried out of the changing room and towards the gym for her class.

5 Minutes Later

"Right, listen up everyone!" a tanned, bald man called in a deep voice as he entered the gym. He removed a grey suit jacket from over his black tank top, which matched his grey joggers, and tossed it aside onto a bench at the side of the gym. Behind him a skinnier tanned man with thick black glasses and frizzy black curls stumbled, balancing sports bags on his bony arms like branches, struggled to follow. The crowd of people attending the class set aside their drinks bottles and phones by their bags of other belongings at the edge of the large gym and walked to join the instructor in the empty space. Impatient, the bulkier man spoke in his gruff voice over his muscular shoulder, "Dax, give out the equipment and spread everyone out as we planned".

Fumbling slightly, the skinny man (Dax) uttered a reply before rushing to space each of the attendees approximately 2 feet apart. By each person, Dax placed a rolled-up yoga mat and either a pair of boxing or sparring gloves which reeked with sweat. By the time Dax had clumsily reached Beca (who was timidly stood at the back of the group in her black sports trousers and top with a dark purple trim) she'd calculated and spaced herself accordingly from the Hispanic girl to her right. He smiled thankfully at her before dropping a pair of BO-ridden sparring hand pads at her feet next to a tightly-rolled green mat. At the front of the crowd, the gruff instructor was introducing himself and explaining the format of the classes. He then droned on about safety regulations (for those who didn't attend the school and know its layout inside out), his own experiences and how self-defence skills could save a life, etc. Bored, Beca busied herself with watching the sun sinking behind the surrounding hills of the school behind the gym and sports field.

"Sorry I'm late! There was an issue with a cheesecake, in that I had to eat it," an Australian voice cut into the droning introduction and Beca tried not to smile as the class turned their attention from the frowning man to the jolly blonde marching purposefully toward them. Fat Amy wore black leggings with a pink-white tie-dyed top and matching headband poking out from under her fringe. Clicking his tongue with irritation, the instructor glared at the Australian before going back to his speech. Once Fat Amy had joined the group for a minute or so, the man stopped what he was saying to shoot over his shoulder, "Dax, aren't you forgetting something?" The assistant (who'd been on his phone) glanced up with a slightly dazed expression, "Huh?"

"The mat and equipment!" the larger man hissed, muttering afterwards, "I swear if he wasn't my nephew.." Once Dax had obeyed the order, the instructor cleared his throat and proceeded, "I need a volunteer."

"Ooh, pick me, Hunky Hippo!" Fat Amy called out eagerly as her flabby arms shot above her head. Beca snorted at this and took a second to compose herself before glancing up to see the man's reaction. With a blank expression, the instructor bellowed, "How about you there, at the back?!" All eyes turned and for a second the small brunette thought he'd picked on her for finding the Australian amusing, but was relieved when the Hispanic to the right started to prance forward. The girl was petite and toned in her shape, with thick black hair tied into a long ponytail. She batted her dark eyelashes with unwitting seduction as the instructor asked her name and replied in a thick accent, "My name is Flo." Greeting the girl curtly, the instructor then asked Flo to get into what she thought a defensive stance was, before correcting her slightly and explaining to the class the best position for offence and defence. Once he'd demonstrated with the limber volunteer a simple starter task requiring a palm block from a straight punch followed by a twisted block from a stereotypical lunge grab, the instructor ordered for everyone to split into pairs with someone who had the opposite kinds of gloves to them; in order to make later exercises easier to organise.

Beca stood awkwardly at the side as she waited for the other half in her pair to emerge from the group. Much to her surprise, the remaining person without a partner was a smirking blond teenager. He was built broad and his muscles rippled under his tight-fitting top as he extended a hand to shake Beca's. His English accent was overpoweringly posh and rich with sarcasm as he maintained a cocky smirk, "Hi, I'm Luke. The pleasure's all yours." The brunette did her best to squeeze the boy's hand hard and he appeared a little taken aback at her strength, grinning at her frowning expression. Waiting a second, Luke asked patronisingly, "And you are..?"

"Beca," the brunette replied as she pulled her slim hand from the tight grip and took her position of defence. As they started to spar, the blond spoke up, breaking Beca's concentration and irritating her a little. With a lopsided smile he said, "So, I don't believe I've seen you at the club?"

"Club?"

"The boxing club, where this joke," he nodded his head at the instructor practicing with Flo, "works.. And also where us big boys show him who's really boss."

