A/N: I was really excited to write this chapter oh my goodness! I made Alexis excited too, so I hope it's as good intended! Sorry it took so long!
Chapter 20:
Three days until finals:
"Geez Jesse! I can do this on my own! I don't need you to be assisting me 24/7! I am a grown woman and know how to manage just fine. What the hell do you think I did before you?!" Aubrey screamed. She couldn't take it any longer. The stress of ICCA Finals and school starting to end soon was catching up to her.
"Damn it Aubrey! I'm just trying to help!"
"I don't need your help! You're not my-"
"I'm not your what?! Your boyfriend? Last time I checked, I sort of was!" Jesse yelled.
"Jess, I'm s-"
"No stop. If that's how you feel, maybe we should take a break."
"Are-are you breaking up with me?" Aubrey asked with tears in her eyes.
"I honestly don't know, but maybe we just need some time apart and see where things fall." Jesse sighed. "It's for the best."
Aubrey tried to muffle her sniffles and wiped her tears from her eyes. She slowly nodded her head as she resisted the urge to fall on the floor.
Jesse quietly left her dorm and made his back to his. His heart was hurting. That was the worst feeling he has ever experienced, and he had wished he would never have to. Some wishes just don't come true.
Aubrey collapsed on her floor as Jesse closed the door behind him. The tears she had tried so hard to wipe away were streaming down her puffy cheeks. She clutched her stomach as she heaved through her violent sobs. She didn't really know what just happened, but she knew it was her own fault.
Jesse paced around his room feeling nauseous. "What just happened?" he muttered to himself. He picked up his pace and let his emotions get the best of him. He pulled his arm back and met the wall with his fist in a split second. He shook his hand and stared at the hole he just made. His stomach dropped when he came to his senses. He didn't have Aubrey.
Chloe unlocked the door and instantly saw her best friend on her knees, clutching her stomach and crying her eyes out. "Aubrey, are you okay? Oh my God what happened?"
Aubrey couldn't form her words, but she threw herself into Chloe's arms and cried. Chloe tried to get her to calm down to tell her what happened, but it wasn't working.
"Is it Jesse?" she asked quietly.
Aubrey nodded her head slightly and struggled to catch her breath as the mention of his name brought tears to her eyes.
"Shh baby it's alright! It's going to be okay, Aubrey. I promise you." Chloe said as calm as possible.
"I…ruined…us" Aubrey managed between gasps for air.
"Aubrey, I need you to tell me what happened. Can you do that please?"
Aubrey forced herself to stop shaking and wiped her tears as best as she could.
"I was trying to work on some papers for NYU after Bellas and I was so tired. Jesse" she paused at the mention of his name. "Jesse stopped by and was being sweet and saw me stressing and offered to help. I thought it was cute, but he just kept getting in the way. I couldn't take it Chloe! This is really important to me and I really needed to get it done, but he was distracting me. Then he started treating me like I was incapable of completing my essays for early admissions. I broke. I couldn't handle it anymore Chloe! I yelled at him!" Aubrey whimpered.
"It's okay. Couples fight! It makes you stronger!" Chloe murmured, trying to comfort Aubrey in her arms.
"I almost said he's not my boyfriend, and he knew it."
"Aubrey, why would you say that? You've been dating for almost one year!"
"I don't know Chloe! I panicked." she cried. "He suggested we take a break for a while." Aubrey said quietly, wiping her tears away.
Chloe held her best friend in her arms and rocked her back and forth until she cried herself to sleep. She had never seen her like that. Not even when her father was rude to her.
There was a light knock on the door. Chloe couldn't move without waking Aubrey up, so she half whispered, half yelled "It's open!"
Beca opened the door and took one look at Chloe and Aubrey. "Is she okay?" she whispered.
Chloe shook her head no and looked back at Aubrey who had puffy eyes and stained cheeks.
Beca went out and closed the door behind her. She had to make a quick stop.
"Damn it Beca! Can't you knock?" Jesse yelled as the tiny brunette barged into his dorm.
"What the hell happened?" Beca yelled, noticing the hole and then looking over at his left hand.
Jesse tucked his arm behind him and hung his head. "I don't want to talk about it." He muttered.
"Well, little miss 'stick up her ass but not so much since you two have been together' cried herself to sleep on my girlfriend. If something didn't happen, that would be you in there holding her."
