"I needed this" Beca proclaimed as she clinked her beer bottle against Jesse's in a less than sober manner.

"Well, I know you have had quite the shitty time, and beer is always a great temporary cure" Jesse said as he manoeuvred himself further into Beca's couch.

The two chatted for a while about meaningless things but that is honestly exactly what Beca felt she needed. The weight of her grandmother's predicament, Grease and Chloe's advances were becoming increasingly troublesome to the music teacher's mental state. To have even a little time where her mind was elsewhere, somewhere completely pointless, was a relief.

"So…" Jesse drawled drunkly as he snatched the snapback Beca had been sporting off of her head, and placed it backwards on his own playfully. "Beale, huh?"

And the half hour of peace of mind was over.

"Yes" Beca replied curtly, acting nonchalant. "Beale indeed."

It was fair to say Jesse had had a sufficient amount of alcohol that evening as he began hiccuping and looking at Beca as if she were extremely far away, eyes scrunching, even though she was sharing a couch with him. "She likes you…yep…she really likes you."

Beca hummed. "I think maybe it's time for Jesse to go to bed" Beca suggested as she stood and offered a hand to her inebriated friend. Jesse rejected it by shaking his head erratically in all directions.

"You should gooooo for it" Jesse urged. "You've been single for like, a billion million years, and that is sooooo stupid!"

Beca rolled her eyes but she knew she was blushing somewhat so she looked away momentarily as Jesse attempted to get his bearings and lift himself off of the couch; an action easier said than done.

"Come on, Match Maker. It's spare room time for you" Beca said as she took the english teacher's hand and dragged him towards the bed that would have to be his for the night. Beca herself was not sober, but she was far closer to it than Jesse.

Jesse messily hopped out of his jeans and clawed out of his polo shirt before sitting on the edge of the bed, Beca returning with a towel and a trash can just in case Jesse needed it.

"I do mean it, Beca. I know I'm drunk and shit but you should-" Hiccup "you should just give it a shot" Jesse said meaningfully as he pulled back the duvet and situated himself under it. "It might be good for you, ya know?" His eyes were beginning to droop as he lay his head against the pillow.

"Alright, big boy. Time to go to sleep" Beca said as she pressed her finger to the light switch.

"I care about you, Beca. You know that, right?" Jesse offered in what was barely a whisper, clearly close to slumber.

Beca smiled at the sentiment, knowing these were drunken words but they were his true thoughts. She also knew Jesse probably wouldn't be afraid to say that to her sober.

"I know, nerd" she replied as she turned the lights out. Beca wished him goodnight but only received heavy snores in return.

Laying in bed, staring at the ceiling Beca mulled over the past couple of day's events. They had finally cast the play, meaning they could actually get going with rehearsals and make it a real thing. Beca had rejected Chloe. Beca imagined that was kind of unusual for Chloe, most likely because she knew Chloe was kind of ridiculously perfect and Beca must have looked a little stupid turing her down.

And maybe Jesse was right. Maybe having someone there would be good for her, keep her more grounded. And she liked Chloe, she really did. But surely that would be incredibly selfish, dragging someone into the drama of Beca's life, somewhere she desperately wishes she could escape. No, Beca couldn't do that to Chloe.

It was Sunday evening and Beca knew she shouldn't feel it but she was nervous for the following week. She had specifically promised to Chloe that things wouldn't be weird, the rejected date wouldn't make everything awkward all of a sudden. But Beca had some reservations about how she was going to act around the redhead.

She needed to talk to someone now.

Dialling the number she had neglected for longer than she would like to admit, the brunette waited until an excited 'hello' broke through the speakers.

"Nana!"

"Beca, dear! So nice to hear your voice, how have you been?"

Beca's grandmother's character contrasted greatly to her own with its cheer and ability to find the good in anything. She was more like Chloe than Beca.

"Beca?"

"Sorry, yeah I'm great. I just wanted to check in. How are you?"

There was a short silence before a sigh.

"I have known you and your mother all your lives. I know when you're lying. Come on, spill."

Beca hesitated for a moment thinking over whether she should just 'spill' or whether she should just not worry her nana. Knowing that her grandmother was only going to push further, Beca conceded.

"Just got a few things on my mind. I uh…I got asked out" Beca let out awkwardly.

A yelp was heard over the line, making Beca jump. "On a date? Beca, that is amazing news! It's about darn time, what's her name? What is she like?"

The excitement in her grandmother's voice brought a smile to her face, it was nice knowing she was still being her positive self in such a dark time.

"Well, it doesn't really matter because I kind of turned her down…" Beca said, feeling somewhat guilty after leaving her nana so excited before.

"What? Why? Beca, you've been single for much too long and I plan to see your wedding so time is of the essence" she joked.

"Nana-" Beca's heart sped up at the slight reminder of the cancer. "Please, don't say things like that."

"I'm sorry, hun. But why did you turn her down? Not good enough for my Beca-boo?"

"Nana…" Beca chuckled with a roll of her eyes. "No, she's great I just have other things going on and stu-"

"Those things better not be me, Rebeca Mitchell" Beca's grandmother said firmly.

Beca replied with silence as her nana released an exasperated sigh.

"Beca, I am fine. Your mother is here all the time, doctors are here around the clock, I'm even doing a little better. Please stop thinking about it or it will be the only thing you think of when you think of me if I do go. That would just be tragic, Beca."

Beca nodded even if it couldn't be seen over the phone as she let out a single, silent tear.

"I need you to live your life, please stop worrying for me, okay? Go on that date. If not for yourself, do it for me. I haven't been to a wedding in decades. I've been to a few funerals, but no weddings" she joked.

"Nana, it's a date not an arranged engagement" Beca deadpanned playfully.

"Eh, a lady can dream, can't she?"

"Alright."

"Alright?" Beca's grandmother asked hopefully.

"Yes, alright I will go on the date" Beca huffed.

"Good girl! And don't worry, I won't tell your mother just yet. I know how she gets when you're dating, even if it's been a few centuries-"

"Alright, I get it! Beca has been single forever, message received" Beca laughed.

"Go and get your girl, Becs. And tell me everything! Well, maybe not everything but-"

"I'm hanging up now" Beca panicked.

Beca's grandmother simply laughed into the phone. "Have fun, love."