The semester is coming to an end, and the school seems more empty than usual. Students scatter like cockroaches right after their finals, packing up and leaving faster than the circus moving onto another town. Beca walks out of her last final, mentally and physically exhausted. She steps out the building, letting the warm air hit her shoulders. She's done it, she's finished with her freshman year at Barden.
She'd be the first to admit there was a rocky start, in fact, it surprises her she is standing there at all. After all, her father had promised she could go off to LA after the spring, and here that time has come, and she just feels that LA would have to wait a little bit longer. She couldn't leave everyone and everything now. She finally has grown attached to something.
"Are you gonna miss me?" He whispered, his fingers playing with her hair. Her head rested on his stomach as they watched Batman Returns in his room. He insisted these were more enjoyable to him than the newer Batman movies (she hadn't seen any of them).
"Nope."
He laughed and she could feel the vibrations on his stomach. "Yeah, you will." Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman back flipped her way towards Batman.
"No, I'm not. I'm going to miss Kimmy Jin. I'm going to miss the god awful cardboard pizza in the dining hall. I'm going to miss the way my professors all decide to give me a paper due at the same time. I'm going to miss Aubrey yelling at me. But you…I will not miss."
She wants to pretend that they aren't going to be separated in a few weeks. She wants to pretend they can sit like this and watch his stupid movies that she doesn't care about.
"You guys," Benji pleaded from his seat on the floor in front of Jesse's bed. "Here's the best part!"
She smiled slightly as the building behind Catwoman exploded, and Benji and Jesse gave each other a fist bump. Nerds. Total nerds. She'll most definitely miss this.
She already misses him, which is weird because she promised herself she wouldn't get all wrapped up in him. But she was, she is, and she wants to be. The summer would be difficult, they both knew, he'd be back at home and she'd be back and forth between her parents, but her mother told her Jesse could come and visit for a few days, provided Beca not have her infamous attitude. So, she'd bite her tongue if that meant Jesse got to visit. The sacrifices she was willing to make for this relationship.
The last few weeks have been an eye opener. She's undoubtedly in love with Jesse, though, she'd won't give him the satisfaction of knowing. She found herself in a new place, liking Barden, trusting her dad. It was witchcraft or voodoo work, this was. It seemed too early, too new, these feelings for Jesse, even though he was her best friend all year. She feels like it should be a certain time line before declarations are made. But she learned quickly things would happen when they wanted. Her relationship with Jesse is opening her mind and heart in new ways, and she feels out of control. She hates losing control of anything. But it's written all over her face, his face too, and the wall behind them.
Two weeks before school ends...
"And it feels like I am just too close to love you. There's nothing I can really sayyyyyyyyy ayyyy ayyyy ayyyy..." Jesse belted out to the crowd cheering in front of him. "I can't lie no more, I can't hide no more...Got to be true to myself. And it feels like I am just too close to love you. So I'll be on my wayyyyyy..."
He's lucky he's performing right now, Beca thought. Because when he sings like that, she gets the uncontrollable urge to climb him like tree. So instead, she watched him watching her as he belted out the song. She sipped the vodka laced punch out of her cup, her eyes steadily on him. Oh yeah, she's gonna climb that. She's sure the eye sex she's having with Jesse is probably making everyone around her uncomfortable, but she doesn't really care. It's the ear porn. Something about him performing with the Trebles makes him seem like the Bradley Cooper of acapella. They were at Chloe and Aubrey's graduation pool party, and the Treblemakers were kind enough to perform. Cynthia, Lily, Ashley, and Beca all stood in a circle, surrounded by scandalously clad boys and girls frolicking around them.
"Look at her, she's like mesmerized," Ashley giggled, pointing at Beca. She wasn't even paying attention until Cynthia Rose tapped her shoulder.
"You okay there, Beca?"
"Um, yeah fine...great. What are we talking about?" she shook off her sex haze to focus.
"You are so hooked. I mean, I'll give it the guy, he can sing his ass off. He must do other things really well too," Cynthia said, causing the girls to laugh.