Jesse fumbled around his dorm and muttered under his breath. "We fought okay."
"What's the big deal? Chloe and I fight sometimes too."
"She started to say I wasn't her boyfriend, Becs." Jesse said quietly.
"Oh honestly, she doesn't mean it. She gets so uptight when she has to do something. You should know by now not to take anything personal when she's stressed."
"You don't understand Beca. Maybe this is the universe telling us to re-evaluate everything."
"No. Don't you dare say that Swanson. I may not have always liked her, but I have never seen two people more perfect for each other. You two are the oddest pair, but it's like that's how it's meant to be. Don't you dare give up."
"We're taking a breather. Maybe once finals are over, we'll see." Jesse mumbled.
"Remember when I texted you before we all went bowling last year?" Beca asked.
"Yeah. You asked if I loved her, for some odd reason." He recalled.
"And you said, and I quote, 'Yes I do. I can't imagine being with anyone else.' End quote. None of us can see you with anyone else. She's the one. She's your soul mate, Jess, and I'm not going to sit here and let her slip away because you both probably screwed up."
"Becs, can't you just give me until finals to figure this all out? I still need to process it all."
"Fine. But processing this does not mean you can go around hitting walls whenever you get upset."
"Deal."
"You really should ice that." Beca smirked as she left his dorm room.
Beca walked back into Chloe and Aubrey's dorm once more. She crouched down to Chloe and whispered something in her ear. Chloe's eyes lit up as she listened to her girlfriend's plan. She nodded as Beca went through the details. "Call the girls for me, Becs." Chloe grinned. "I'll get her on board."
Jesse called an emergency Trebles meeting the next morning. He had something he had to do.
"Look guys. I royally screwed up. I need to figure out a way to fix this, but it's you guys' decision."
Jesse explained what happened and his plan to the Trebles. Some had worried looks on their faces, but some were nodding and excited about it.
"We got this Jesse. Don't you worry." Donald assured.
With that, Jesse nodded, and the guys went to work.
Finals:
"Are you sure it's going to work Chloe?" Aubrey asked with pain in her eyes. She still hadn't talked to Jesse, let alone seen him at all.
"You love him, right?"
"Of course I do! You know that!"
"Then go out there and show him that!" Chloe perked! "You can thank Beca later!" she teased.
Aubrey half smiled and went to make sure everyone else was situated to perform. As she was getting an extra mic, she saw a familiar figure walk in front of her. Her heart skipped a beat as he turned around and looked at her with such sadness in his eyes.
"Hey, um, good luck out there." She said quietly.
"Thanks. You too." He told her before joining the other Trebles to go on stage.
"Thanks. You too?" she muttered to herself. "Chloe it's not going to work!" she whined as tears formed in her eyes.
"Whoa easy there, Bree. Don't cry. Don't stress. Everything is going to be perfect, okay! You need to trust me on this."
Aubrey nodded her head softly. She grabbed Chloe's hand, who in turn grabbed Beca's and walked to the edge of the wing to watch the Trebles perform their songs.
Aubrey fidgeted when she realized this wasn't the set he had planned. It was new. Really new. Aubrey listened intently as Jesse's voice filled the auditorium.
When I look into your eyes
It's like watching the night sky
Or a beautiful sunrise
Well, there's so much they hold
And just like them old stars
I see that you've come so far
To be right where you are
How old is your soul?
Well, I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up
And when you're needing your space
To do some navigating
I'll be here patiently waiting
To see what you find
Chloe squeezed Aubrey's hand as Donald, Benji, and Jesse transitioned to the next song.
Baby, I'm a man, maybe I'm a lonely man
Who's in the middle of something
That he doesn't really understand.
Baby, I'm a man,
And maybe you're the only woman who could ever help me.
Baby, won't you help me to understand?
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh.
Maybe I'm amazed at the way you're with me all the time,
Maybe I'm afraid of the way I leave you.
Maybe I'm amazed at the way you help me sing my song,
Right me when I'm wrong-
Maybe I'm amazed at the way I really need you.
Jesse kept looking to where she was standing in the wing with an apologetic smile on his face.
"It looks like the Trebles leader, Jesse Swanson, has his mind somewhere else. He's singing like an angel, but not to us! I mean, just listen to these song choices, John!" Gail announced to the camera.
