"I'm not singing it, Bumper!"

She rounded the corner to hear Jesse's protests.

"You will sing the Biebs and you will like it!" Bumper's voice demanded.

Beca stopped short of the door, and stood awkwardly in the hallway.

Jesse's voice got louder. "Any song. You could pick any song, and you pick this?"

Beca felt like she should leave. She thought Treble practice would be over by now, but by the sound of it, she was wrong. Luke, despite her unceremoniously quitting her job, invited the couple to the Garage because he was playing one of Beca's mixes. Beca was excited, and had even put on her sparkly eyeshadow, but after three calls to Jesse, she figured she better head over to see what was keeping him.

They never lock their door and Beca was able to just walk in, not knowing what orgy or drunken a cappella mud fight she might come across. Instead she heard the raised voice of her boyfriend refusing to sing-Justin Bieber?

Out of nowhere, Benji rounded the corner and almost ran into her. He put his hands out to steady himself and accidentally swiped one of Beca's boobs.

"Oh my god, Beca! I'm so...oh my god! I didn't know you were right here and I was...oh...I'm so sorry," he waved his hands in front of her chest before placing them by his sides, looking absolutely devastated.

Beca shook off her own shock. Benji had touched her boob and almost went catatonic. "It's fine, Benji. It's fine. I swear."

"I'm so sorry, I just had to get out of there. Jesse's mad, Bumper's mad, Kolio's texting...it's all too much."

"I hear. Everything alright?"

"How much did you hear?"

"Not much. Is Jesse okay?"

Just as Benji was about to answer, Jesse rounded the corner and almost ran into them. "Whoa. Bec...how long have you been here?"

"Not that long. Benji was keeping me company."

As if some sort of human traffic jam, Bumper rounded the corner next, seeing the trio. "What the fuck is this? A girl scout meeting?"

Beca narrowed her eyes at him but Jesse stepped between them. "We're leaving. She just came by to get me."

"Don't care. Like, at all. None. All I know is, you better bring the angelic voice of that international teenaged superstar to life, by the Regionals. Got it buddy?" Bumper looked from Jesse over to Beca, eyeing her up and down. "Nice eyeshadow."

Beca, unable to play nice, responded, "Your polo shirt looks a little snug, Bumper. Beef jerky weight?"

He frowned, moving away from them. "It's just more cushion for the pushin'."

Everyone cringed at that image, for it was pleasant for no one.

Benji asked, "Hey, can I go with you guys? When Jesse's not here, Bumper throws trash at my head."

"What? Why?" Beca became livid. Benji was such a sweet guy, she hated to know he was being mistreated, even after supposedly being accepted into the Trebles.

Jesse shook his head. "Who knows, I guess Bumper brings out the worst in everybody. But come on, Benji. Let's go."

As the trio go to leave, Jesse put on his coat, then finally looked at his girlfriend, who took a little more time with her outfit. She always looked beautiful to him but tonight she looked delicious. "You look pretty."

"Thank you, Luke will be there, so I figured, here's my chance," Beca clucked her tongue and elbowed Jesse. He still got riled up when she made sexual comments about Luke. That amused her greatly. They walked out of the house and towards the club, following the other hoards of college students going out for the night.

"So..." her breath floated in white wisps because of the cold crisp air. "What was all that about?"

"You heard?" he asked as Beca nodded. "Our set. He's just...he asked to do the first set and he picks..."

"The Bieber," Benji sighs.

"Okay...What's the problem?" Beca shrugged.

"Plenty. Maybe because my balls have dropped? I'm a man? I can't sing the Biebs," Jesse felt insulted.

Beca never heard Jesse say he couldn't do something, even when he shouldn't. In fact, if he encounters an obstacle, he'll do his best to get over it. Or annoy it to death. It's strange to hear him say he can't or won't sing whatever song.

"Well you don't have to sound just like him," she shoved her hands in her pockets. "Make it your own."

"Or we can sing grown man songs. Because we're grown men."

Beca turned to face the two guys, walking backwards. "Music is music. Even when it's Carly Rae Jepsen."

"Call Me Maybe, such an epic song," Benji nodded.

Jesse shook his head. "No...just...no. That song gives me hives. And hey, isn't that associated somehow with Justin Bieber? Again...it's all the same nightmare."