Beca blushed and turned back to the circle. She had to get control of herself, she was way too open, way too obvious. Did Jesse really have that type of effect on her? How the fuck is that possible, he's like...Jesse. Who was she kidding? Every time he sang, her skin felt like thousand pulse points. He knew music got to her and he could play that for what it was worth.
"Look at Stacie," Cynthia Rose replied, pointing out Stacie sitting on the side of the pool, two guys begging her to get in. "I like her bikini."
Ashley frowned, feeling self conscience about her one piece . "Why couldn't this be indoors? I don't do swimwear."
"Me neither," Beca frowned even though she wore her bikini, she had the decency to keep on her jean shorts. She watched as the Trebles finished their set and high five each other. Fat Amy pulled Benji over to her so he could apply sunblock on her back. Benji looked slightly afraid."At least someone's having fun."
"Have any of you even seen Aubrey or Chloe? It's their party," Ashley asked.
"Right here, aca-bitches!" they heard Chloe yell and they all catcalled her and Aubrey as they strolled over, in high heels and tankinis.
"Congratulations!" Beca said, hugging Chloe. "We're going to miss you when you go to Berkley."
"I'm only a phone call away," Chloe smiled, hugging her back.
"You too, Aubrey."
"You can text me anytime. Or call. Text if I don't answer. I mean it, Beca. Leadership over the Bellas is an honor. We're entrusting it to you."
Beca nodded humorously. Aubrey's need for control will always be there, even after victory.
"So…why aren't you guys in the pool?" Aubrey asked.
"I can't, I just got my hair braided," Cynthia Rose offered.
Ashley frowned, "And look like a whale? No thanks."
"My hamster drowned in a kiddie pool when I was five," Lily replied.
Everyone looked at her and decided to ignore.
"What about you, Beca?"
"She's waiting for Jesse," Cynthia Rose teased.
"Ohhhh… you want him to see you in your bikini?" Chloe teased as well.
Beca brought her cup up to her lips and muttered, "He's seen me in much less, trust me."
"What did you say?" Aubrey stared at Beca as if she wanted to punch her in the face.
Beca forgot she didn't exactly tell Chloe or Aubrey the nature of her new relationship with Jesse. It was ridiculous, this notion of having to share the details of your relationship with a group of girls not in said relationship. Everyone already knew they were together, so she wasn't sure what the big deal was. Did Aubrey expect for them to have both feet on the floor and only go for soda pop dates at the local diner? Beca felt a little guilty though, Chloe was so open with everything, she probably expected Beca to spill. Aubrey was just a dictator, always will be.
Aubrey grabbed Beca's arm and pulled her off from the group. "Beca! Have you been treble boned?! What did I tell you about that?"
"Are we still on that? I thought we decided to let that go."
"No. That is a standing rule, Beca."
"Aubrey, chill, we just started dating."
"I'm serious. No matter what, we can never let the Trebles penetrate us. EVER." Beca's eyes widened at Aubrey's declaration because of course Jesse would walk up right at that moment. He looked thoroughly amused, his hands behind his back. He also looked incredible hot in his swim trucks. She'll have to peel those off of him later.
"Hello there," he said a bit too smugly. He liked seeing Beca squirm when confronted about the nature of their relationship.
"Answer the question, Beca!" Aubrey said expectantly.
"Um…I plead the sixth?" she replied.
"Fifth," Jesse corrected.
Beca cut her eyes at her boyfriend. "Whatever. I mean, seriously, that rule shouldn't even be a rule."
"Are you admitting guilt?" Aubrey asked.
"I'm admitting that whoever gets to ride the Beca rollercoaster, it'll be my business and my business only," Beca shrugged, taking a sip out of her cup again. "I'm the ticket master."
Aubrey turned her tirade on Jesse, hands on her hips. "And have you rode that coaster?"
He looked over to Beca, who just winked at him, "Aubrey, I promise you, my intentions with Beca are honorable. And...stop looking at me like that, it makes me afraid."
"You better be. Don't you hurt her," Aubrey said in a huff as she walked away.