"You're so right Gail! Who is this lovely lady that stole his heart?" John asked jokingly.
"I'm not sure, but I want to find out!"
"Well would you look at that! He's pulling out the old trick with this song!"
In your eyes
The light the heat
In your eyes
I am complete
In your eyes
I see the doorway to a thousand churches
In your eyes
The resolution of all the fruitless searches
In your eyes
I see the light and the heat
In your eyes
Oh, I want to be that complete
I want to touch the light
The heat I see in your eyes.
I won't give up on us
Even if the skies get rough
I'm giving you all my love
I'm still looking up
The Trebles finished the last song and made their way to their seats as the audience continued to cheer them on. They sounded just as amazing as usual, if not better.
Aubrey stood speechless in the wings. "What just happened?" she muttered.
"He loves you. That's what happened." Chloe told her, squeezing her hand once more, earning a small smile from Aubrey.
"Alright girls, circle up. You guys are the best group of Bellas I have ever worked with, and I am so glad to have worked with you all during my final year. Thank you so much. And thank you so much for the little adjustment we made. I love you girls from the bottom of my heart." Aubrey told the Bellas as they all held hands in a circle.
"Go get boy toy back, flatbutt!" Fat Amy nearly shouted.
The girls took their spots on stage and waited as Chloe counted them off.
Aubrey took a deep breath before starting her song. Her song to apologize for being a bitch to the only guy she's ever cared about in her entire life.
Everybody needs a little time away,
I heard her say,
From each other.
Even lovers need a holiday,
Far away from each other.
Hold me now,
It's hard for me to say I'm sorry,
I just want you to stay...
After all that we've been through,
I will make it up to you,
I promise to.
And after all that's been said and done,
You're just the part of me I can't let go.
Couldn't stand to be kept away,
Just for the day,
From your body
Wouldn't want to be swept away,
Far away from the one that I love
Chloe quickly took over for the next song for the group with her spunky voice bouncing all over the auditorium.
The sun goes down
The stars come out
And all that counts
Is here and now
My universe will never be the same
I'm glad you came
You cast a spell on me, spell on me
You hit me like the sky fell on me, fell on me
And I decided you look well on me, well on me
So let's go somewhere no one else can see, you and me
Beca joined in as she started harmonizing and switched songs one last time before they were finished. She caught a quick glance at Aubrey who was dancing around on stage and looking over at Jesse.
I can't win, I can't reign
I will never win this game
Without you, without you
I am lost, I am vain,
I will never be the same
Without you, without you
I won't run, I won't fly
I will never make it by
Without you, without you
I can't rest, I can't fight
All I need is you and I,
Without you, without you
I can't quit now, this can't be right
I can't take one more sleepless night
Without you, without you
I won't soar, I won't climb
If you're not here, I'm paralyzed
Without you, without you
I can't look, I'm so blind
I lost my heart, I lost my mind
Without you, without you
The universe will never be the same
I can't take one more sleepless night without you
I will make it up to you. I promise to…
The audience stood up and applauded the girls as the finished their set. All the girls hugged on stage and stood there as the audience continued to cheer. Aubrey found Jesse amongst the crowd. She felt Chloe nudging her with her elbow. Aubrey quickly hugged Chloe and Beca before making her way to the crowd. She only had one stop on her mind.
Aubrey ran down the stairs into the audience. She ran into the row where Jesse was sitting and wrapped her arms around him. Jesse's arms quickly wrapped around her as he pressed his lips against hers. Neither of them wanted to break that kiss.
"What in the world do we have here, John? Senior Aubrey Posen, a Barden Bella, hooking up with senior, Jesse Swanson, a Treblemaker! This is unheard of! I love it!"
"That is such an odd combination. It's quite cute, if I say so myself!" John added.
"Well there you have it folks, they are cute. Right out of the mouth of my pal, John!"
"Have I mentioned how lucky I am to be in love with you?" Jesse asked, pressing his forehead against Aubrey's.
"I've missed you so much, Jesse. I really am sorry. I'm sorry I was such a bitch and didn't handle it properly."
"I'm sorry for overreacting about it. You were stressed and I wasn't helping the matter."
"I love you with my whole heart, Jesse Dean Swanson."
"And I love you with mine, Aubrey Rose Posen."
