Chapter 2

Beca collected her luggage at the airport, then turned on her phone. She immediately got a new message from Jesse which she opened with a small smirk.

You arrived, shorty? :)

Beca just rolled her eyes. After the age of fifteen the jokes about her height ran dry but Jesse always told her he'd bring them back from the dead. Make them trendy. And that he'll find the perfect short-joke even she'd laugh at. Yes, fat chance of that.

Just landed and collected my stuff. I'll call a cab and meet u at Barden?

After her father's proposition she'd called her best friend and asked if he'd found any colleges he would be particularly interested in. When he told her he hadn't, she asked if he'd consider Barden.

Beca knew she sounded needy. She knew it was out of character for her to ask Jesse to come with her but after losing her mother, she just couldn't stand the thought of being away from the only person she really had a connection with. Fortunately, Jesse told her he'd love to attend Barden with her, and "be the lesbro wingman" for her "many certain sexcapades". He even added that he checked out the possibilities Barden offered and found some good programs he wouldn't mind studying. Beca was so relieved when she heard his answer she'd even let herself to be dragged to one of Jesse's infamous movie-cation sessions where the boy would make her watch a "classic" and ramble all along, saying the lines, singing the soundtrack, blurting out "fun-facts" about the film. Beca suffered through many of these sessions and no, she still couldn't stand movies.

I'm at the activities fair, come down when you're done unpacking!

Really? Activities fair? Beca rolled her eyes and sat outside on a bench waiting for her taxi. As she saw the traffic and the amount of people who waited for their ride, she sighed and took out her Macbook from its case to load up her latest unfinished mix. It was a bold move for her, combining Guetta's Titanium with the Proclaimers' 500 miles and she'd spent a lot of time working on it until this point. She closed her eyes and listened to the little imperfections she still hadn't corrected. She worked on the track for about twenty minutes, it was definitely a long task, when her phone buzzed indicating an incoming e-mail. It was some spam but it made her realise that her ride could be here any minute so she packed up and stood at the side of the road. If only she could make it a little more...

Done unpacking, he said, huffed Beca. If he helped she'd be done sooner... Or maybe she shouldn't have started the packing with her computers and other music-making devices because then she'd actually be able to get things done. But she had this itch which made her unable to stop whenever she got the idea to a new mix. So she placed her computers and DJ console on her desk, unpacked her CDs and a small digital keyboard, then sat down and started improving her latest mix.

The introduction with her roommate went...well, though Beca still wasn't sure whether Kimmy Jin spoke English or didn't.

Screw it, she thought, I can always get dressed from my bags. With that, she left the room.

Where r u?

She shot a text to Jesse while she was aimlessly walking around the fair. It was a bit of a weird experience, there were college kids around pretending to play quidditch, frat guys chanting obscenely, half naked swimmers just hanging around in speedos.

Barden DJs, said one banner and she made her way towards it, hoping that she found something she could actually enjoy this year. But no. DJs, deaf jews. Figures.

Listening to these awesome a capella guys! Meet me at the radio station in 30 mins, we should intern there together.

Only Jesse would say that a capella was awesome, she smirked.

K

She messaged back and started going around looking for the radio station. She would be early but she didn't really have anything to do so she figured she'd hang out there waiting for Jesse.

"Hi, any interest in joining our a capella group?" broke a voice into her thoughts and she looked up, surprised, just to find herself mesmerised by the most gorgeous set of blue eyes she'd ever seen.

C'mon, Mitchell, play it cool.

She forced a smirk onto her face while her thoughts were running a thousand miles per second as she stared at the pamphlet the girl shoved into her hand. This redhead was a goddess. The blue dress she wore made the cerulean of her eyes pop mercilessly; her long, shapely legs were treats for Beca's eyes; her soft mouth and friendly smile made her heart beat a bit faster. It wasn't love at first sight – but it was lust for sure.

"Right, it's like, a thing now" she said with a grin then mentally slapped herself and rearranged her face into... coolness.