"And who would that be? The one with the biggest bank account? Or dick?" Beca snapped back, trying to silence the cocky boy as she concentrated on blocking his rough (and exceedingly strong) offence moves. Luke chuckled and shook his head a little, "Whoa, calm it! I'm just being friendly."

"Sorry," Beca sighed, "I'm a little-"

"Frustrated?" Luke winked and laughed when the brunette, saying nothing, glanced down and unwittingly blushed, "So, Becky, right?"

"Beca, actua-"

"Whatever," the blond dismissed and continued, "The club can really help with relieving tensions." Annoyed at the boy's brash lack of manners, Beca narrowed her eyes, "Is that what lonely idiots like you do there? Substitute it for wanking alone in your room 24/7?"

"Yet again, easy tiger, or I'll catch you out," Luke winked and, in an instant had slipped past Beca's anticipating block, succeeding in the offence as he grasped her top. About to retort, the brunette found a lack of opportunity as the instructor called out, "Okay, now everyone on defence put on the pads you were given and practice the first punching routine with these blocking devices. I'll call for all of you to swap over in a few minutes with roles."

"Ooh, roleplay!" Luke rolled his eyes and grinned, "What's your opinion on roleplay, Becky?" Blushing at the flooding thoughts of a certain ginger entertaining her through acting talent, the brunette tried to push out her thoughts. She gritted her teeth, "It's Beca."

"Right, so take that anger you're feeling towards me and use it now in power to block this," the blond threw a particularly hard punch at Beca's face. Huffing and frowning with concentration, the small girl diligently obeyed the advice and, sure enough, slammed his arm away.

"There you go!" he coaxed condescendingly, "However you're wasting energy by flinging my hand so far from your face, just hit it enough to be no more than 45 degrees off. That saves you from the punch and leaves you the time and power to prevent this next punch."

"What next pun-"

CRASH

Alarmed at the unexpected second fist charging through the air, Beca's mind found itself too distracted replying to Luke's words to raise her hand and block. The boy's rough skin on his wide knuckle collided with the small girl's pale cheekbone with a heavy smack. Caught off-guard, Beca's planted feet raised and stumbled clumsily, her ankles loosening as she bent her legs back. Falling, the girl felt her eyes close shut in anticipation for the smack of the hard floor, holding her gloved hands up to break her fall. The stench of the gloves made her grimace in the few seconds between the punch and her fall to the ground. Before she could smash her skull onto the ground however, a strong set of fingers gripped against her bony right arm and pulled her body from gravity's hold. Luke's firm grip squeezed hard against Beca's thin skin, giving a Chinese burn as his clasp slipped from her forearm to her wrist. A searing shock of pain shot through the girl's arm as she felt a small clunk. A gasp of pain escaped through the brunette's lips as she felt her right hand being pulled from the wrist's socket and opened her lips wider to allow her ragged breaths to escape. Instead though, a small scream found itself escaping from the back of the brunette's throat. The chattering surrounding the pair came to an immediate halt and the thudding footsteps of the bulky instructor jogging over echoed in Beca's eardrums as her darkened vision blurred. Luke had stood her shaking frame up and she swayed on the spot unsteadily as the fire in her right arm burned with intensity.

"Luke, I didn't let you come to this to throw your weight around!" The deep voice of the instructor cut harshly through Beca's pain. The man, with the setting sun bouncing from his bald head, turned his attention to the brunette and spoke in a kinder yet still gruff tone, "Where does it hurt?"

"M- My wrist," Beca winced and spluttered broken gasps for air as the instructor gently lifted her right wrist and called for Dax to bring the first aid. As his assistant opened the box and spilled the contents over Beca's designated yoga mat, the instructor ordered the class to proceed with their work, dismissing Luke to get some water. Dax, pushing his oversized glasses up his bony nose, handed the instructor a gel cream and a bandage before waiting with a safety pin. The instructor swiftly applied the cooling cream to the brunette's wrist joint, carefully massaging the bones into realignment. He then wrapped the wrist into the correct position securely with the bandage before finally clicking his fingers for the safety pin and securing the dressing to Beca's forearm-hand area. Luke returned with the water as the instructor was seating Beca on a bench at the side next to everyone's bags. The instructor took the cup from the blond with a steely glare before turning to offer it to the girl. He then sighed and spoke, "Look, Reggie, is it?"

"Umm," Beca replied between sips of cool liquid, "Beca, actually. But I.. I get that a lot," she bluffed to the deadpan man making her feel on edge.

