Chapter 2:

Aubrey woke up to Chloe staring at her with a huge smile plastered on her face. She felt slightly uncomfortable.

"Hey! How was your date?" she sleepily got out.

"It was good. How was yours?" the redhead smirked.

"What? I didn't have a date. You know that!" Aubrey pleaded.

"I came in as a certain Treble by the name of Jesse was leaving."

"Oh-we just shared pizza since you weren't here to finish it with me. Just two friends hanging out, eating pizza and watching a movie."

"A MOVIE?! YOU WATCHED A MOVIE?"

"Ummm…yeah. We watched Pretty in Pink."

"So you just happened to watch one of your favorite movies with a very cute guy who also happens to be your nemesis…?"

"There was nothing behind it! He was just being a friend! He's understanding. He sat there and listened to me go on and on, mostly because he wouldn't leave until I told him, but that's it! I swear!"

"Mhmm. Okay. Whatever you say." Chloe teased.

"Why do you have to make things difficult?"

"Ah relax Bree. I'm just messing with you."

Aubrey got out of bed and went to the bathroom. She took a shower and got dressed in jeans and her favorite Anthropologie shirt. She dried her golden curls and put on some makeup since her eyes were still puffy from last night.

"Hey Chlo, I'm going to go clean up the rehearsal room. Do you want to do lunch later?"

"Sure! Meet at the tree?"

"See you there!" Aubrey said as she walked out of their room.

Aubrey walked to the rehearsal room in silence. She took notice of all the people sitting out on the quad in the sunshine doing who-knows-what. She loved looking at what was going on around her. Although, she didn't understand how they could be so carefree. They didn't seem to be worrying about anything. Why couldn't she do that?

She was almost to the Bellas' rehearsal room when she heard a familiar voice pop up beside her.

"Hey Jesse." She mumbled.

"What's shakin' bacon? No? Okay then…" he said after taking notice of Aubrey's glare. "What are you up to on this fine morning?" he recovered.

"That's better." She smirked. "I'm on my way to clean up the rehearsal hall since the season is over."

"Do you need any help?"

"I guess I could put you to work." She said.

"Alrighty then!" he exclaimed, a little taken back by her response.

They walked in silence for the short distance to the hall. When they were inside, Aubrey set her keys down on a chair and went to turn the lights on. Jesse followed her suit, dropping his keys on the chair. The lights clicked on with a huge pop.

"Okay boss! What first?" he asked.

"Umm... I guess you can stack the chairs up over against the wall."

Jesse started on that as Aubrey went to the whiteboard. She looked at the board before taking a paper towel and rubbing everything off. She sighed as she completed this task before moving on to the next task. Aubrey went to the piano and gathered up all the sheet music that was scattered everywhere. She thought about organizing it and keeping it for next year but decided otherwise. She took stacks of it to the trash can and threw it in. She wiped down the piano and made her way to keys. She tinkered on a few and moved away.

"You play?"

Aubrey whipped her head around to Jesse standing there looking at her. "Uhh...Just a little. Nothing fancy." She stuttered. "You?"

"I can hold my own." He told her. "You want to play something?"

"I…I don't know. I don't really play in front of people. Chloe is the one who plays it at rehearsal."

"Well I'm sure you're amazing!" he coaxed.

Aubrey sat down on the bench and tinkered on the keys before setting her fingers down on the keys. She took a deep breath as she started a familiar tune that she had grown to love as a child. She sighed as she finally gave in and started singing.

Slow down, you crazy child. You're so ambitious for a juvenile.

But then if you're so smart, tell me why are you still so afraid? Mmmm.

Where's the fire? What's the hurry about?

You better cool it off before you burn it out.

You've got so much to do, and only so many hours in a day. Hey.

Jesse looked at her and smiled before deciding to join in.

And you know that when the truth is told that you can get what you want,

Or you can just get old.

You're gonna kick off before you even

Get halfway through

When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?

A smile erupted on Aubrey's face as she heard his voice mix in with hers.

Slow down, you're doing fine

You can't be everything you want to be

Before your time

Although it's so romantic on the borderline tonight. Tonight.

Too bad but it's the life you lead

You're so ahead of yourself that you forgot what you need

Though you can see when you're wrong, you know

You can't always see when you're right. You're right.

Jesse had walked closer and sat down on the bench next to Aubrey as they finished the song.

You've got your passion; you've got your pride

But don't you know that only fools are satisfied?

Dream on, but don't imagine they'll all come true

When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?