"Oh, totes!" leaned forward the redhead enthusiastically and Beca had a really hard time keeping her eyes on those blue ones. The redhead's companion, a tall, knockout blonde looked at Beca with a forced smile, her eyes narrowing slightly. Oops. "We sing covers of songs but we do it without any instrument. It's all from our mouths" she finished leaning forward slightly with a somewhat suggestive smile. Beca swallowed. And didn't say a thing. She froze, which the redhead registered with mirth in her eyes and a small wink.

"There's four group on campus. The Bellas..." she started describing the various a capella groups of Barden but Beca couldn't concentrate. The girl was talking with her whole body, her eyes flashed, her hands motioned, her shoulders changed posture depending on what she was talking about.

"So, are you interested?" she asked finally.

"In what?" Beca asked back lamely.

"A capella!" smiled the redhead. Oh my god, she was really beautiful.
Okay, focus, Mitchell. She's probably not interested, she's just flirty. Right now, you really don't need a heartbreak.

"Sorry, it's just, I think it's pretty lame" as she said it, she slapped herself mentally. The redhead's face fell, like she just kicked a puppy in the belly. Sorry!

"Aca-scuse me!" snapped the blonde. "Synchronized lady dancing to a Mariah Carey chart topper is not lame!"

"You... did hear what you just said, right?" replied Beca before she could stop herself.

"We sing all over the world and compete in national championships!" tried the redhead again with a fainter smile.

"On purpose?" Beca heard herself saying then bit her tongue. What is the matter with you?!

"We played at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, you bitch!" screeched the blonde and Beca raised her eyebrows. Feisty.

"Oh, what Aubrey means to say" started the redhead – Great, the bitch is Aubrey but what's your name? – with a calming voice "is that we are a close-knit, talented group of ladies whose dream is to return to the national finals at Lincoln Center this year. Help us turn our dreams into a reality?" she looked so... hopeful it was hard to watch.

"Sorry I don't even sing but it was really nice to meet you guys" she said in a rush then turned and left.

That... could have gone better.

Later they met up with Jesse in front of the radio station. The boy'd moved down to Barden a few days earlier and apparently he missed Beca because as he arrived he pulled the short girl into a hug which resulted lifting her up in the air.

"Jesse Swanson if you don't put me down this instant I'm not talking to you for the next five months!" she cried trying to wiggle out of the hug.

"Ah, you love me" he said with a toothy grin.

"You are..."

"Wow, with that much strenght in your voice I'd guessed you could sing" heard Beca before she could finish her sentence. The redhead. She became hyper aware of the fact that Jesse's arms were still around her and how they probably looked. She jumped, literally jumped a few feet away from the boy who looked at her questioningly, then at the redhead with narrowed eyes.

"I'm Chloe, by the way" introduced herself the older girl, holding out her hand which Beca shook.

"Beca" she heard a cough from behind and rolled her eyes. "And this is Jesse."

"Well, hello" said the boy. "Beca, I'll just...go inside. Ahead. You... take your time."

That smirk shouldn't have been on his face. Jesse Swanson would have to pay!

"Sure, bro." And she could have swore that she heard Jesse cough lesbro on his way inside. "So, Chloe, do you work here, too?"

"Oh, no. I'm just here to ask Luke for a favour. We weren't that successful recruiting girls for the Bellas and I thought if I could make a radio announcement maybe some more people would come."

"Right" Beca said. "Look I'm actually sorry for the way I acted. I didn't mean to..."

"It's okay. Lots of people don't get it why a capella is great but I think you should come to one of our shows. If you'd like to, of course..." she trailed off, looking at Beca with a smile.

"Yeah, maybe I'll..."

"Chloe?" came a heavy british accent from the door behind them. "What are you doing here?" asked the cheerful, very handsome guy whose eyes were roaming over Chloe.

It's rude to stare.
Right, like she was in the place to say something like that.

"I came to ask a favor."

"Okay, I'll be with you in a minute" then he turned to Beca. "You must be...Becky, the intern?"

"It's actually..."

