A/N
I'm back! Sorry for the unexpected hiatus. It was really rude of me to drop off the map like that; but school had started, my laptop was running on and off (and was taken at one point due to a C… *cough* but let's avoid that…) But, it is now holiday break, and I have two weeks of free time. Unfortunately, a PDF file of the PP2 script is not out yet, so I'll just be following the storyline loosely. So, without further rambling and excuses, let's get this party started!
Chapter 9
::
Beca paces around her room nervously, phone in hand. It was August 21st, which meant school started up again in two days. All of her belongings were neatly packed in boxes, just as they had been a year ago. But unlike last year, she wasn't waiting on a cab today.
Jesse had promised he'd call when he was an hour away. He was picking her up, and they'd be heading back to Barden together. Beca takes a deep breath to calm herself, and instead imagines seeing her friends again, and making plans for the Bellas.
'I wonder if we should hold auditions this year, or just wait until after finals…? I mean, we're pretty good as is, and I'd hate to-' Beca nearly jumps out of her skin as her phone rings; and nearly drops it. 'Please don't fall, I don't have a case for you yet.' She silently begs the phone.
She composes herself before answering. "Hey!"
"Hey, sorry for not calling, but I'm out front." Jesse says.
"You're out front?!" Beca scrambles to her window and peeks out. Sure enough, there he was, leaning against the Jeep, flashing a grin, and waving up at her with his free hand. She let the blind she was looking through fall back down against the window.
"You should be illegal…." She mutters into the phone, shaking her head and holding back a smile.
"Thanks." She can practically hear his smug face through the call.
()
"Should I order pizza?" Beca's mom calls from the doorway, just as Jesse hefts the last box into his trunk.
"No, we'll be fine, mom!" Beca shouts back. "Will you be able to see out of the back?" She asks Jesse skeptically.
He shrugs. "Not really, but I still have my side mirrors. People drive like this all the time, it'll be fine!" He claps her shoulder and gets in the car.
Beca stares uncertainly at the boxes for a moment before walking around to the passenger door. Suddenly, she turns around, and runs back up the path, and crushes her mom in a hug. "Can't leave without a hug."
Her mom smiles and hugs back for a moment before letting go. "You've gotta get going." She says quietly. "I'll miss having you around."
"Me too." Beca looks at the ground and kicks at a loose stone.
Her mom grins. "I bet Jesse will enjoy seeing you all the time again, though." She teases, lightly nudging her arm. "My loss is his gain."
"Mom!' Beca glares; but it's not really a mean one.
Her mother laughs and walks her back down the path. "C'mon, it's almost 3 o'clock. You've gotta get going if you want to be there before it gets too late."
Beca reluctantly climbs into the car and buckles herself in. She rolls down the window. "Bye, mom."
"Bye, Beca's mom." Jesse chimes in; earning an elbow to the ribs.
The older woman rolls her eyes. "Alright, you two. This isn't the first time you're going away for school, don't make it dramatic."
Beca's lips curve into a smile, and she rolls the window back up. "Alright loser, I'm turning on my music and fixing whatever lame stuff these poor speakers have been subjected to." She says, punching the Eject CD button, and shoving her own CD in. "It's Queen time."
Jesse picks up the CD box and examines it. "…. Greatest hits?" He raises an eyebrow.
Beca nods. "Um, yeah. Freddie Mercury is a music legend. Now, shhh, Bohemian Rhapsody is on."
Jesse rolls his eyes fondly puts an arm around her shoulder, pulling his car out of the drive way.
::
"Alright, girls! First Bella meeting of the year!" Beca shouts, gathering everyone into a circle. She motions for them to all sit on the floor.
"I can't believe we have a house now…" Amy says, looking around. The other mutter in agreement.
"Well, that's what happens when you win the ICCA's." Chloe responds, though she sounds just as surprised.
The Bella's all look over at her for a moment. Beca breaks the silence; "I can't believe you purposely flunked just to stay for another year with us." She says incredulously.
Chloe is taken aback. "This group is my life. I don't know what I'm gonna do after this."
"I'm gonna pretend I'm not seriously concerned by that…" Beca mutters, shifting from her position to let Lily get a spot at the circle. "Anyway! Back to business!" She claps her hands together. "I'm thinking we don't hold auditions just yet. I mean, if we see any outstanding singers, sure, let 'em in; but we really have a good, solid beat, and I don't want to disrupt that."
