She watched him watch her pick over her pizza, and he's a little worried. Beca, unlike most girls he knew, had a hearty appetite, she could put burgers away that people won awards for eating. Despite her petite self, the way to his girl's heart was two ways, music and food. But lately, the last week or so, she'd been eating less and less, and honestly, he was concerned. She looked pale, and though he'd think her beautiful no matter what she looked like, she looked sick. She was bundled up in one of his oversized sweaters and she was complaining she was still cold.

He sipped his soda, and eyed her, not saying much, just watching her pick each individual pepperoni and olive off her pizza, even though it was her favorite. Something was wrong. He paused the movie they were watching, and asked, "Okay, so that face means one or two things. They got your order wrong at Starbucks, or you're obsessing in your head about something. And clearly, we're not in a Starbucks...so..."

She glared at him and shoved her plate to the side. He always does that, reads her when she doesn't want to be read. Suddenly, her fleeting appetite was completely gone. "It's nothing...just...nevermind...I..."

"Well is it nothing...or is it really something you don't want to talk about?"

Beca shifted and looked at him. He just has this way of coaxing her into talking. She kind of hates that. "Fine. I'm going to ask you something, and I want you to be honest with me."

"Sounds ominous..." he joked but the look Beca leveled on him made him stop. "Okay. Lay it on me."

"Do you know a freshman named Marty?"

"Marty? Yes, yes...Marty. Yeah, my film lab partner. Why? Wassup?"

"Well...Are you aware she has an unyielding crush on you and approached me in efforts to hook you two up?"

Jesse's face went red and his eyes widened in surprise. "What?!"

"Yeah..." Beca sighed. It wasn't so much she was worried that Jesse would do something. She just didn't like the idea of other girls wanting him. Well, honestly she probably couldn't control that either but she would more than appreciate if they didn't come to her and ask ways to date him. Plus Jesse, being the total nerd he was didn't think he was a chick magnet. He didn't realize what chicks love more than anything is good guy, but also a taken one.

"That's ah-" he began to say and Beca's face got scarier. "I was going to say awkward. Awkward. For you. And me. For everyone really."

"Yeah, but I basically told her I would help her. So here's my pitch. You can leave all this," Beca gestured to herself, "...for that girl. Make your decision accordingly."

He raised an eyebrow, then shook his head to play along. He rarely saw a jealous Beca, so he was a little bit amused. "Wow. So wait, you offered me up? What should I do? Over here, I have you-a girlfriend who would punch a grown man in the face and go to jail for me...and proposition me for other women...while over there, I have a girl I barely talk to after class. The decisions."

"I didn't plan on going to jail for you, it just happened."

"Still, that's loyalty...so, I think I'll keep you, he shrugged.

Beca gave a half smile and then looked down. "And honestly I don't think she'll have you anyway after I told her about the back acne you have and the horrible habit of spitting when you talk."

"Wow," he exclaimed. "That's...thank you for that...thanks."

"Welcome."

"And you know, I wouldn't cheat on you. I'm not like...that kind of guy. I mean, we might break up over the fact you don't like the Avengers, but cheating won't be an issue for me."

"Don't say that. You never know."

He put his plate down and looked at her very seriously. "You really think that of me?"

Beca looked at his face and he looked so sincere but how could he promise that. They were in college. People cheat. People lie. People break up. So she just smiled, shook her head, and touched his face.

"Is it okay if she's still my film lab partner? Can I look her in the eye without fearing your wrath?"

"Maybe...just...stop being the way you are. It's making girls like you," Beca whined and he found that precious.

"I mean, its a gift, but I will try to stop. No promises though."

"All I ask. Tell her I have a mean right hook."

He leaned back and started the movie again. Beca scooted closer to him and put her head on his shoulder. "I feel like crap. I look like shit. I think I'm coming down with the flu."

"You're beautiful," was all he said as Harry Potter found out he was a wizard on his television screen.

"You look awful."

Beca frowned at the computer screen, resisting the urge to give Aubrey the finger over Skype. Even now, even as friends, Aubrey could get under her skin and royally piss her off.

"Thanks Aubrey. I've been trying this new thing. It's called stress."

Her eyes maneuvered over to Chloe's box, who looked uncomfortable with exchange. Or…maybe with the fact she agreed with Aubrey. "You just look so tired. A little." That's Chloe, trying to make something sound a little less offensive. FAIL.