"Come with me" he said and motioned for the girls to follow. "You and Jesse are going to stack CDs. When you're done, there's more. Now you guys are going to spend a lot of time here together so just please, no sex on the desk."

Beca just looked at him like he was crazy, but Jesse was a bit more talkative.

"No problems there, man, Beca here is gay as a window!"

"Jesse!"

"What? It's true."

"Okay, then" drawled Luke then turned to Chloe. "Let's take this to the booth, shall we?"

"Sure" said Chloe but her eyes were on Beca who felt her cheeks flush. "See you later, guys!"

"See ya" Jesse called after her then turned to Beca. "You have a crush on her!"

"I do not." That was absolutely believable.

"Oh, you totally do! I have never seen you crushing on someone!" he whispered furiously "Can I watch? Document? Can I make soundtrack for you two?" he asked laughing. Beca just rolled her eyes and turned her back.

"Shut up, and start stacking CDs, Swanson."

A few days later Beca found herself unable to sit any more in her dorm room and despite that it was exactly the thing her father recommended she did sit out to, well, not exactly study, but to work on the grass. She pulled up once more her Titanium vs. 500 miles mashup but she just couldn't get it right. There was something missing.
She put on her headphones and lay down onto the ground, her eyes closed, her whole being focused on the remix. Just when she thought she didn't know what else was missing she heard it – there. Her eyes popped open and she sat up, leaning over her laptop making a few changes here and there, adding another repetition of the chorus and turning the bass up a little more... She hesitated before hitting the space bar once again, effectively starting the song. As she listened to it a huge grin broke out on her face.

"Yes!" she laughed and quickly saved it. She worked her ass off for this song but it was finally ready.

"Hey" she heard someone and then felt a light tap on her shoulder. Turning, her eyes met cornflower blue ones. Chloe.

Could this day get any better?

"Hey. What's up?" asked Beca. "Did that radio announcement thing work out?"

"Ah, we won't know until next week, that's when the auditions are." Chloe shrugged. "What were you doing?"

"Oh, just some...work" said Beca lamely. She rarely showed her music to anyone, not because she didn't think they were good enough but they were...hers. She worked hard on all of them and they all had a story, little pieces of Beca herself.

"That much excitement over school work?"

"No, it's actually, well, I sometimes, I mean often, I...ugh" she rambled.

"Beca, it's okay." The redhead touched her forearm lightly, sending chills down Beca's spine.

"Sorry. So, I make mashups. And remixes. You know, just...music." She looked up at the girl who was looking at her with some oddly tender expression. That's when Beca noticed that Chloe's hand was still on her forearm and shifted to make the redhead move her hand.

"That sounds really nice. Can I hear something of yours?" She seemed sincerely interested and she watched her so intensely Beca had to look down into her lap so she wouldn't do something stupid. Like, tackle her to the ground and kiss the living soul out of her.

Woah, what was that?

"Beca?"

"Right, sure. Um, do you have any preference?"

"Women" Chloe said and Beca's hands froze for a second until she heard the redhead chuckle. "Female singers" she clarified with a smirk that made Beca blush.

"Then...here you go, try this" she handed Chole her headphones and turned on one of her best mixes, well, at least in her opinion. It was a mashup of Jennifer Lopez's On the floor, Britney's Hold it against me, and Rihanna's S&M.

Chloe closed her eyes to listen to the music and Beca had the chance to study the redhead from up close. Her hair was falling around her face in perfect waves, and the freckles on her nose made her look adorable. She had a small scar on her forehead which she hadn't noticed during their last encounter. Chloe bit her lower lip and she frowned a bit while she listened to the music and Beca would have swore at that moment that there was nothing sexier on the entire planet.

Her eyes wandered lower, to the low-cut top her companion was wearing and she unconsciously licked her lips as she shamelessly checked out Chloe's cleavage.

Man, I'm so gay.

Just as she was contemplating on her sexuality Chloe cleared her throat and handed back Beca her headphones. The younger girl was mortified, she was definitely caught staring at Chloe's boobs! She looked up, face flaming with shame but the redhead didn't look at her with disgust but with pure admiration in her eyes.