It amused Beca that Jesse disliked such a poppy song. That was more of her thing, hating all that's popular. "If you had to choose?"

Jesse relented a bit but it was painful. "Bieber is bad, but in relation to Call Me Maybe, it's Beethoven's Fifth..."

As they walked closer to the Garage, Benji sung gingerly, "Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy, but here's my number, so call me maybe..."

Jesse shivered at the sound of it, and when Beca joined in, more to annoy her boyfriend, to which he glared playfully at her. She wondered how she could sneak that into a mix somewhere, just for Benji. It would be fun to watch Jesse cringe every time Benji played it.

"And then there was fire."

Jesse bragged to Beca he made killer grilled cheese sandwiches, but she's not so sure. So after class, she headed to his place. He stood for a minute, looking over at the counter. "Where'd I put my pan?"

"Should I put the fire department on speed dial?" Beca held up her cell phone.

"I got this. Bread...right? Cheese. Butter?" he ticked off the ingredients as he pulled them out of the refrigerator. "Okay, got it. And now...I create magic."

As Jesse began to cook, Beca lifted herself onto the counter and watched him pretend cooking grilled cheese was the equivalent of cooking a complicated dish. He just wanted to cheer her up, she'd been a little bitchy to everyone since the Regionals were looming over them. Not to mention, she walked in her room one evening to find Bumper and Amy making out. It's just all too gross. She encounters Bumper less in the Treble house than in her own room.

The Regionals were in two days and Beca's not sure why she's freaking, she wasn't nearly as nervous last year. Maybe it's because the Bellas have a championship to maintain, maybe it's because she wanted to have the same high she gets when people heard her music.

"So, Regionals...coming up. You ready to relinquish your title?"

Beca sneered at her spatula holding boyfriend. "Um...yeah, that...I don't want to talk about it."

"Well, alright...well, let's just stand here in silence and stare into each other's eyes," he gestured with the spatula, and widened his eyes while staring at her.

"You're so weird."

He ogled at her even harder as she made a face at the awkwardness of it all.

"If I talk about it, will you stop doing whatever it is you are doing with your eye thing?"

Jesse silently bobbed his head in agreement, but didn't relent with the creepy stare-off, though, she mentally noted he was artfully skillful at flipping over the grilled cheese without looking at it.

"Fine. God, I hate you. I'm nervous about the Regionals."

Beca watched him sigh at her confession. He didn't get her negative outlook. Beca's aware that Jesse thinks she can accomplish anything. It's a thoughtful compliment, but she wasn't so sure of herself.

"Why? Beca, you've got this."

Her shoulders dropped and she found the ugly pattern of the outdated kitchen tile interesting all of a sudden. "You can't say that. There's so much talent out there. I mean, you're also amazing..."

"Awwww!" Jesse replied, lighting up but she can't let the compliment go to his head. It's just too easy.

"Well...sometimes you're amazing. Not often," she smirked as he deflated at her half compliment, "...and who knows what secret weapons other groups have. What happened last year, was awesome, but it's hard to replicate. I mean, I'm so stressed about all this because I have to make sure we stay on top."

Jesse put down his spatula, then stood in front of her. He grabbed her hands, stroking her wrists gently with his thumbs. "Bec, I'm going to tell you something my overbearing but loving mother told me. ..'With great power, comes great responsibility'."

"Your mother did not say that," Beca deadpanned and Jesse attempted to be shocked.

"Did too."

"Um...nope. I'm pretty sure that is from Spiderman."

She knows she just impressed him by remembering that line, but Jesse feigned confusion, asking, "Are you sure?"

Beca knew her boyfriend was mocking her. He hates when she gets this way, and she hates it too, she just can't help it. "You forced me to watch that stupid movie last week. You said I would appreciate Tobey Maquire's junk in spandex."

Jesse shrugged. "Okay, so maybe my mom did steal that from Spiderman, but the message is clear. Of course being a winner makes it even more difficult, but you guys made history. No one can ever take that from you. What you did was amazing, and you will top that this year. I mean, you can get on stage and sing Call Me Maybe...you know how much I hate that song...and you'd still win."

"You and that song again," She snorted, as he stepped closer to land a kiss on her lips.

Jesse pulled back and looked at her, his eyes are so full of expression and appreciation of her, she sometimes feels selfish that she needs to see that look. He always looks at Beca like she's the best thing ever. It's a nice boost of self esteem.