"Don't we need more people, though?" Cynthia pipes up from the other side of the room.
"Not technically, I think we only need like eight people to compete, right?" Fat Amy asks.
Chloe nods. "Exactly. Plus, you're all still sophomores, so the group doesn't necessarily have to expand right now."
"It'll also be a lot easier for me to choreograph routines when I know everyone's skill sets well." Beca adds. "But let's vote on it."
"All in favor of waiting to add members?"
Six hands raise.
"All those not in favor?"
The two remaining hands raise.
"Alright then, I guess it's settled." Beca scribbles the results down in her tiny notebook. "Okay, next order of business – who found some great songs over summer for us?"
Every hand in the room shoots up. Beca looks up from her notebook and cringes. "Yikes..."
::
-Timeskip to the events of Pitch Perfect 2-
"I can't believe this." Chloe paces in a circle. "I can't believe we're banned from holding auditions. We're all seniors! I already took Russian Lit. and passed! What are we going to do?!"
Beca sighs are rubs her temples. "I dunno, Chloe…" The second they'd gotten back to the Bella house, she'd barged into Beca's room and shut the door; not wanting to worry the others. "You did find a loophole… maybe we can win this World thingy, and get back our right to hold auditions….."
Chloe stops her pacing and stamps her feet for emphasis. "You heard them, Bec, the US team has never won! What makes you think we can change that?"
Beca lifts her head from her hands. "I don't know, Chlo…. We're the Bella's, we'll figure something out." She heaves herself off the bed.
"Where are you going?" Chloe asks angrily. "We have to figure something out!"
Beca sighs, shoulder drooping. "Listen, I'm really tired. Enough so that I can't really force myself to be stressed out about this right now. You were right, we're all seniors; it doesn't really matter anymore. We'll be leaving here in a few months. We'll be getting jobs, and moving away. Maybe we need to start focusing on other things."
Chloe gasps, affronted. "How can you say that? We've dedicated so much time to this group, and you're going to let it fall apart?" She accuses, but Beca is already walking away.
"Where are you going?!" She shouts again.
"To Jesse's place." Beca slings her bag over her shoulder, and is out the door before Chloe can say anything else.
::
It's half past nine when Beca knocks on Jesse's door; and she can hear him stumbling around before he opens it. "Hey." He says tiredly. "What're you doing here? Thought you were staying with the Bella's tonight."
Beca sighs, shoving past him, and flopping down onto his couch. "Ugh, no way. Chloe was yelling at me. I couldn't take any more of that. I have that job tomorrow…. I needed somewhere I could sleep in peace." She glances up at him. "Sorry for coming without telling you." She apologizes.
Jesse shrugs. "I mean, you practically live here half the time, so it's no biggie." He shuts the door and joins her on the couch. "But, uh, next time maybe use the spare key I gave you."
Beca reaches into her purse and pulls out her keychain, examining it. "Oh, yeah…" she trails off and puts it back sheepishly.
"I was still awake, don't worry. It doesn't really matter." He insists. "You know, the Bella house is going to be….." he searches for a word, "tense…. for a few days. You want to crasher for a week or two?"
Beca sighs in relief and leans her head on the back of the couch. "Fuck, yes. That would be great."
Jesse smiles and turns his laptop on, plugging it into the TV as he does. "You've got to see this new show I found. The animation is amazing…."
Beca cracks open an eye. "Animation? What is it? A cartoon?"
"No…" he scrolls through his files, searching for something.
"Oh." She leans forward, unties her hair, and takes off her shoes. Then, she removes her jacket, and leans into him, closing her eyes. "I'm probably going to wind up falling asleep though." She murmurs.
Jesse looks up from his screen. "Hold on…" he mutters, and she can hear him moving around. Then, the couch suddenly falls away beneath her, and her eyes fly open. Jesse is carrying her out of the living room, and into his own room.
"Jesse!" She whisper-shouts. "I could have walked over there!" She protests weakly, but does nothing to free herself from his grasp.
He hums quietly, and she can feel his chest vibrating. "I know you could have. I'm just being cheesy." He smiles down at her. "You love it, though, don't lie."
