"You can't do that!" Chloe almost yelled at the principal.
"Yes we can Miss Beale, and we have to. We don't have a choice." He responded.
"Why would you cut the music program? The kids are very talented singers." She said.
"We don't have enough money to run the music program." He said.
It was August and school was started in a few weeks. Chloe had just been informed that there was no more funding for the music program.
"What if I raise enough money?" She asked.
"Miss Beale, don't be ridiculous. You can't possible raise that much money in three weeks." He said with a laugh. This only frustrated Chloe even more.
"I can and I will. You just wait!" Chloe said and stormed out. She was marching out of the building, when she ran into a shorter and younger woman. The impact of the collision caused the woman to drop her box of books and supplies.
"I'm sorry." The woman said in a small voice. She didn't look at Chloe. She just looked at her things on the ground and immediately went to pick them up.
"No I'm sorry. That was all my fault." Chloe insisted. She helped the woman pack up her things.
"I'm new here. Can you tell me where room six would be?" The woman asked when they were finished.
"I'd be glad to. Would you like me to help you get your things unpacked?" Chloe said.
"Yes, please! That'd be great, thank you." She said and finally looked Chloe in he eye.
"I'm Chloe, or Miss Beale. I am the music teacher here, or at least was." Chloe said as they were walking.
"Was? What happened?" The younger woman asked.
"They are cutting the music program. Enough about me." Chloe said and looked to the other woman.
"Oh. I'm Beca." She said.
"Nice to meet you Beca. What are you going to teach?" Chloe said.
"I'm going to be the new math teacher." Beca said with a shy smile.
"That's great." Chloe said.
They walked in silence down the empty halls of the school.
"Here it is." Chloe said and gestured to the wooden door on her left.
Beca fumbled with the keys before successfully opening the door. Inside was a large desk and comfortable chair for Beca and twenty five smaller desks with chairs.
"Wow!" Beca said as she walked in. She immediately put her things down and sat in the chair. She spun it around and laughed, causing Chloe to laugh.
"So, you sing?" Beca asked after they had settled down.
"Yeah, but I have nodes." Chloe replied.
"Nodes? What is that?" Beca asked.
"They're vocal nodules. They sit on your windpipe and crush your dreams." Chloe said.
"Can you sing for me?" Beca asked.
"Uh sure." Chloe said. She thought for a moment about what to sing. Finally the perfect song came to mind.
"You shout it out, but I can't hear a word you say.
I'm talking loud, not saying much.
I'm criticized, but all your bullets ricochet.
Talking loud, not saying much.
I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose.
Fire away, fire away.
Ricochet, you take your aim.
Fire away, fire away."
Beca joined in, her beautiful voice blending perfectly with Chloe's.
"Shoot me down, but I won't fall.
I am titanium.
Shoot me down but I won't fall.
I am titanium." They sang.
From that day on, Beca and Chloe fought together to get Chloe her job back. After a year of fighting for it, Chloe was once again the music teacher, all thanks to a tiny brunette named Beca.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
