"Nothing's gonna stop my girl!" he yells enthusiastically to her back as she walks away from him. She's right, this is a big deal. This is life changing. And while he's genuinely excited for her, he can't help but feel his heart constrict a little at what this might mean for him.
He smiles confidently at her and blows her a kiss as she turns to look at him one last time before entering the building. He can't help but marvel at how much has changed in the past three years. She's become softer on the edges, toning down her makeup a little and broadening her wardrobe slightly beyond combat boots, plaid, and black. She becomes more beautiful each day to him. She's still the passionate, sarcastic little firecracker he fell in love with freshman year, but now she's much, much more than that. She's his world.
He finds a coffee shop and settles in there while he waits for her. He buys a latte but doesn't end up drinking much of it. He's restless and his stomach churning with nervous energy. This was an opportunity she couldn't ignore. He wouldn't let her, even if it did mean they would end up on opposite sides of the country. This was her dream, and he just wanted her to be happy. He'd landed an internship which would most likely lead to a job with a brilliant movie composer in New York. If he played his cards right he'd be scoring movies within a year, after having learned from the best in the business.
This interview was for a paid job at a radio station. They had heard her music and asked her to interview for their prime time spot. She'd be allowed to play her mixes during the station's Club Remix segment on Friday and Saturday nights. It was the chance of a lifetime. He knew that people would hear her music and she'd blow up in this big way, it was only a matter of time. He just wished she didn't have to be in Los Angeles while he was in New York.
He's lost in his thoughts when his phone buzzes with her incoming text. He drives back to the station to pick her up and she bounds into the car, a bundle of nerves and energy as she tells him that the interview went great, that they didn't even ask her anything. It is obvious to him that the interview was only a formality.
"So do you want to start looking for a place?" he asks casually as they begin to drive away.
"Don't you think that's a little premature?" she smiles, the joy evident in her voice.
"Come on Bec, you know they're going to hire you. They recruited you!" He turns to glance at her, "I'm really proud of you, you know that?"
She beams, "I know. And I'm proud of you too, big shot movie composer in training!"
They laugh together as his insides twist a little. She looks over at him as he drives, her face revealing a mixture of happiness and fear. "I could still come to New York, you know," she says quietly. "They have radio stations there. I'm sure someone would-"
"No," he interrupts. "No, Beca. I can't let you do that. You've worked hard for this. You deserve this. I can come to Los Angeles."
"No," she responds firmly. "Absolutely not. I won't let you give up your dream."
What if you're my dream, he thinks, but he says nothing.
They drive all over the city, exploring it so that she can get her bearings. The location of the station isn't in the nicest area, but there are some decent looking apartments not that far away as well as all of the stores and other amenities that she would need. By the time he slides the key into the lock of their hotel room door, they're both exhausted from the day's travels. She sits down on the bed and removes her shoes, rubbing her feet a little before she slides open the heavy glass door and steps onto the small balcony overlooking the bustling streets of the city. He watches her for a moment as she takes in the view, her silhouette dark against the moonlit sky. His arms wrap around her from behind, and he buries his face in her hair, taking in her scent. He inhales deeply and he feels her relax into him slightly.
"It's going to be ok," she whispers, as if she can read his mind. Or maybe she's trying to convince herself as well.
He slides her jacket off her shoulders, allowing it to fall to the floor before he begins to kiss the shell of her ear with his lips. His mouth then trails to her neck and she tilts her head to give him better access. She turns in his arms and presses her lips to his, kissing him softly at first before parting her lips to allow his tongue access to her mouth. He lifts her, wrapping her legs around his waist, and carries her into the room before lowering her slowly on the bed. He takes his time undressing her, kissing every inch of exposed skin that is revealed to him and enters her slowly, and relishing the feel of her body against his. His eyes never break contact with hers as they remain open, her blue eyes sparkling even in the dim moonlight.
"I love you," he whispers into her skin.
"I love you more," she replies, and he smiles, knowing this can't possibly be true.