"Okay, well, Regg- Rebecc- Beca? I'm sorry this has happened, as stated in the disclaimer you signed before attending the class, we will offer compensation cost for this class alone. I suggest you take a minute to sip this and then just sit: get some rest."

"Thanks," Beca forced a weak smile and focused on balancing her cup in her left hand, which was ungloved at this point despite her inability to recall this happening. Dax sat with her as the instructor jogged back to reinstruct the class with Luke skulking behind like a scolded dog. Amused, the brunette girl saw the concentration on the boy next to her's face as he tried to complete the puzzle game on his screen. His tongue poked slightly from his pursed lips and his thick glasses edged down his nose.

30 Minutes Later

"How was it?" Dr Mitchell smiled at his daughter as she slid into the car and shut the passenger door. Scanning the girl, Beca's dad noticed the bandage emerging from her jumper sleeve and frowned, "What happened? Do you need me to complain to the company?"

"No, Dad," Beca sighed as she surveyed the man's frown lines, "I'm fine, my wrist just briefly dislocated because I was falling and a guy tried to help."

"You were falling? I thought this wasn't a contact martial art. And what's that bruise on your face?" Dr Mitchell wasn't calming down, his face reddening to display this.

"Oh," Beca instinctively lifted her left hand to brush her cheek and winced at the bruised skin from Luke's punch, "That was an accident, my fault for doing the task wrong. Honestly, it's fine."

"Are you sure? It looks quite severe from the colouring," the doctor reached over to probe lightly at his daughter's bruise and observed her wincing, "I think it might be better for you to rest tonight."

"But it's Chloe's competition!" Beca objected, too worried at her father's power to prevent her plans to hold back on her indignant tone.

"She'll understand. You need to treat both of these wounds before they swell."

"So, I'll put an icepack on before bed," Beca looked into Dr Mitchell's dark eyes, "Dad, she's counting on me being there to support her.. I.. I can't let her down," the brunette took a deep breath and broke their eye contact, "I've never had a.. friend like this and.. I don't want to blow it." Sighing, Benjamin acknowledged this point, "And there's no way you can contact and explain why you shouldn't appear?" Grinning slightly at her father's defeated tone, the brunette replied, "No; they'll be swimming right now to warm up." Taking a deep breath, Dr Mitchell sighed again before turning the engine of the car on and replying, "Should I drop you straight there then? And what time should I pick you up?"

"Umm.. Actually Chloe offered to give me a lift back, is that okay? And yes please for going straight there; I'd like a good seat."

"Hmm.. I suppose that's alright, offer petrol money to whoever's driving you back. However, are you alright to wait while she's changing after the competition?"

"Yeah, I won't be bored waiting," Beca grinned to herself hungrily and indulged in her own thoughts a little too easily.

"Why's that?" Benjamin asked, genuine curiosity in his tone at his daughter's assured answer and unidentifiable expression.

"Umm.." the small girl blushed as she scrambled for an excuse, "I have some homework.. On my phone.. It's not due for a while, but an early start doesn't hurt anyone, eh?" The girl's nervous reply warmed the doctor's heart a little as he misinterpreted her embarrassment, "Well, I'm proud of you for being so organised, Beca."

"Thanks, Dad," the girl smiled, relieved, "And thanks for the lift there."

"That's okay. I'll put a couple of icepacks in the freezer ready for you to apply when you're back."

1 Hour Later

Fire and water blended together as the sleek figure in a navy and turquoise swimsuit zipped through the water at immense speed. To Beca, the cheering of the crowd echoing around the indoor pool's walls was a distant noise. To this small brunette stood in the front row, the remaining lanes of swimmers were competing in a different race. To the smitten teen, Chloe was the only figure worth focusing on, and her body's beautiful movements gliding through the light water were as elegant as a professional ballet dancer.

The ginger curved her spine as she turned at the end of the lane and her slender arms rippled through the water. Her biceps flexed and dragged her sleek frame along in an effortless manner. It was magnificent. It was astonishing. It was breath-taking. Chloe's movements were perfectly executed, and her body expert in its tasks. However, the most mesmerising of it all: her hair. The teenager had braided her ginger locks tightly to her scalp and the fiery streaks shone their rays through the blue. Perfect complimentary colours danced together.

Once again, it was the catching of the eye. Once again, Beca was unable to focus on anything but the image of this girl mixing elements into a complex beauty beyond the eye's imagination. Once again Beca was falling further down the rabbit hole, and flying closer to the sun than ever before.

