Chapter 1

"Beca Mitchell, 19. Lives only one block away from our house, coincidentally. Goes to the same university as you, Barden, right?"

He nodded.

"She has really scary ear spike." He returned to the crude photograph, trying to visualise her as a princess in a dress. What's her deal?

"Do everything you can to stop her from marrying James Hawkins."

"Why?" He asked although he was more concerned in knowing why she agreed to that than why he has to stop it from happening.

Mr Swanson drew a deep, long breath, his forehead creased. "She will be killed if she marry that douchebag. The Hawkins are plotting their revenge. Ryan Mitchell, her grandfather, killed two of their sons and Ryan loves Beca. Very much."

"What is wrong with them? Why did the Mitchells even agree to this?" he asked again, leaning back against the chair, trying his best to look indifferent but not entirely convincing with so many questions he had in mind yet to be answered. James Hawkins is like twice her age. He was bursting with questions.

He looked up as his dad folded his arms before replying "They thought the Hawkins wanted to resolve their hatred in the past through marriage."

"That's bullshit." He remarked, totally and utterly unimpressed. Mr Swanson nodded gravely, "I'm counting on you." he said patting his shoulder. Taking that as a sign his dad is about to leave, he quickly threw out his final question that confused the hell out of him when he couldn't figure out the answer. "Dad, if the Mitchells doesn't know, who sent us to protect Beca?"

"I did" He said simply and left.

Great, now he was abandoned in the room more confused than ever.

He grabbed a sandwich and starting munching. Days passed and he was still raking his brain over the conversation he last had with his dad. He'd never heard of anyone called Mitchell associating closely with his dad, especially after seeing the photograph of the Mitchells. Their faces were alien to him.

Noticing that a crowd had formed near the lockers, he leapt up from the stairs, sweeping dust off his pants as he stood, curious to see what the commotion was all about.

Loud whispers filled his ears. "Her boyfriend probably broke up with her because she's scary." "She's crazy" "Run, she's going to murder someone soon!" Many walked away and proceeded with whatever they're doing after a while. The crowd got smaller and soon everyone was gone except him. The girl at the locker was soon forgotten and the whispers died.

He stepped up, hesitantly. What if she's really insane? She'd slaughter him to pieces with the knife she's probably hiding between her legs. He'd still like to help though. She looks helpless, hugging her knee up close and sobbing. Keep cool. You're a Swanson.

She spat over her shoulder, sensing someone coming near, "Leave me alone." A whiff of strong cologne entered her nostrils, she sighed desperately, why is he still here? It dawned upon her that she must've made quite a scene, with her bawling on the phone and everything. Fuck.

When she was sure tears were no longer falling, she tried to stand and that guy offered her his hand for support, which she automatically decline. Wobbling up slowly, she refused to look him in the eye, whoever this stranger was, she's a mess. But what is he doing here trying to help. As she was contemplating whether to just run or shove him off her way, he spoke "I'm Jesse." Doesn't sound familiar.

She's Beca. Oh my god, no wonder my dad gave me this mission, to protect a mad, emotional and scary ear spike girl that he's afraid of. That scheming old man.

This must be fate he met her so soon, after spending days roaming the school in search of her.

"Quick, find an excuse to make her stay!" Something in his brain bellowed as if his dad was the one yelling to stop his train of thoughts. Man, he's messing with my head.

"Professor Mitchell told me to find you, and uh check if you're fine…" so this is why he didn't leave when she told him to. "Thanks." She said slowly and uncertainly. Then she remembered it was from him. "If he really cares, he would've look for me himself, apparently he didn't so" she paused and looked up to see those dark brown eyes filled with concern. "I'm fine, you can go now." She said dismissively. NO! Before she could leave, he grabbed her wrist and she immediately wring him off. "Let's go watch a movie, to change this bleak atmosphere" he suggested, grinning happily, not at all faltered by the fact that she just… wringed him off.