Beca sighed heavily, sitting down on the piano bench. In a few minutes, the girls would be here ready to practice and hear about the Regionals from the two veterans, but all anyone could focus on was that Beca wasn't picture perfect.

Which was ridiculous because she totally brushed her hair this morning, and sure, she didn't have time or energy to put on a full face of makeup, but she didn't look that bad. Her hair was piled in a messy bun, she had on Jesse's well worn Alf t-shirt, and some legging. Under her eyes, dark circles were forming, but Beca knew she had very little time to remedy those with sleep. When she got up this morning, she could hardly drag herself to the bathroom to brush her teeth. She just felt so heavy and tired.

"Um, I hope this isn't, like, a teen mom situation," Fat Amy teased.

Beca narrowed her eyes. No matter how much sex she had with Jesse, neither of them wanted a kid, and were both careful, so that was never an option. She wasn't pregnant, in fact her period was last week. No this was something else, lurking, wrecking havoc in her body. "Nope. I'm so careful, the immaculate conception wouldn't get in here, ok?"

"Someone's moody. You look awful though. Around the eyes. Ah man, did you go on a bender without me?!" Amy clucked as her room mate stomped out of the room.

Beca didn't think she looked that bad—well, at least she didn't really care how she looked. She had to get these Bellas in some sort of order soon. A migraine was setting in for sure, and her throat felt scratchy. And everywhere she went, it felt like someone turned up the A/C.

"Look, I need you guys to focus. I don't want to lose this year, and I'm not that familiar with the rules. Besides, you know I like to break them. That and…I want you to meet the new girls. Not discuss how I look like a troll."

"Not exactly a troll…"Chloe sighed. "Not a troll at all. No one said troll."

"I didn't say that." Aubrey muttered. "You just look a little sick. Are you coming down with something?"

"Yeah, annoyance," Beca hissed and then shook off her anger. "Look, sorry guys. Really, I might have a cold. It's not cancer, can we focus?"

The girls entered at that moment, and the three were relieved. Beca doesn't want to snap at them, they're her friends, and she was feeling crappy but she didn't want to acknowledge it. She'd spent the last part of the week ignoring her boyfriend, neglecting her homework, and avoiding her father's phone calls, all because she wanted to concentrate on a new playlist and new moves.

The Bellas settled in front of Beca's Macbook, and Aubrey went through way to win with so much precision- Beca was sure she would link to a Powerpoint presentation. The new girls soaked in all the information, and Chloe was kind enough to soften Aubrey's sharp commentary on Reagan's attire and Marty's clown makeup. They watched as the girls sung a few snippets and performed choreography in preparation for the Regionals, giving tips about what would work and what wouldn't. To end the session, Aubrey gave a tearful goodbye to her Bellas, saying she really did miss them, and winning didn't matter, just do their best. Chloe showed off her big engagement ring.

As the girls filtered out, Beca finished up the session with the former leaders.

"So?"

Chloe smiled, "I like them. I see potential."

"That Marty is still a disaster," Aubrey replied, and Beca had noticed Marty had issues following directions, but like herself, she was a rule breaker.

"Oh Aubrey, she's not that bad." Positive Chloe to the rescue; the Paula Abdul of the Barden Bellas.

"Her singing was off key, she dances like a deranged Teletubbie-"

"What's a Teletubbie?" Fat Amy whispered to Beca.

Beca nodded and whispered back, "I'll show you on Youtube. It's pretty fucked up."

Aubrey continued her rant, "And really, has Stacie lost the will to be in sync?"

"Aubrey, chill out. I'll work with her," Beca knew there were rough patches, but like her, these girls deserved a chance. "The songs? What about those?"

"Oh my god, this is boring!" Fat Amy yelped, listening to the commentary. "Seriously, this is a cappella, not surgery. And honestly, don't you want to hear more about how Chloe got that huge ass boulder on her finger than worrying about the play list?"

"Not really," Beca muttered but by then Chloe flashed her ring finger again, smiling and even Aubrey was shooting off questions about the engagement.

Beca really didn't want to hear about it right now. She wanted to concentrate on the playlist, on getting this right. However, she was too tired to protest as Chloe launched into her engagement story. Her migraine was getting worse, but none of the girls seemed to care as they chatted about everything other than the Bellas.

"Beca? Can I see you for a moment?" her professor called as the students filed out.

She gathered her things and cautiously walked to the front. No one likes to be called to stay by their professor. Sure, she'd turned in a few assignments late, and didn't seem to particularly interested in Tolstoy, but she didn't think she'd done that bad.

