"Jesse, I know you're in there. I can smell popcorn. Jesse, come on, open up."

After a minute that felt longer than it should have, the door opened. Beca couldn't stop the smile brought on by the sight of him. Since when could he make her smile without even trying? "Hey… I tried to call you. I left you a bunch of messages."

"Yeah, I got them."

She wasn't stupid; she knew he'd been ignoring her. Nonetheless, his admission, its casualty, its curtness, stung. So, Beca launched into her apology, "I'm sorry that we fought. I was mad and I overreacted and I'm just… Aubrey makes me crazy."

Jesse had expected to receive a lame attempt at an apology. Beca was never very good at them, usually adding just enough snarky sarcasm to effectively ruin the point anyway. But still, he hadn't anticipated this superficial an attempt. It wasn't snide, it was just plain pathetic. Was this all he was worth to her? "Seriously? You think I'm mad because you yelled at me?"

Well, damn. Her apology hadn't been insincere, although it hadn't been fully honest either. She just wasn't expecting him to call her out on it. "No, I know…" This was new and she wasn't sure how to navigate, but Jesse wasn't going to give her time to figure it out.

"No, you don't. You think you know, but you don't. You push away anyone who could possibly care about you. Why is that?"

She certainly wasn't smiling now. He was right, of course. But how the hell was she supposed to answer that question? "I don't know."

"Well, you better figure it out because I'm done with whatever this is."

"Jesse…?" She pleaded.

"I'm done," he repeated with aloof finality as he closed the door in her face.

Fuck.

If he asked her that too damn personal question now, she knew exactly how she'd answer it. This was why she pushed people away. Because whenever they got too close, whenever she got too damn attached, they always pulled some dumb shit like this. Abandon her. Leave her. Close the door in her fucking face.

She took a step back, swallowing hard. She'd learned her lesson. You can't open up to anybody, even puppy-eyed, juice pouch-toting dorks who mimic cinematic fist thrusts. She sighed. She'd repair the chips he'd made in her walls. Move on. Forget it all. His goofy grin and dumb jokes. It was no big deal. Things would finally go back to being normal and she would be free to pursue her LA dreams with nothing tying her to this place. This was how things were supposed to be. This was how she had wanted it. Correction: This is how she still wanted it. Wasn't it?

"Why are you crying?"

His whisper startled her more than the sensation of the pads of his thumbs as they wiped away the tears spilling from her eyes.

Her only response was a sharp intake of breath.

"Why are you crying?" He repeated, leaning in closer, invading her space. She didn't seem to mind. Her eyes were locked on his.

"Beca, why are you crying?" He asked again, resting his forehead against hers, close enough now that they were sharing the same breaths.

"You," was all she managed to choke out.

Jesse chuckled as he moved his lips to kiss away another tear. "Monosyllabic, even now." He continued to plant feather kisses down the trail stained by tears.

"You're a jerk," she said suddenly, stepping back and punching him in the chest.

Jesse's eyes widened in surprise, "Wha..?"

"You're a complete and total jerk," Beca repeated. "I came over here to fix what I admittedly broke and you slammed the door in my face, literally!"

His lopsided grin returned, "Beca…"

"No, I'm serious. You know me well enough to know how hard it was for me to walk over here and open up…"

Jesse cut her off. "Be honest, Becs. You weren't opening up."

"I was," she protested.

"No, you weren't, which is why I shut the door." Beca's eyes were stormy and Jesse watched in fascination as they darkened. "Now, that being said, I do know you," he took a step closer to her and hesitatingly put his hands on her hips. When she didn't protest, he pulled her even closer. "And I do know how hard it was for you to come and fake apologize to me, which is why I reopened the door to come get you."

"Yeah, well…"

"Shhh," Beca's eyebrows retreated into her hairline at being interrupted. "I'm not finished. I need to know something." Beca's eyebrows dove back down again, forming a sharp, suspicious ridge. "You haven't answered my question yet. Why were you crying?"

Jesse's eyes had a mischievous glint; meanwhile, Beca's shied away. "Jesse," she breathed warningly.

"I need to hear you say it." Despite the playfulness written across his features, his tone was serious.

Beca took a deep breath and then looked up into his eyes. "I was afraid I'd lost you."

Jesse smiled sincerely, "I'm going to kiss you now."

He acted promptly on his words and when he broke the chaste kiss, Beca rolled her eyes, "You're such a dork."

He just shrugged good-naturedly before taking her hand and leading her back into his room. "Just so you know, it would take a lot more than that to lose me."

"I don't know, you seemed pretty quick to shut the door," Beca countered.

"And look at the positive effect that decision had on our relationship," Jesse answered smugly.

"This doesn't change anything, you know."

"Whatever you say, m'lady."

"Dude, I'm serious. Don't get all crazy on me."

"Why, whatever do you mean?"

"Jesse," she practically growled, "I know all those movies you watch."

"Stop worrying, Beca. You're acting like dating me is the equivalent of joining a cult."

"Ack… there you go already. Dating?!"

"Too modern for you? Do you prefer 'courting'?"

"Jesse!"

"You sure are one high-maintenance girlfriend. We've only been an item for 5 minutes and already so demanding," he teased.

Beca promptly covered both ears, "Enough with the labels already."

"Will you relax," Jesse laughed, grabbing her wrists and lowering her hands from her ears. "I'm just messing with you."

"Well don't," she protested, yanking her wrists free.

Jesse held up both his hands. "Fair warning."

She climbed onto his bed and grabbed a handful of popcorn and leaned back, "Sooo, what are we watching?"

"Making yourself at home, I see," he chuckled, climbing up next to her. She responded by shoving popcorn in his mouth, and then subsequently snuggling into his side. After nearly choking, Jesse signed contently and draped his arm around her, pulling her ever closer.

Jesse reached behind him, grabbed the remote, and handed it to Beca, who pressed play.