Chapter 4

A/N: Challenged accepted. Glad I updated tonight. I need to stop being a lazy piece of POO. Thanks RG.

"Shit Becs…" Jesse said promptly, taking in what the small girl had just shared with him. He had never seen her so small.

Beca wiped her right cheek and almost huffed her exhale. It was like she was blowing it far away from her…the words, the memory.

"But. She did kiss you. It wasn't necessarily the other way around. I think that speaks volumes in itself!" Jesse said, tuning up his enthusiasm, trying to get his friend to see it another way. Trying to get her to ease up on herself. Perhaps even trying to justify it all, because let's face it, if anyone knew that Beca and Chloe were endgame—it was the footnote in their love story. Jesse Swanson. In all his glory.

These two idiots never seemed to really see what was going on—what each of them was feeling for one another. At times it was unbearable to the people around them. Beca and Chloe were like two Barbie dolls that you mash together and make kissing-noises.

"Aren't you forgetting how this ended?" Beca snapped.

"Sorry. Continue." Jesse said, frowning.

"I watched her go inside. I was fucking freezing…but I couldn't show myself in there again. How would it look? Me after a kiss like that, and her girlfriend in the same room!"

"Or the fact that you were both soaking wet?"

"Jesse!"

"The sprinklers! Christ, woman…"

"Right."

"Just, okay. So you didn't go into the party. Where did Chloe go? Or did you leave all together?"

"She and Haley left. They left the party. I saw Chloe's car leaving the driveway because I was still out there."

"So…how did you find out about…about the…"

"I was so riled up dude. I just couldn't think straight!"

"As opposed to normal?" Jesse joked.

"I'm not telling you the rest of this."

"Beca I'm sorry. I am just trying to cheer you up."

"Nothing can, you're only starting to piss me off."

"You were losing it, you weren't in the right head space…I got it. Then what?"

Beca stared at him for a few moments, chewing the inside of her cheek. Well, at least she had stopped crying. Whether people liked to admit it or not, Jesse was good at…whatever the fuck it was.

"I had to see her. I had to at least talk about it, you know? You're right. I thought to myself, my girl is coming back. I can't risk this. Not again. I have to fight for her. I have to declare my love, I have to…I have to…fuck."

"You have to fuck?"

"No! I guess…I guess I thought I should be like the movies—fuck you Katy Perry— and go big. That I should…become a total idiot and chase after her."

"You thought you were grabbing on to the love of your life agian, Beca. You don't have to be so hard on yourself. You did the right thing." Jesse said, finally serious. He believed that. With all of his heart.

Beca looked up at him, somehow appreciative of his sincerity. It almost convinced her fully. She looked at him with warm eyes. She took a quiet breath.

"I saw her lights on. I walked up. I knocked on the door. I didn't quite know what I was going to say…I just figured it would come to me when I saw her. Like, like it always does. But I was too late."

"What happened when you knocked, Becs?" Jesse said, almost in a whisper.

"It was Haley that opened the door. She was crying. I assumed maybe…I had hoped…actually…that Chloe went there to end it with her. That that's why…that's why she needed to go to Haley so suddenly. You know?"

Jesse nodded.

"She held up her hand. That was it."

Jesse sighed, and sunk his head down. Even though he knew they were engaged, something in him hoped that the ending would change, somehow. Every time he watches Titanic, he still hopes it will change somehow.

"I'm sorry Beca."

"What am I supposed to do now, Jesse?"

Jesse took a moment and really thought to himself. Beca sniffled. He looked up at her.

"Why did you come home, Bec?"

"What?"

"Not that I don't love seeing you…but…you haven't really told anyone why."

"What does this have to—"

"—If you really didn't come back here for Chloe…like you claim…then maybe it's time to head back home. What's keeping you here on Benji's couch? Homely visits aren't really a Beca Mitchell move, if you get my meaning. Unless there's something you actually have to do here? Something to stay for? I can't imagine you would attend the…"

Beca furrowed her eyebrows at Jesse, beginning to shake her head in confusion.

"I'm not saying that in a mean way…I just mean…maybe…I mean…even if you DID come back for Chloe, maybe it's really time to move on. Get back to your great life in LA. Focus on work. Meet another girl and literally rock her world." Jesse frowned.

"I didn't come back for Chloe." Beca said flatly.

"So…" Jesse said.

"I just miss it all. I miss who I used to be. I was fearless then, Jesse. Maybe I came here for that inspiration again."

"Then…start a record label here?"

"Dude…I know I'm crying on someone else's couch…but seriously? I have money—"

"—No. I mean, start working here. Because you can, or want to. If you're not happy there, maybe you're right. Maybe getting back to your roots creatively will help you." Jesse began to light up. "I'll help you! Aubrey will…well. She will allow me to help you! Well. Only until my curfew."

Beca laughed for the first time. He earned himself another eye roll.

"Maybe…"

"Definitely." Jesse smirked.

"Okay…we can get a beer in our systems and come up with some ideas I guess…"

"GROOVY TUNES. Can I be your assistant?" Jesse nearly bounced on the couch.

"Dude. Seriously?" Beca grimaced.

Jesse chuckled and gave Beca's foot another reassuring squeeze.

"But…what do I do…about Chloe?" Beca frowned, but looked to Jesse—nearly begging him for the answer to that. He looked right back at her, quieting down. He nodded once.

"You're going to let her go, Beca. That's what she needs. That's what she wants. She's getting married."

Beca's eyes welled up instantly.

"I'm not sure what that kiss was, but, I guess it meant that things were really over for her—even if you don't feel the same way."

Beca began to nearly hiccup as her emotion began to rapidly surface.

"And you, you're going to cry on my shoulder, for as long as you need to." Jesse said, turning himself to the side, scooting towards Beca.

Like a small puppy, the Beca Ball on the couch turned in to her best friend, and she lay her head lightly on his left shoulder.

"Just let go."