"Ugh. Again. Get a room!" Brendan grumbled at the snuggling couple as he and Kolio walked in and grabbed a soda out of the fridge. Kolio made vomiting sounds and then they walked out.

A year ago, she would have jumped out of his arms if someone walked in on them. Now, she was perfectly fine with him invading her space, because if she believed in that aura garbage, she would say Jesse's aura was warm and positive. She wondered to herself why he's always so happy.

Meds? He was hugged too much? She's not sure, but she appreciated whatever made Jesse the way he was.

Beca leaned in and whispered seductively in his ear, "You're burning my grilled cheese."

The smell of burning cheese hit Jesse and he jumped, causing Beca to jump off the counter and smugly watch him try to rescue the sandwiches. "Shit!"

Beca watched him plate their burnt sandwiches. Jesse knew her now, biblically one might say, and he knew that for such a definite smart ass, she had insecurities she needs to work through. Beca willingly admits she's a work in progress.

Jesse handed her a plate of blackened bread, and Beca decided that he tried to cook for her, so she has no choice but to eat it. She playfully whines, "But seriously, back to Spiderman's junk...I was very disappointed."

They moved to his room so they can hang out. She asked if Benji was in, and he noted that Benji likes to meditate right before a big performance. She liked Benji and didn't want to overwhelm him with her presence, but Jesse told her Benji actually likes her around. She's been studying as hard as she could to make up her grades, and practicing so much, she valued her time with Jesse, even when he burns her dinner or they get in arguments about the value of a spork (which, a spork is useless, in her opinion).

As Beca sat on his bed, Jesse stood in front of his DVD collection. "So, since the size of a superhero's package ropes your interest, maybe I can convince you that Superman Returns features Superman's crotch pretty well? Wanna watch?"

"How come you are so calm about the Regionals? Don't you ever get nervous?"

He grabbed Superman Returns and placed it in the BluRay player. "I used to...before the accident."

His dramatic phrasing caused Beca to throw him her "I'm fucking serious" eyebrow lift.

"Okay, of course I get nervous," Jesse sat next to her and took a bite of his burnt sandwich. He talked with his mouth full, "I just, I don't know...love the performing part. I don't think about winning."

"Ever?"

"Never." He chewed his sandwich timidly to assess if it was still edible and then shrugged, taking another huge bite.

Beca considered this, and took a bite out of her sandwich. He had a point. She loves music and she watching seeing people react to her music. Back home, she loved the high she got from DJ'ing a party. The ICCA trophy was just a bonus, another high. She took another bite of her sandwich and decided it wasn't edible. She put her plate on his nightstand.

"You're not hungry?"

"It's burnt...no, I'm not hungry."

He shrugged and finished his sandwich. Beca watched him with amusement. He really did see the good in everything, even burnt sandwiches.

"You gonna eat that?" he asked, pointing to her discarded sandwich.

"Go for it," she handed it to him and grabbed the remote, pointing it to the television. She doesn't want to think about the Regionals. She wants to see Superman in his unitard. "Okay, come on Superman. Let's see what you've got going for you."

Okay.

Breathe.

Breathe.

Jesus...

B...r...e...a...t...h...e.

Beca pulled the pitch pipe from her pocket, and blew, her eyes focused on the back of Amy's head, then Stacie's, then Ashley's. She counted, and the sound of their beautiful background harmony hit her. Her aca-bitches kick so much ass.

Marty took a breath before her voice flowed like butter through the microphone. "I had a way then losing it all on my ownnnn...I had a heart then but the queen has been overthrown...And I'm not sleeping now, the dark is too hard to beat...And I'm not keeping now, the strength I need to push me..."

There it was, the moment Marty started singing. She knew there was a reason to keep her around regardless of her crush on Jesse, or regardless of how much she chaffed Beca's ass with her inability to grasp a simple two step choreographed sequence. But now, Marty carried this tune so well, Beca felt it all the way to her feet, as she backed her up during the chorus. Lily was doing an amazing job at with the bass.