"Beca, that was amazing! Oh my god, would you mind to, erm, well, show me some more?"

"You liked it?" Beca asked, grinning.

"I loved it! It's so...exciting. You totes aced that track."

"Thank you. It's nice to hear it from someone else aside from Jesse."

"No one else have ever told you how awesome your music is?" asked the redhead in disbelief like it was something she couldn't even fathom. Like that was downright insulting. And yes, it might have appealed to Beca's vanity a little bit.

"I don't really show it to people, to be honest." Chloe's mouth formed an O and she looked at Beca with a gentle smile.

"Then I'm really glad you decided to show me. We should totes..." then Chloe's phone went off and she grabbed it, mouthing a silent Sorry! to Beca.

"Yes? No, I don't think so... Really? Oh my God, that's amazing, Bree! I'm so hap... Sure, why not. Right now?" she glanced at Beca who just nodded that it was okay if she had to go. Chloe smiled in response. "Okay, I can do that. I'll be there in a few, bye!" she disconnected then turned to Beca.

"Sorry, I gotta go but I'm totes gonna make you show me more of your mashups!" she leaned forward and wrapped Beca into a hug. The younger girl froze but didn't try to wiggle out of the contact the way she'd usually do and when she noticed the faint vanilla scent that was all around Chloe she smiled a little.

"Okay" she murmured.

"We should hang out more!" was the last thing Chloe told her before she grinned and left.

Okay.

Next Thursday morning Beca was sleeping peacefully in her bed when she felt a rude poke in her side. She kicked out of reflex toward the general way the poke came from and was surprised when a sharp "Ow!" chased the remains of sleepiness out of her eyes.

"Dad? What are you doing here?"

"Funny story, actually. I came to ask you the same question. This doesn't look like your Intro to Philosophy class" he remarked with raised eyebrows.

"I'm actually posing an important philosophical question" Beca answered while she sat up in her bed. "If I don't actually go to that class, will it still suck?"

"Beca, you picked that class. You should at least try it!"

"I only picked it because, and I'm quoting here 'My daughter's not going to attend this university with only Music as her major'. Remember?"

"I know what I said, thank you. But Becs, I don't see you trying, you know. I'm sure you could quote our deal with great precision, too, and it contained you trying to have a real college experience. Lying in your room alone doesn't really count."

"Oh, so if there was someone else lying in here with me, that would count as college experience?"

"Could you stop with the smart ass comments for a second?" Whoops, he was angry. "I swear I'm not aiming to be the bad guy here. I offered you LA. But I'll take it back if you can't keep your end of the bargain. Go out there! Have some fun." He pleaded. "You've been here almost a month now, do you have any friends besides Jesse?"

Red hair and a dimply smile flashed in front of Beca's eyes but she didn't say anything.

"Look, join one club. Any club on campus, attend your classes, or at least most of them, and I'll get off your back, okay?" her father asked, exasperated. Beca nodded. "Thank you."

"Now that we agreed on that, can you go? I'd like to take a shower and you probably shouldn't stay alone in students' rooms if you don't want to make the wrong impression..."

"Fine, fine, I'll go."

"Bye."

Entering the third-floor bathroom Beca wondered what her next remix should contain. Her new obsession, Titanium was totally on the table, that song had the mashup potential like nothing else, she just needed to find another song she wanted to pair it up with. Or more songs. She usually worked with two or three songs for one track, but maybe she should try more, it could be exciting...

You shout it out

But I can't hear a word you say

I'm talking loud not saying much

Yes, and she could maybe layer it a bit. Make it sound a bit…echo-ish, she thought as she stepped out of her robe and hang it with her bathroom bag. She should turn the bass up. Titanium is a grateful recipient of that, you just turn up the bass and it becomes a much more powerful song.

I'm criticized

But all your bullets ricochet

Shoot me down, but I get up

She sang it out loud letting the warm water cascading down her. And then she needs to bring a second song back... Oh, yes, she knew exactly what she needed!