She stares at him as though the word 'movie' was completely foreign. It took her a while before she finally replied, shaking her head. "I don't like them" he looks at her in disbelief. "How can you not like movies? Not liking movies is like…" does she like anything? "….not liking puppies!" he exclaim. She laughed a little and he felt his heart fluttering. God, they've only just met. She's scary remember?

She shrugged "They're fine, I just get bored and never make it till the end." What the hell is wrong with her? How can she not like movies? "The endings are the best part", he countered in despair, as though he could get her to like movies after saying that. "They're predictable, like the guy gets the girl and the kid sees dead people and Darth Vadar is Luke's father". He gave her a long vacant look "You need a movie education. You need a movication, and I'm going to give it to you." Then, her smile faltered. Shit, did I say something wrong?

"Yeah, in between my wedding vow rehearsals, which my dad is pushing me to practice at least once, like every single time he sees me." Your dad is stupid, he almost replied but managed to supress it. Relief washed over him when he read deeper into her statement and got the picture that she was reluctant to marry that James Bond. But he needs to respond like a normal person would so, "You're getting married?!" he cried out.

Everyone's attention was fixated on both of them. He ignored their gaping stares and continued, this time whisper-yelling "Are you pregnant? Oh my god…, don't tell me… you got raped didn't you!" She glared at him wide eyed "Dude, no!"

People were seriously judging them. She tucked her head down and dragged him down the stairs as he squealed like a puppy. This must be the reason why she doesn't like movies.

After spiralling down the stairs from the what? Hundredth floor? They were finally out. Breathless, he gasped as though he was dying and they were his last words "So, tell me why you're married at such a young age again?"

"I'm sorry, do I know you?" she said, rolling her eyes when he mocked hurt and clench his chest. "I always thought we were friends" he whined, like. A puppy. An adorable one. What the hell Beca.

"We've just met like, less than 10 minutes ago"

"Yeah well, in an hour, we'd be best friends and, or lovers" he smirked and she shot him a glare "Please don't say lovers".

"My significant other? The light of my life? What about"

"Jesus Jesse, let's just be friends and stay that."

"Oh. So we're friends now?" he said and his eyes sparkled with joy when he realised she bothered to remember his name.

Beca's eyes narrowed as she looked straight at him. He winced and shook his head, hoping that he didn't sound like an idiot. "I'm sorry, I mean" She interrupted him and laughed "You're a weirdo." He smiled at her. First step to an impossible mission to stop her from getting married. She's obviously not interested in him but a friend can still persuade her, not much will be needed though since she's forced to. He can get her dad to not let her get married, right?

After many sleepless nights in a row, Jesse went to bed this time, without any image of Beca burning in the back of his mind. He found her at last.

By the time mid-afternoon arrived, Jesse was ready to collapse from exhaustion, following Beca all around the school compound. He felt like a stalker. This job is even more tiring and boring than studying for his history test last semester, hoping to pass his weakest subject. Beca's life only revolves around herself and the Bellas. Her life seems pretty normal, stalking her for several days, he's bored and didn't understand what his dad was fussing about. There's obviously no one plotting to murder her. The Hawkins were nowhere in sight.

Of course, in between all the stalking, he still talked to her and walk up to her each time, like it was merely a coincidence. They were both interns at a radio station, coincidentally.

Luke, the guy at the radio station seems like Beca's type. He would be happy to get them together. That Luke guy looks like a persistent man who would do whatever he can to prevent her from getting married.

He changed his mind soon after. Burgers everyday but his abs are more defined than his. What the hell. He even let Beca catch a glimpse of his physique. "He's good" she commented. He caught her blushing and his lips form a thin line. Maybe he doesn't want that Luke guy to be with her. He can protect her, by himself.

He plopped onto the chair next to Beca, looking at her stacking CDs. "Fuck" she muttered under her breath when the CD wouldn't get in the upper shelf. "Help's here shorty." He grinned and took the CDs from her, sliding them into the shelf easily. She turn around and scowled at him "Hey! I can do that too" she puffed defiantly and cross her arms, frowning at him.

A sudden fondness for the girl swelled up in his chest. She's funny when she's angry. Especially when she's so tiny. As though she could read him, she scowled further and went back to stacking.