She can sense the shift in him as he moves inside her, because even though they've done this many times before, something feels different to her this time. It's as if he's trying to love every inch of her and commit it to memory. She cradles his face in her hands and kisses him deeply, trying to pour all of her thoughts and emotions into the kiss. I love you. You're everything to me. You're my life. Don't ever leave me.
Later, he spoons her from behind, the length of his body pressed against her back, his arms wrapped around her waist. "It's going to be ok," she whispers again to his sleeping form.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Jesse was right, she gets the job.
Her start date is set right after graduation. She'll barely have time to finish packing her things and move into her new apartment in the complex they had found when they visited L.A. for the interview. He's headed to New York a few days after to start on his own adventure. They try not to talk about it in the months between the interview and the inevitable. Jesse, in true Jesse form, tries to spend his every waking minute with her, saying it's important that they make every moment count.
He walks her to and from class. He brings her breakfast and goes to the dining hall with her to dinner. After one particularly hot performance with the Bellas, he practically devours her in the alley between the Fine Arts and Humanities buildings. His eyes had never left hers as she danced and sang her heart out on that stage in a pair of tight black pants, heels, and a top that left little to the imagination. "Do you have any idea what you do to me?" he gritted out between clenched teeth as he dragged her across campus and into the alley, after deciding the trek to her dorm was way too far. He's pressing her with his hips against the cool brick wall and she can think of nothing besides the way his mouth feels on the tops of her breasts and the way his mouth is dominating hers. He bites her neck and its sure to make a mark, but he doesn't care. He wants everyone to know she's his.
"I'm getting an idea," she moans out a delayed response to his question as she feels his arousal pressing into her stomach the moment before he lifts her and wraps her legs around his waist.
"You're mine," he states unapologetically as he buries his face into her cleavage, kissing a path between her breasts.
"I'm yours," she breathes into his ear, and only then does she feel him relax slightly, his frantic movements now becoming more slow and deliberate. He enters her a bit roughly, and as they move together she studies his face in the darkness. It's quick, and they try to catch their breaths as he lowers her back to the ground and they rush to straighten their clothing.
"Not that I'm complaining," she begins, still panting, "But wow. What's gotten into you?"
He's silent for a while, breathing hard and looking off in the distance across campus. "You just don't get it do you?" he says rather sharply.
"Get what?" she asks.
"You, this," he replies, gesturing to her outfit. When her expression remains puzzled he continues, "You're perfect, Beca. You're beautiful, sexy, talented, and amazing. Every single guy who lays eyes on you wants you. Don't you see? Especially tonight, Bec! God!" He runs his hands through his hair, exasperated.
"And I'm yours, and we just had hot sex against a wall in public, and I guess I don't see what the problem is?" she responds, her eyes searching his.
He folds his arms across his chest and turns away from her. "Because Beca, because soon all eyes will be on you except mine."
Oh. "And I'll still be yours," she states matter-of-factly. "It's going to be ok," she adds quickly.
"You don't know that!" he nearly explodes, his voice echoing off the walls in the alley. "How can you say that?"
"Because I need to believe it," she replies meekly, her voice just above a whisper. Her shoulders slump a little, and she folds her arms protectively across her chest.
He begins to pace, the angst rolling off him in waves. "You still don't get it," he murmurs, his hands massaging his temples as he pauses to collect his thoughts. "Ever since I first saw you, you're the only one I wanted, the only one I could think about, the only one I love. I know I'm never going to find anyone better for me than you."
Tears prick in her eyes at his words, "Who says you need to be looking? Who says that a little distance is going to break us?"
He looks up at her then, his eyes shining with emotion, "I just don't know if I can do it. I'm going to miss you so, so much."
"Me too," she answers, "But we need to try. If we don't, we'll end up regretting it for the rest of our lives. I don't want to be the reason you don't get to do what you've always wanted to do, Jesse."
He sighs, because they've had this conversation more times than he can count. She walks over to face him, placing her hands on his chest, right over his heart. "I will if you will," she states emphatically, before pressing her mouth firmly to his once more.
A/N: Yeah, I know. I suck. I had 3 stories on here and deleted them, thinking I was over Jeca and wanted to focus on my family. Then I saw that trailer and started talking to the wonderful Nora. This one's for you, babe. Shall I continue?