This time baby, I'll be bulletproof
This time baby, I'll be bulletproof

La Roux's Bulletproof would fit nicely here, definitely. Beca felt a grin tugging on her lips. And the lyrics would work, too. She liked mixing up different genres and it was something she was good at but these two songs worked in her head like they were intended to be together at the first place.

And then she could bring back the Titanium chorus…

I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose
Fire away, fire away
Ricochet, you take your aim
Fire aw…

"You can sing!" interrupted a cheerful voice.

"Dude, Chloe, oh my God!" Beca tried to cover herself with the shower curtain but Chloe reached past her and turned the water off. Her hand brushed Beca's shoulder and the brunette had to stop herself from jumping back against the wall.

"How high does your belt go?" she asked looking at Beca.

"My what?!" Beca cried, desperately trying to cover herself up. Really, it should have been a dream, her crush – yes, damn it, Jesse, you were right – interrupted her in a shower stark naked, but as much as it should have been some sex dream, it became something right out of a Hitchcock movie – and damn Jesse, again –, it was absolutely creepy.

"You have to audition for the Bellas" Chloe said calmly.

"I can't concentrate on anything until you cover your junk." Really, you're perfect.

Beca tried hard, really hard not to but she did take a peek at the redhead's body and it was flawless. Her breasts were perky, her stomach flat and toned, her legs long and strong. Her arms well defined, but not overly so and her collarbone was begging to be kissed. Beca fought the urge to lick her lips and she probably failed, but Chloe continued.

"Just consider it! One time, we sang back up for Prince…" she was still talking but Beca concentrated on trying to get the shower curtain around herself. It didn't really work and Chloe didn't seem affected by the whole thing! Which was at least a little bit insulting. Beca barely had the strength not to stare but the redhead was just standing there, smiling, talking about a capella for crying out loud.

"Seriously? I am nude" she blurted and turned around. She just turned her head in time to catch Chloe checking out her butt which sent her a fresh wave of embarrassment and, holy shit, arousal through her body.

"You were singing Titanium, right? With Bulletproof?" Beca tried to smile at her.

"You know David Guetta?" Beca bit her tongue. Of course, she knew Guetta you have to live…

"Have I been living under a rock?" Chloe smirked. "Yeah. That song is my jam. My lady-jam."

Oh, for the love of hip-hop… Now that was just cruel torture.

"That's nice" Beca tried hiding her flaming face but Chloe stepped closer.

"Yes. That song really builds" she winked, and then "Can you sing it for me?"

"Dude, no! Get out!"

"Not for that reason" again that smirk. "I'm not leaving here 'til you sing, so…"

And Beca believed her because… because the girl barged into her shower just to hear her sing so she was probably a bit unhinged. But as she wrapped it into this adorable package that was her whole being Beca didn't find it that disturbing. Which was…well, disturbing.

As she sang she turned towards Chloe and the redhead's face lit up as she joined her in perfect harmonium. It was an oddly spiritual – or whatever – experience, Beca had to admit that. At the end they just stood there staring at each other, smiling. But Beca just couldn't stand the thought of not checking out the redhead once more, she let her eyes wander downwards for a second and when she saw Chloe doing the same she tried to cover herself a bit more.

"Yes, I'm pretty confident about…all this" Chloe motioned over her body and Beca nodded.

"You should be." And just like that, it was really awkward again. Chloe reached back and offered her towel for her. Beca took it but then she remembered…

"I still, uhm, need to shower."

"Oh, right, okay. Then see you at auditions!" Chloe called back as she exited the stall with a small wave.

What was that?!

The next day she actually went to her philosophy class, which surprised her the most. What was even more surprising is that the class was…interesting. Their professor was a nice looking gentleman who spoke with a soft respect resonating through his voice as he told them about the great ancient philosophers and introduced them to some newer ones, too. He also asked some weird questions, so Beca sat mostly in silence at the back of the class so she wouldn't get humiliated. Not that anybody did get humiliated. But why risk it?

After her class she sent a message to Jesse.

Hanging out urs?