Beca crosses her arms. "Put me down, already!"
"Fine, fine." He complies, laying her down on the bed. "There. I'll be right back, I gotta go change."
"It's not like I haven't seen you naked." Beca scoffs. "Oh, shit, all my clothes are out in the living room…"
"Not true. You left some here and I washed them for you. Check the drawer over there."
Beca sits up and checks the dresser closest to her. Sure enough, there's a small pile of clothes waiting for her. "Thanks." She mutters, unhooking her bra underneath her shirt, and changing into her fluffy pants. Grinning, she turns around and sling-shots the bra at Jesse's face. "Fight!"
"What the-?" He pulls it off his face, and tosses it into his dirty clothes bin, before glaring playfully at her. "You are so on, Mitchell." He growls, tackling her.
"Challenge accepted, Swanson."
()
Jesse's alarm clock wakes Beca up, and she slams her hand down on it to quiet it. She's all too comfortable, tangled in a mess of limbs and blankets, to get up right now. She doesn't even remember how she got over onto his side of the bed; much less why she's even in his bed in the first place.
Oh, right.
Heat creeps up her neck, and she's fully awake now. Realizing her attempts at staying asleep any longer are now futile, she groans, and slowly sits up. She glances over at Jesse; one of his arms is wrapped around her waist, the other is tucked under a pillow. He's snoring softly, hair curled up, and his face flushed. Beca gingerly moves his arm and untangles herself from him, picking up his discarded shirt from last night, and pulling it over her head, before making her way to his kitchen.
Humming quietly, she peeks in his fridge and sighs. Then, she checks his cabinets. 'Boo-yah. Pancake mix.' She thinks, applauding herself internally for the discovery. She pulls out a pan for the pancake mix; and mixes, water, vanilla, and cinnamon in, before dumping some into the pan. Anxiously eyeing it, she debates whether or not she has enough time to pour milk into glasses before it burns. Rushing over to the fridge, she decides she does. She sets the glasses on the counter, and hurries back over to the pancake.
She's made three pancakes by the time Jesse shuffles into the kitchen. She glances at him before returning her attention to the pancakes. He must have put pants on, and a clean shirt. 'What a shame…'
Jesse stares at her for a moment, sleep-fogged brain still processing things. "You're making breakfast?" He asks slowly, voice scratchy and thick.
"Yep. Figured I could be a nice girlfriend for once." She jokes, flipping her current pancake over.
"You're wearing my shirt." He pulls up a stool and sits at the counter.
Beca places the last pancake on the plate beside the stove. She looks down at his shirt, tugging at the fabric with her hands. "Oh, yeah. Sorry."
"Don't be." He says appreciatively, sipping at his glass of milk.
Her face flushes, and she flops a pancake un-gracefully onto a plate, setting it in front of him. "I could only make five of them." She explains, getting a plate for herself.
"That'll be more than enough for two people; these pancakes are huge."
"Thanks. I try my best to compensate for my height in the form of large pancakes."
Jesse practically spits out his milk; and he swallows before laughing. "You're welcome." He grins, and moves his elbow as she sits down. He passes her the syrup. "Here."
She takes it, and pours it onto her pancakes. Jesse leans over, observing. "Are you trying to drown them?" He asks in the most serious tone he can muster.
"Obviously." Beca retorts, trying to maintain a serious face of her own; but fails, bursting into a fit of laughter a moment later. "Shut up!" She shouts, face splitting into a happy smile.
"I absolutely refuse." He grins, mouth full of pancakes. His eyes widen, and suddenly, he exclaims, "Oh! I totally forgot to tell you something! It's great!"
Beca's fork stops mid-movement, and she lowers it. "What is it?"
"I got this awesome job offer in L.A. The guy said that I could fly out for an interview sometime soon." He gestures animatedly, huge smile on his face. "Can you believe it?"
Beca's mouth falls open. "They – you - got a job offer? In L.A?"
Jesse nods, rambling on. "Yeah, they looked into some of my work for local plays and stuff. It's actually more like a Film School kind of thing, but they said I could work there after I graduate if I wanted." He pauses, "I'm just not sure how I'd fit in a trip to L.A with school and everything.