2 Hours Later

Most of the spectators had left through the main entrance and were gathered in the car park, waiting for the final swimmers to finish showering. Beca cautiously entered the large changing rooms for the female competitors, her eyes darting around for what - or, more correctly, whom - she sought. An idea in her mind and a glint in her intense eyes, Beca walked slowly and purposefully as she spoke a single word with a grin, "Marco". No answer. The brunette took a few more steps and rounded a corner before repeating herself a little louder, "Marco". Finally, the small girl rounded the final corner and found herself yet again in seeming emptiness, "Marco?" A little less self-assured, the teenager turned to leave when she heard nothing at first. Then, a word sang through the air in a melodic harmony.

"Polo!"

Beca's small ears perked up and she took a breath before repeating herself, "Marco".

"Polo, baby!" the voice called back sexily before the sound of a shower starting up surged through the air. Smirking, the lustful brunette strode into the clouds of steam covering the corner she'd previously walked past. However, when she peered into the shower cubicle there wasn't a ginger to be seen. Frowning, Beca turned back and found herself colliding chest-to-chest with a naked girl. The brunette squealed in surprise and jumped backwards, leaving a gap between herself and the unclothed teenager giggling in front of her.

With her hands on her protruding hips, the ginger cooed, "Aw c'mon, Becs. Isn't it time to reward me for my victories?!" Frowning mockingly, Beca responded as she slowly started to slip her feet out from her converse pumps, "I thought you got a medal for that?" The brunette lifted one foot at a time and removed her socks with her left hand. She then started to unbutton her jeans as Chloe hungrily licked her lips and tried to answer, "Y- Yeah, but.. But I won them for you.." There was a lack of jokiness in the comment and Beca brought her gaze up to match the bright orbs of her girlfriend before replying quietly, "You made me very proud to be your girlfriend, Chlo". With this, she finished unfastening her jeans and slipped them down her slender legs. Leaving her lacy underwear to tease the ginger, Beca then nimbly pulled herself from her loose jumper, revealing only a bra and her right arm's bandage below. Noticing the wound, Chloe frowned, "Oh my God, what happened?" Shrugging, the brunette replied, "It's fine, just don't count on my self-defence skills", and smirked. Taking a step closer, the taller girl smiled, "Well, you're still my hero. How about I help you with these?" Chloe's slender fingers reached behind Beca to unclasp her bra and carefully slide the straps down both pale arms, avoiding the bandage. She then tickled her fingertips across the brunette's hips before tucking them under the girl's underwear and allowing it to drop to the floor above the previously discarded jeans.

Winking, Chloe spoke enthusiastically, "Shower time!" before hesitating and regaining sincerity, "Do you need the bandage to stay dry.. Or should it keep your hand in place?"

"Umm.. I don't know.. Warm water is likely to loosen the joint and I need it to heal in the correct position so I guess keep it on?" Beca frowned and stared off as she put knowledge into application. She blinked back to see electric blue eyes admiring her and Chloe breathing, "I seriously love you so much, Becs". Chuckling, the brunette replied, "I love you too, weirdo".

"Here's your reward: You shower, I clean," Beca grinned as the ginger backed under the warm trickle from the spraying shower. Nodding, Chloe closed her bright eyes and tilted her head back as her hands stretched upwards to splash water onto her face. The droplets of warm liquid poured through the taller girl's ginger waves which had been removed from their tight braids and over her partially parted lips. Chlorine previously embedded in the crinkles around her eyes was dislodged by the shower's stream and slid in slim streaks down her toned, bare body. Water covered the girl's entire body, pooling at her feet and in the crevices of her defined abs. Beca admired the way the droplets streaked over her girlfriend's shaven region and slipped past her folds to her thighs.

Unable to resist any longer, the brunette knelt down and slowly shuffled forward, making sure Chloe's eyes were still shut before making her move. Without hesitation, Beca's tongue edged forward and licked up one of the ginger's inner thighs before paving a way across the damp skin to the girl's hips. At the ginger's hips, the smaller girl brought her hands to grip Chloe's muscular ass and pull her in closer as her pelvis bucked uncontrollably. The taller girl gasped appreciatively as her girlfriend started to suck and bite at the sensitive region, working her way steadily back down towards her moistening labia. In minutes, a large groan had escaped from the ginger's dry throat as Beca's tongue hungrily began to devour the seepage from her slick folds. Using her left hand on Chloe's behind to push herself into the girl's warm core even further, Beca brought her bandaged hand back to start tracing up the other girl's writhing body. There, her nimble fingers located and massaged the ginger's right breast. Its perky stature shuddered in excitement as the brunette squeezed with loving intensity and simultaneously pulled at the hardening nipple between her index and middle fingers.