The boy didn't answer for several minutes which was weird as Jesse spent more time on his phone than a fifteen-year-old instagram maniac girl, always checking out new trailers for movies, editing his blog and Beca knew he had a tumblr account, too, even though he always denied it.

Sure, we can watch something! :D Come over when you'd like to.

Beca rolled her eyes. Jesse knew they wouldn't watch anything but tried all the time. She directed her steps towards his dorm room. She plugged in her ears while walking, concentrating on the music when she felt a body crash into hers. She opened her eyes – when did she close them? – to see papers and books scattering around her, falling to the ground.

"Shit, sorry, I wasn't paying attention" she said as she crouched down to help with the books.

"God, not you" said a voice and Beca looked up at the blonde girl towering over her.

"Aubrey" She blurted the girl's name and she was glad she remembered. "I'm sorry, here" she offered several collected and a bit crumpled papers to the blonde who looked at her angrily.

"I hear you are coming to the Bella's auditions?"

"I'm not sure yet…" she shrugged. It was the truth. She was inclined to go and her father insisted on a club so why not one with a gorgeous redhead in it but it was still a bit too…lame for her. At least she liked to think she was cooler than "synchronized lady dancing to a Mariah Carey chart topper".

"What? Aren't you gay? A naked Chloe Beale didn't convince you?" Aubrey smirked at her and Beca felt a heat in her cheeks.

"I'm not saying I'm not going, just that I'm still thinking." Aubrey rolled her eyes.

"Don't ridicule yourself. You're going to be there." Beca didn't have words for that, she just shrugged.

"Whatever, bye" she said and the blonde nodded. She turned on her heels and walked toward Jesse's building, green eyes following her every step.

"Hey, B, wazzup?"

"Nothing much. Hey" she started then stopped. Jesse's going to tease her for eternity for this… "do you think I should join that a capella group?" she was still concentrating on the boy's posters on the wall and tried to sit casually on the bed. But when she heard a bubbling laughter from her friend she looked at him with angry eyes.

"You, joining the Barden Bellas?" he asked, grinning. "I mean, you know that's singing and costumes and everything, right?"

"Yes, but my dad said I have to join a club on campus and, well,…"

"This is the only one with hot girls in it?" he asked, still grinning from ear to ear.

"No! That's so not the reason." She answered sullenly.

"Then please enlighten me, what is the reason?"

"I… Have to join a club" she said lamely.

"Yes, that really leaves only the girly a capella group as a possibility."

"Okay, fuck, so what if I do have a crush on Chloe?" she snapped and seeing the expression on Jesse's face she face palmed herself. "Is it such a horrible thing?"

But when she heard her friend's voice she couldn't detect any trace of mocking in his voice.

"Beca, c'mon I'm just kidding. I'm also hoping to join the Treblemakers. I won't think you're lame if you audition or anything."

"I don't care what you think." She murmured back but it was clearly a lie. Jesse was about the only person whose opinion counted for Beca, weirdly enough the close second was Chloe. Whom she'd known for…two weeks? That was pretty pathetic, to be honest.

"Sure you don't" answered Jesse but he sat closer to her letting Beca decide if she wanted to lean onto his shoulder or not. And she wanted to. Really. But then it would be weird standing up and Jesse might try to hug her or something and that would mean even more contact and now she was wearing a hoodie so she'd feel warm soon, too warm and…

Fuck. Why was it so hard?!

"Okay, it might have to do something with a certain redhead." She said, her voice masking her inner struggle so Jesse wouldn't know. He knew things, more things about her than anybody else but Beca didn't want him to think she was too weird. There are limits with everyone.

"B, that's okay. Hell, Chloe is like a… Woah."

"Hey, watch it, Swanson." She punched him lightly in the shoulder and looked at him with narrowed eyes. Did he like Chloe?

"C'mon, B, I'd be a really bad lesbro if I tried to get your girl" he nudged her and Beca finally let herself fall back onto his shoulder. Jesse was always successful in breaking down her walls.

A/N: so, yes, the plot line is mainly following the movie's but there will be additional characters, events, everything.:) Hope you enjoyed it, and please let me know what you think!