Beca smiled inwardly that Aubrey was trying to protect her. She crossed her arms and glared at Jesse. "You intentions are honorable?"
"Yep."
"Where'd you learn such a thing?"
"European History."
Beca snorted. "I don't think your intentions are honorable at all, the way you were up there carrying on just now."
"Well, ticketmaster," Jesse nodded stepping close, "Let's just say I've got a whole lot of tickets and I'll ride Coaster Beca til the wheels fall off."
Her phone buzzes with a text from Chloe.
So bored. They spelled Aubrey's name wrong on her diploma. She is now Andre. Heh.
That elicits a snort from Beca as she types in LOL and tucks her phone in her pocket. She trucks across campus to say goodbye to Jesse. His parents are coming to get him sometime this evening, and she needs a bit of quality time before he leaves. As she strolls down the hall to Jesse's room, Beca can hear the shrill of a woman's voice before she hits Jesse's dorm room door.
"Where are all the underwear I bought you in the summer? And...really, Jesse? This is how you pack your things? "
"Mom, please…stop. No, stop fussing with my underwear," she could hear Jesse exclaim and the snickering of another man in the room. "More importantly though, Beca will be here any moment. Can we not do this right now?"
Beca stops short of the door, wondering should she even attempt to say goodbye to Jesse for the summer, sensing that it was the first time she'd meet his parents, and his mother was on an underwear rampage.
"Oh, it's just hilarious, isn't it? Our son is incapable of folding. Does this Beca know you aren't very good at folding?"
"How do I respond to that, mom? I mean…really."
"Look at him, embarrassed. Afraid we'll embarrass you in front of your girlfriend? Wait. Is this Beca your girlfriend?"
"Yes, but don't sit here, holding my boxers when she comes in, it's kind of embarrassing. And she's…she's not really into labels much, so don't call her my girlfriend every five seconds, ok?"
Yeah, this was overwhelming. She isn't sure she's ready to be introduced to Jesse's overbearing mother just yet, who could probably sense that Beca had seen her son naked, many, many times. She thinks briefly of fleeing, and maybe texting Jesse to come visit her before he left instead but before she can turn around, Benji walks out of the room. Perfect.
"Hi Beca!"
Jesse's head pops out of the room at the sound of her name. "Hey!"
She walks in reluctantly, wishing she would have ignored Benji and run for it. As she walks in, Jesse's parents stare at her expectantly.
"You must be Beca, so nice to meet you. I'm Jesse's mom, Vanessa. This is Jesse's father, Dan."
Beca extends a hand and plasters a nervous smile on her face. "Hello, hi."
Vanessa waves that off and grabs Beca to hug her. "Jesse can't stop talking about you. It's so good to finally meet you."
"Omph!" Suddenly she's smothered by his mother's bosom.
"Mom, please. Release her," Jesse sighs. She finally gets some air, and she moves to stand next to Jesse, a smirk on her face. He looks traumatized.
"Where are you from, Beca?"
"Nowhere really, right now, my mom lives in D.C."
"Wow. City girl," Jesse's mom winks. Out of her peripheral, she could see Jesse grow pale at his mother's antics. "Well, over the summer, Jesse's supposed to come visit you. He's just so excited about that. Well, you'll just have to come visit us. We're from Charlotte."
She tucks her hair behind ear, genuinely appreciative of the invite. "I'd love to, never been."
"Good, that's settled. I'm just so happy Jesse has someone like you. You know, Jesse was always so into his movies and things, he had one girlfriend in high school, but she was way too perky, a cheerleader," His mother leans in to whisper, "Blonde. Pretty though. But stupid. Very stupid. Anyway…he was always so busy singing showtunes—"
"Soundtracks, mom, soundtracks."
"And he was in theatre and choir, and honestly I always thought he might not really be into girls—"
"Mom!" Jesse yelps.
"-what with the sequined outfits and all," his mother keeps going and Jesse's face has gone white and his jaw tightens. "There was one outfit with a vest, I just thought it looked like a woman's-"
"Please stop. Please," he begs to no avail.