Beca's brain had stopped functioning after the wors 'job offer in L.A'. She hadn't just poured three year of her heart and soul into one person, just for him to leave. But at the same time, she'd be a horrible person if she held him down.
"Maybe you could fit an interview in during the holiday break." She offers meekly, struggling to keep her voice from cracking.
"That's a great idea. I'll call them back after we finish breakfast." He says, shoving a pancake piece into his mouth.
Beca looks down at her own pancake sadly.
::
Jesse's car slows to a halt outside of 'Residual Heat' recording studio. He looks over at Beca excitedly. "So Lil' Wayne's recorded here, huh?" He asks cheekily.
"Yeah, and he was arrested here twice." Beca replies matter-of-factly.
"Really?" He exclaims in mock surprise.
Beca glances at the bland building nervously. "I can't believe they hired me."
"Of course they did. You rock the party that rocks the body."
Beca looks at him pointedly. "I don't even know where to begin with that…"
"I stand by it." He holds back a grin, unbuckling himself, and getting out of the car. Beca soon follows him, and he grabs her computer bag before meeting her at the back of his car.
"So, any first day jitters?" He asks, holding her bag.
"No, nah, I'm just gonna be moody and distant; artists love that, right?" She lies, covering up with a joke.
"I know I love that." He smiles, easily going along with it. He hold out her bag for her. "Here you go." He says, gesturing to the recording studio.
Beca takes two steps before she turns back, nervous smile on her lips. "Dude, why do I feel so guilty?" She asks worriedly. "I've given a lot to the Bella's, right? That's like, three years of my life." She rambles, trying to reassure herself.
Jesse leans over, rubbing her arm. "Bec, you shouldn't feel guilty at all about taking you chance. I didn't, when I got into Film School"
"Clearly." Beca retorts. "You get to graduate a year early and go to USC, leaving me behind – forever, I might add. I think you should feel a little guilty." She says, pulling a face.
Jesse sighs. "I am not leaving you behind forever, okay? We'll be fine. We're Jesse and Beca." He hesitates before adding, "We're Jessica."
"It took you three years to find that?" Beca asks quietly.
"I know, I'm really disappointed in myself. " He mutters. "Anyway, go in there, go kick ass at this internship, and then you'll join me in L.A, and we'll live a west coast lifestyle together. Yeah?"
"Yeah!" Beca nods enthusiastically.
"I'm talking juice cleanses, fish tacos, hikes; we'll both get plastic surgery…"
"Yeah?"
"I'll make my nose bigger for some reason…." Jesse rambles, trying to lighten the mood.
"Yeah, I'm gonna be beautiful." Beca jokes, gesturing to her face.
"It'll be the dream life." He finishes, patting her shoulder.
"This is a big deal, right?" She asks, eyes wide and anxious.
"Yes, it is a very big deal." He assures her.
"Okay." She nods.
Jesse presses a chaste kiss to her lips, and gently pushes her away. "Go kill it."
Beca nods and backs away dramatically, heaving her bag onto her shoulder. Jesse leans on his car, smiling proudly. "Nothing's gonna stop my girl!" He shouts.
"Please don't do this!" She shouts back, pretending to hide her face.
"Bec's in effects, yo!" He continues shouting.
"I don't know him!" She yells back as she rounds the corner.
Jesse grins before getting back in his car, and pulling away. Beca is just walking inside when he rounds the corner, and he frowns slightly, sighing. "I hope everything goes okay for us…" he mutters before shifting gears and driving away.
A/N
Okay, so I somehow shit this chapter out in a day? I dunno. I tried my best to include actual snippets of dialogue in here; but most of this will show what I think happened off-screen during PP2. Also, yay for heavily implied sex. (I absolutely refuse to write you sinful people smut.) Once again, I'm extremely sorry for the unannounced 5 month hiatus. I was very busy with school and had very little time to write; and anything I did was soon scrapped.
Anyway, Happy Holidays! I might upload a Christmas chapter that is unrelated to the main story, but I'm not sure. It depends on how bored I am. Hopefully I can get a few more chapters done before school starts back up on Jan. 4th! (Also, why does FF not save my indentations...? Sorry, I guess?)
References in this chapter (for those interested):
Queen – British (rock?) band
~ Savannah