Slow down, you crazy child

And take the phone off the hook and disappear for awhile

It's alright; you can afford to lose a day or two

When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?

And you know that when the truth is told

That you can get what you want or you can just get old

You're gonna kick off before you even get halfway through

Why don't you realize, Vienna waits for you

When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?

Jesse was looking at Aubrey as she finished the song. When she played the last chord, she could see Jesse looking at her from the corner of her eye. "Take a picture. It lasts longer."

"Oh-um. Sorry. I-I just-wow! That was really amazing Aubrey!"

"Thanks." She mumbled. "It's kind of my favorite song."

"Well that's a very good 'favorite song'! Billy Joel is phenomenal. I approve of your taste in music." He teased.

Jesse hadn't moved from his spot on the bench next to Aubrey. She normally would've freaked at this, but she didn't mind his presence, actually. Aubrey looked up at him finally and saw his dorky grin. She half smiled and raised her eyebrows slightly.

"You're a pretty damn good singer, too." He said cheerfully.

"It's the only thing I'm relatively good at." She said quietly as she turned away from him.

"Hey. Look at me, Aubrey. You are amazing at everything. Don't sell yourself short. You don't give yourself the credit you deserve."

"I'll keep that in mind." She said as she stood up. She went to the corner and pulled out a broom to start sweeping the floor.

"Is it okay if I put some music on?" Jesse asked, pulling out his phone.

"Sure!" she said as she continued to sweep.

"What do like to listen to?"

"Honestly?"

"As long as you don't say boybands, I'm okay with it."

"Damn." She said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She laughed at the face he made. "I'm joking. I pretty much listen to whatever as long as it's not boybands." She assured him.

"Do you like Nancy Sinatra? You seem like the kind of girl that listens to her."

"I do. I do. She's pretty great actually."

"Good."

Aubrey shook her head as she heard These Boots Are Made for Walkin' come on over the speakers.

"Oh come on! I know you want to dance! I know you do." He said as he headed towards her.

Aubrey set the broom down and heaved a sigh. She gave in and started dancing to the music. Normally she wouldn't do this. Like ever. She enjoyed being able to be herself around Jesse. She was really getting into the song and was dancing around with him. Towards the end of the song, Jesse held out his hand, and she placed hers in it. She spun into him and quickly back out. She struck a pose and giggled right before Jesse pulled her back. She put his finger on his chest and kicked her foot up right as the song ended. Jesse looked down at her with his warm brown eyes. She met his eyes and was, for a first, unable to put thoughts together. She quickly averted eye contact.

"Well that was fun." Aubrey huffed. She escaped from his loose grasp and pulled out her phone. "Oh my god! I have to go! I'm meeting Chloe for lunch." She said, running around to turn the lights off and get her keys. Jesse walked out with her and waited as she locked up. As they neared the tree, Jesse stopped her.

"Do you- do you maybe want to hang out sometime?" he choked out. His palms were sweating as he rubbed the back of his neck with one hand and shoved the other in his pocket.

Aubrey was taken aback by his question. "I-I don't know."

"It'd only be as friends of course! If that's what you're worried about."

Aubrey smiled slightly and nodded. "I'd like that."

"Okay well, put your number into my phone so I can text you the details." He said, fishing his phone out of his pocket.

She put her number in and handed it back to him. "Well, I guess I'll see you later?"

"Yeah! Um… See you later!" he choked out. He wrapped his arm around her should and gave her one of those awkward side hugs. Aubrey put her arm around him and returned the awkward hug.

They broke away and parted ways.

Aubrey walked the short distance to her and Chloe's tree with the biggest smile plastered on her face.

"What's that about?" the curious redhead asked.

"What's what about?"

"I think you know what I'm talking about." Chloe said as she linked her arm through her best friends as they walked to the café. "It's no use keeping it from me. I'll find out one way or another."

Chloe was right. She would find out. Aubrey sighed and gave in. "Nothing happened. We just ran into each other, and he offered to help clean. Then we sang and danced for a little bit after cleaning. Nothing else."

"Mhmm. What about that adorably awkward side hug I just witnessed?"

"Oh that? Just a friendly goodbye hug. That's it."

Chloe had the biggest smile on her face as Aubrey finished talking.

"Don't say it Chlo! I know you! Don't you dare!" Aubrey exclaimed, noticing the goofy smile on her best friends face.

"Oh come on! Admit it! You, Aubrey Posen, like the one and only Jesse Swanson!"

A/N: Songs used- Vienna by Billy Joel, These Boots Are Made for Walkin' by Nancy Sinatra.