"Our Jesse was always so talented," his mother is giving a genuine smile but Jesse is far too traumatized to appreciate it.
"Okay, well that's quite enough embarrassment for the day. I'm going to walk Beca back to her room, then go jump off a nearby bridge," Jesse places his hand on Beca's back and leads her and her amused expression out the door. He closes it behind him, rubbing his eyes and letting out a frustrated sigh. Beca watches him, unable to to stop snickering at the embarrassment her boyfriend just endured.
His eyes are still closed when he asks, "You think it's hilarious, don't you?"
"Maybe a little…yes. Okay, a lot."
"She's not always like that. She had some wine for lunch," he grimaces.
"Your mother is awesome. I hope she has more wine when I visit. In fact, I'll bring her a few bottles to get things going."
He opens his eyes and glares at her. "You wouldn't."
"Does she like white wine? Wine in a box? I want to get it right."
"What's with the women in my life finding amusement in my embarrassment?"
Beca simply shrugs as he grabs her hand. They walk towards her room quietly as Jesse tried to shake off his mother's oddness.
"Sooooo…you're really coming to visit me?" His smile is wide now.
"I am," Beca rolls her eyes, "Maybe."
He stops and sits on the ledge of the steps of her dorm, pulling Beca towards him. "You can stay at Hotel Swanson. It's the epitome of luxury."
Beca wraps her arms around his neck. "Really? Do they have a pool?"
"Nope. We do have a bathtub though."
"King size bed?"
"Cot…maybe, or a blanket on the floor of my sister's room."
"Does it have room service?"
"No, your legs aren't broken. You can come eat in the kitchen like everyone else."
She laughs fully. "Sounds tempting."
"So I'll book your stay for the second weekend in June," his nose touches her nose and she knows she is going to miss him so much over the summer. She breathes in his cologne and touches his hair.
"I'll be there," she whispers before kissing him fully, a deep one, because he's leaving and she's leaving and they've wasted enough time this year. His full lips cover her and he tugs at her bottom lip and she slowly lets her tongue intertwine with his. One thing about Jesse, he can kiss. His mouth, is made to do many fabulous things, just as well as singing, she thinks. Jesse pulls her closer, almost on top of him, until they hear someone behind them, clearing their throats.
"Ahem," It's Fat Amy and Cynthia Rose, sneering at their public displays of affection.
Beca pulls back but Jesse won't let her go so she stays in his arms. Beca purses her lips and smiles. "Ladies."
"What are you two still doing here?" Fat Amy laughs. "Besides the obvious tonsil probing."
Cynthia Rose smiles, "We interrupted your goodbyes, didn't we?"
"Um, no it's okay," Jesse offers.
"A bit," Beca shrugs.
Amy sits next to them."Well, this is what I have to look forward to next year when we are roommates. These two, screwing like two dingos in heat. Have you ever seen a dingo in heat? Disgusting, sperm all over the place."
The group frowns and Amy shrugs. The struggle is real in Tasmania. "You guys have never experienced dingo mating. Sucks for you."
Jesse looks genuinely confused, unable to grasp how weird the conversation just became.
"No sperm," Beca answers for him.
"Promises, promises. Heard that before. Well, we were just here to drop off the video compilation of our performances this year," Fat Amy replies, handing Beca the DVD.
"I'm taking Amy to the airport," Cynthia Rose replies.
Jesse only let go as Amy gives Beca a small hug."Yeah. Gotta get my sexy ass back to Tasmania. You can go back to your regularly scheduled fucking. Bye guys."
Beca hugs Cynthia as well, then both girls turn to leave.
Jesse waves, "Bye. Have a good summer."
Beca turns back to Jesse, and they touch foreheads again, resting into each other for a moment, just being together. "Okay, then. Kissing should resume."
He laughs and kisses her neck. "So…back to our regularly scheduled-"
She kisses him so hard he almost falls back on the concrete.
**Thank you for all the reviews! I have a few chapters written I just wanted to write how they planned on keeping their relationship fresh over the summer. Hope you liked it.
Song mentioned: Alex Clare "Too Close", Movies: Batman Returns.**