"Yes, Becaaa," Chloe whimpered as the brunette's tongue moved more rigorously inside her core, rubbing enthusiastically against her clit. The moans travelled with the water down to the smaller girl's ears and encouraged her to pursue. Beca's left hand stopped gripping her girlfriend's ass and, caressing the other girl's toned skin, set about gently parting the taller girl's legs further as she pulled her head in closer. Within Chloe's core, the brunette's tongue flexed and flicked expertly with enough precision to send flutters up the ginger's trembling body. Every movement in each direction weakened the taller girl at the knees, her throat emitting increasingly loud groans into a melodic crescendo.

Feeling her girlfriend's body fully weaken against her touch, Beca proceeded to rub Chloe's perky breast as her tongue swirled and revelled in the building anticipation of her movements. With a deep breath in, the smaller girl recoiled her weapon partially to only then thrust it forward once again directly onto the quivering clit. Within seconds, Chloe's body was shuddering to an ecstatic climax and her core gushed with satisfaction, repeatedly. Beca, equally as eager for the release, accepted the flowing reward and her tongue proceeded with its diligent duty to clean the ginger's girlfriend's pouring core.

A few minutes later, Beca was retracting from her position between Chloe's core and rising to stand in front of the ginger. Parting her lips, the brunette let the shower's water pour into her mouth and she allowed the cleansing liquid to overflow before rinsing it out and lunging in for a passionate kiss. Chloe sighed with content as she slipped her tongue into a dance with Beca's between moulded lips in their warm mouths. Their wet bodies pressed flush against one another as their hands roamed over one another's sleek skin and toned physiques. With great reluctance, Beca pulled back and waited as the dazed ginger regained her stolen breath and opened her bright eyes. The electric orbs were enthused while also exhausted from the evening's activities. Noticing this, a smile crept onto the brunette's rosy lips as she spoke softly.

"Come on," she took the taller girl's slender hands gently in her own, "I'll help you get ready and then you can rest while I dress. Do you mind me borrowing your towel?" Bleary-eyed, the ginger shook her head and smiled widely as she tried to suppress an adorable yawn; her true fatigue catching up with her. As Beca slowly led her girlfriend from the warmth of the enclosed shower cubicle into the changing area, she heard a small voice speak behind her.

"I love you," Chloe whispered, Beca guiding her to perch next to the bench by the taller girl's neat pile of clothes, towel and mobile. Taking out the towel and starting to dry her girlfriend, the brunette chuckled and replied, "And I love you too, a lot".

"Best.. reward.. ever.." the ginger sighed between breaths and heavy blinking to maintain awareness. Chuckling once again, Beca carefully finished drying the taller girl's body before wrapping her ginger locks into the towel above her head. She then set about dressing the teenager, gently guiding Chloe's long neck and drooping head to avoid injury as she slipped the grey hoodie atop the purple lace bra. Unable to resist, Beca leaned in and sucked at the ginger's perky breasts emerging from the lingerie. However, before she could get carried away, the brunette pulled her lips from the bruising skin, admired her work and proceeded with her task. Chloe, much more awake after this, reached with a hand to gently tilt Beca's face toward her own before leaning in and giving her a passionate kiss. Grinning, the brunette kissed back lovingly and eagerly before loosening the towel from her clothed girlfriend's damp hair. She then set about drying and dressing herself rapidly, readjusting her bandage slightly and retying her damp hair into a tight ponytail. Meanwhile, Chloe braided her waves into a loose side plait before waiting for her girlfriend to finish getting ready and pulling her back into yet another embrace.

"You know," the ginger whispered, her breath heating the few inches between the girls' lips, "I'm awake now.. And more than willing to reward you back." Chloe's fingers were snaking toward the front of Beca's jeans however found themselves being halted between the brunette's thighs.

"Another time, my dad will worry if we're much later," Beca reluctantly breathed, "I would if I could but.. But it's too risky pissing him off."

"I understand," the ginger sighed, a little forlorn for a second before she blinked and the spark in her eyes returned to their normal electric illumination. Gathering their belongings together, the girls intertwined their fingers and enjoyed the slow walk from the changing room to the car park where Chloe's dad had texted he'd be arriving at shortly.