Jesse cupped her face and kissed her again. Boy! Did he miss doing that!
"And in first place, for the very first time ever, let's give it up for… The Barden Bellas!"
All of the girls ran up to the stage when they were announced the winners.
"We did it!" Aubrey squealed, hugging Chloe and Beca.
"I told you we would be aca-awesome!" Chloe said with a wink.
Everyone was down in the hotel bar celebrating the win of the girls. The two groups were mingling with each other. Some, more than mingling. Jesse and Aubrey walked over to the bar to order a drink. Aubrey was glad to feel Jesse's hand back in hers where it belonged. She felt so empty without him the past three days.
Jesse wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and kissed her cheek. He was leaning against the bar as they swayed to the music for a while, sipping their beers, being careful not to get drunk.
"Do you want to get out of here?" Jesse whispered in her ear. Aubrey nodded and set her drink down.
They walked hand in hand to the elevator of the hotel to go upstairs.
"I think we're on the same floor this year." Aubrey told him, once they were in the elevator alone.
"Who are you rooming with?" he asked her.
"Stacie. Chloe and Beca wanted 'private time', and we all know what that means."
"Well this works out nicely! I am rooming with Donald. He and Stacie were a little preoccupied, so it's safe to say one of our rooms will be empty tonight."
"Ah. I see. Shall I text Stacie?"
"Don't worry about it. I already texted Donald." He said with a wink.
Jesse led Aubrey to his room on the 7th floor.
"I brought something for you." Jesse told her as he unzipped his suitcase. He threw the hoodie she had claimed to her.
Aubrey grinned and held it close to her. "I love you Jesse. I really love you."
"I know you do. And I love you so much Aubrey." He said, wrapping her in his arms.
"I'm…going…to…get…changed." She said between planting kisses on his lips. "And I'm stealing these!" she teased as she grabbed a pair of boxers from his suitcase. She scurried off to the bathroom and slid out of her jeans and loose top and into the boxers and hoodie she usually wore.
When she walked out, Jesse was lying in bed, checking his phone. Aubrey crawled in bed next to him and pulled the blankets over her. Jesse wrapped his arm around her as he scrolled through his feed. He leisurely ran his fingers up and down her side. As he was doing so, he felt something familiar. His mind flashed back to the day they started dating, to the night when he really learned about Aubrey. He made her a promise that night. He swore to her that he'd never leave her.
"You know, these past few days made me realize something." Aubrey sighed.
"Oh, yeah? What's that?"
"I was stupid enough to almost let you leave my life. Every minute of those days was pure hell for me. My whole body ached and trembled. You are the love of my life, and I could have ruined that. I didn't know if I was ever going to hold you again or kiss you again. I was terrified. I've waited my whole life for you. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I jeopardizedus. You've taken such a huge part of my heart. I can't bear the thought of not being with you. I want to be with you forever."
"Aubrey. I love you to the moon and back a billion times. I wasn't sure what was going to happen, but I can assure you that it was living hell for me. I yearned to hold you once again. I can't think of being with another person or seeing you with someone else. And I made a promise to you. I swore I would never leave you, ever. I'm not going to. I'm going to be right here no matter how mad you get. I promise to."
"Jess?"
"Yeah sweetie?"
"I'm ready."
"Ready for what? OH! Oh! You're ready! Are you sure Aubrey? We are in no rush. We have a lifetime together!"
"I'm positive." She said, placing a kiss on his lips.
"Me too." He whispered into her ear, placing a passionate kiss on her lips.
Jesse grabbed her waist and pulled her on top of him. "I love you Aubrey."
She leaned down and started to kiss him. Jesse grabbed her arms and pulled her towards him, and at the contact of their skin, a mixture of emotions shot straight into her system. Everywhere their skin touched, she felt a sizzling, burning sensation, and her breath kept coming in short as the time ticked on. From the way his hands were moving, it was clear to tell that their desires were mutual. Jesse reached up and pulled her deeper into the covers with him, into a never-ending abyss of pleasure, desire, and love.
A/N: I hope you guys like it! Songs used: I won't give up-Jason Mraz, Maybe I'm amazed-Paul McCartney, In Your Eyes-Peter Gabriel, After All that We've Been Through-Chicago, Glad You Came-the Wanted, Without You-David Guetta.