As her professor packed his items into his briefcase, he looked at the timid student standing in front of him. She'd been in class, but he could tell when a student was mentally absent. She looked so bored, he started to wonder was he just that bad of a professor. He knew Prof. Mitchell well, and didn't want to be the one to fail his daughter.

"How are you doing Beca?"

"Fine, I guess."

"Look, I'm a bit concerned. I know your father, and you're a bright student, but these last couple of weeks, you have this look in your eyes like you couldn't give two shits about this class."

Beca shifted uncomfortably. Actually, he was right. She couldn't give an infinite amount of shits about the class, but she's committed to this place now, and she knows she needs to shape up. It's just…there's no time, and she can give a list of excuses to why she's messing up her school work, but she doubts he'd accept the Bellas as a valid reason. So instead, she admonishes herself internally, she has to do better, she has to carve out some time for school, in between Bellas rehearsals, her radio job, Jesse, and sleep.

"I'll do better," is all she offered. "I promise."

"And Beca?"

"Yeah?" she turned to look at the professor.

"Go to the health center. You don't look so good."

The knock was so soft, if Beca had on her headphones she wouldn't have heard it. She was trying to study and the Health Center declared she coming down with the flu. She had a slight fever and just felt like utter crap. Amy was staying somewhere...she had a phobia of flu like diseases, as she called it. Jesse would come by later with some soup and crackers. Her father called and told her to take it easy. People were making too much fuss, but it gave Beca downtime she needed to focus on work. If she could stop choking and coughing on her own mucus long enough. She slowly got up and walked over to the door, opening it to see Marty standing there.

"Hey," Beca stepped aside and Marty entered. They hadn't really spoken about anything outside of the Bellas for the last few weeks, and now Beca had to tell her about why she couldn't hook her up with Jesse. She'd been avoiding it, it was not a conversation she wanted to have. It was just way too awkward and weird. The freshman girl smiled and sat on Beca's bed.

"So? Are you okay?"

"Fine. Well...just a little sick."

"Ew," Marty said, looking at the discarded tissues all over Beca's bed.

"So, I asked you to come by for a reason," Beca played with her fingers, trying to figure out a way to say what she needed to say. "The thing...so yeah, I can't do the thing for you."

"What? Ask out Jesse?"

"Yeah, I can't do that," Beca shrugged hoping to end this conversation all together.

"Um...okay, but you said..."

"I know I did, but there is a slight conflict of interest."

Marty frowned. "Like?"

Beca stood against the door and leveled eyes with the poor girl. She took no pleasure in hurting this girl's feelings like she probably should. But here was this freshman entranced by the very guy that caught Beca's eye and it made a small but aggressive green eyed monster come out in her. "Here's the thing...Jesse...he can't be with you. He's taken."

"Yeah I know," Marty shrugged. "He talks about his girlfriend all the time. She sounds obnoxious."

Beca cut her eyes at the girl. "Oh, really?"

"Yeah, I mean he's like all happy and sweet and when he talks about his girlfriend, from what I gather, she's a mega bitch, he just can't see it."

"Heh," Beca clucked her tongue. "So you don't care he's got a girlfriend?"

"Nope. He's not married. Girlfriends can be replaced," Marty winked.

"That's cute. Real sweet. Well...Marty...you can't date him. He's not breaking up with his girlfriend. So, sorry I can't help you."

"Did he say that?"

"Yeah, he kind of did," Beca said harshly, opening her dorm room door. "But, I have to cut this short, I have to study."

Marty looked confused and stood up. "Well...I'll just have to work this another way."

Beca leaned her head against the door as she watched the girl leave. "Or, find someone else."

"You don't get it," Marty frowned. "No. I want him. He's just...he's amazing. He's smart, funny, he loves movies, and I think he's Jewish, which would thrill my mother..."

"Uh," Beca rolled her eyes.

"Jesse, like all guys just needs persuading," she smirked. "Ya know, you might want to put on some makeup. Even while sick, you should never let yourself go like this. And clean up a bit. Maybe you then you can talk to guys."

Beca was taken aback by the gull of this girl. As the freshman turned to walk down the hall, Beca called out to her. "Marty?"

"Yea?"

Beca didn't even care about anyone else within earshot as she yelled, "Jesse he's my...boyfriend. And he fucks me with or without makeup all the time."

Didn't matter to her that she heard gasps. Beca slammed the door and smiled devilishly before going into a coughing fit. She got what she wanted. The rejected look on Marty's face. And no fucks were given.