Prologue
Beca Mitchell was nine when she met Jesse.
Ten when she became friends with Jesse.
Eleven when she started to question that it was just friendship.
Twelve when she knew she couldn't deny it.
And thirteen when she finally embraced it.
And ten years later, such a long yet short span of time, she still hasn't shaken the dork that fell from her tree that eventful Saturday afternoon. Twenty-three and still in love with the same nerd who became her nerd. It was so long ago, yet she remembers it like it happened yesterday. How vividly it all began..
.
Chapter 1) Did you fall from Heaven?
The divorce was looking ugly. Not that Beca cared. For the first time in three years the house was quiet. She could finally play in peace. But this of course proved not to be the case.
She was outside, filling up a kiddy pool under the oak tree. It was a big kiddy pool, could hold two, maybe more, eight year olds, nine year olds maybe, if they were small. She hadn't meant to set it up under the tree. She was only using it to cool off from the summer heat. But fate decided the pool had another purpose.
Beca went inside to grab some lemonade. The pool was finished filling, just to the brim. She was taking her time, adding ice and just the right amount of sugar, because it never could be too sweet. She heard a noise emitting from the tree, but ignored it. Probably just birds.
She set herself up, a tray of sandwiches and lemonade (she wasn't expecting company, but it seemed fitting), her towel to dry off, a bucket of toys to play with. She prides herself for being very independent. The divorce has led her to believe she is on her own in this world, and she has discovered she already has a knack for being on her own.
She was ready to get in the pool, when a gust of wind blew about. Her hair flew about her face, and the snap of a branch could be heard two blocks down. Suddenly a scream and a splash cut through the howls of summer wind. Beca brushed her hair away to discover an unexpected guest in her pool.
"Hey! Who are you?"
"M-me?"
"Yeah you! You're in my pool! Where did you come from?"
"Next door."
The boy pointed to the house across the street. A new couple had just moved in, her father had said. She didn't know they had kids.
She looks back at the mess in front of her. Soaked to the bone, yet he has this remarkable grin on his face.
"Why are you smiling?"
"Because this is funny."
"No it's not. I don't even know who you are and you're in my pool. You didn't even tell me your name!"
"Well ok. It's Jesse."
"Isn't that a girl's name?" She asks. This half fast insult doesn't even seem to throw him off track. He just smiles wider.
"No, it's a boy's name. I like it. It suits me."
"Well great. Can you get out of my pool now?"
"Well it's hot out. Can I come swimming? You have more than one sandwich." He points at the tray. She squints, making a thinking face. Jesse finds this adorable, the way her nose scrunches up, and her mouth tilts. She finally replies.
"Only if you put on a bathing suit," she decides.
"Great! See you in a few seconds!"
He sprints back to his house, opening the fence gate and slamming it shut. She sits there until she realizes she's been smiling the whole time. She quickly regains composure. Something about that boy makes her... Happy. She just can't put her finger on it.
He returns, still smiling. This time however Beca is smiling too. He jumps in, floats and all. Beca smirks, pointing out the pool in only a few feet deep, and he can touch. He ignores her, and propels himself in a circle around her. Kicking and splashing, they play all afternoon. Beca's smile never falters once. It's like he broke down some kind of wall, all of the sudden life doesn't...suck so much.
They stop for lunch, not breaking to talk for they are too hungry. Jesse sits back content in his chair. He eats faster than Beca, and waits till she finishes. He grows bored so he decides to get to know her better.
"So what's up? Who are you?"
"Um I'm Beca Mitchell, the 'weirdo next door '."
He laughs at this. He gave her that nickname.
"No really. Like I want to get to know you, your interests, hobbies, and stuff."
"Excuse me but I should be the one to ask you that. You fell from MY tree into MY pool and I've never met you before!"
"Well sorry. I just was interested in you," he shrugs.
"A little too interested you spy."
"I'm not a spy!"
"Where did you come from anyway? Did you fall from Heaven?"
"Why, 'cause I'm an angel?"
"No 'cause you landed on your face," she deadpans, matching his exact tone. This just causes laughter between the two, the best kind Beca has felt in ages.
At the end of the day Beca's father still isn't home. It doesn't bother her though. She is still too happy to care. She sits in the living room with her older siblings, Cassie and Andy. The twins are bickering and fighting, as usual, but it's softer in a way, that doesn't make it seem so mean. More lighthearted.
"Hey Cass, can you go get me a soda?"
"No Andy."
"Becs?"
"Sure!" she replies. An eyebrow shoots up on his head as he exchanges a look with Cassie. Never before has Beca been this happy, at least with the divorce. They know she made a friend today, but her sarcastic, irritated aura is gone. Somehow, she changed.
Beca still doesn't know what to think of the nerd next door. She has only met him once, yet she feels like they'll be close friends. Of course she doesn't say this. Cassie and Andy are supposed to be her best friends. They pick her up when she's hurt, make her feel better. But Jesse is different. Jesse doesn't do those things, because Jesse doesn't need to do those things. She feels, with Jesse, she doesn't even feel hurt at all.