Lights by Ellie Goulding, hit the rafters of the Carolina Performing Arts Center, and Beca felt out of body. Just like last year, when they won, Beca let go of all the tension and floated. The crowd loved it, and she strained past the lights to see if she could see Jesse, but she couldn't. Plus, the song was shifting and she had to stay on beat. The crowd got louder when they switched again. She loved this arrangement, a mashup of Lights, All of the Lights by Kanye West, and Ke$ha's We R Who We R. Everyone was on point.

God, she lived for this. It was just as much of a high as spinning. It was almost as good as sex. Almost...she'd test that out later, but she doubted it would be on that same level. She loved music, it did something to her, touched her deeply, she always thought nothing else could do it for it...until she met Jesse.

He was definitely keeping her on her toes. Before the Bella's performed, they watched Benji and Jesse serenade the crowd with Justin Bieber's As Long As You Love Me. Jesse had this uncanny ability to find her no matter where she was in the arena, and lock eyes with her.

So when he sang "...just take my hand...as long as you love me, we can be starving, we can be broke..." directly to her, she felt a shock of energy go through her.

Fat Amy even said, "I think I just 'gasmed...did anyone else?"

Marty responded, "I think we all did."

Lily, of course, was different. "Makes me want to twist my nipples off 'til I pass out."

Beca chose to ignore that. It was the first time in history a Justin Bieber song got her wet. Congrats, Jesse Swanson. Bravo...

So now that it's her turn on stage, Beca could feel the adrenaline rush through her body. She turned and hit her mark perfectly to the resounding applause of the crowd. She breathed heavily, her eyes scanning for the Trebles in the back of the auditorium. Bumper looked annoyed, Brendan was bobbing his head, Unicycle had a respecting smirk on his face. Beca's eyes finally landed on her target. He was in the back, clapping, smiling at her, celebrating her kicking his ass. They Bellas won. No way they lost this one. No way. And even though he might of just been demoted to second place, he was there, clapping for her, knowing she would win. As long as he loved her, she thought, before shaking her head. Fucking Justin Bieber...

When the Regionals host announced they won, the faces of all her friends lit up the room. Amy almost did the worm in the aisle, Stacie and Ashley were bouncing up and down to the enjoyment of those able to see their cleavage. Cynthia Rose gave Beca a fist pound before they all walked to the front to receive their trophy. And though Jesse won second place, he smiled bright as if he won that night as well.

She sauntered up to him, holding the Bellas' trophy.

""That's a nice... candelabra?" he bounced on his heels.

"Nope. Try again."

"A really fancy clothes rack?"

"Not even," she shook her head and poked his chest with the trophy. "One more try, if you get it right, I'll let you hold it."

Jesse puffed out his cheeks before replying, "A can opener?"

Beca stepped closer, smelling his cologne. Something about him performing makes him irresistible to her. "You do a mean Justin Bieber."

"I resent that," Jesse blushed, turning his head and before returning a smug grin at her.

Beca glided her finger down the zipper of his hoodie,"What would you do...if I was your girlfriend?"

Her sing-songing the last part charmed him, as he sighed, "I hate you."

"Beca!" Amy yelled from the corner across the crowd. "You coming with us or you tappin' that?"

Jesse simpered as Beca dropped the pretense of playful seduction. Leave it to Amy to embarrass her. "Um...okay, I should go, before she yells something else offensive."

"Go with your girls. I'll see you later."

She turned to go back to her Bellas when Jesse reached out and touched her arm. She turned and looked at him, the soft but adoring look on his face as he said, "Hey Beca, You made me proud tonight. You know...if I was your boyfriend, I'd never let you go. Keep you on my arm girl, you'd never be alone. I can be a gentleman, anything you want. If I was your boyfriend, I'd never let you go, I'd never let you goooo..."

He sung the the lyrics with such bravado, the crowd gathered in the hall turned and cheered. Beca could do nothing but stare at him, mouth agape. Touché. His revenge was sweet. Jesse winked as he walked backwards, and then turned to go find the Trebles, leaving Beca reduced to a puddle on the floor.

"Beca we are so proud of you," Aubrey stated and it was genuine. Beca beamed as her two former Bellas praised her regional performance. It was up on Youtube within hours.

"Tots, Beca," Chloe replied in her Skype box. "Because seriously, after Jesse and Benji practically got everyone pregnant in the audience..."

"It wasn't that good," Aubrey said, blushing. They had to admit, that shit was hot. And had Beca known what her boyfriend could do to that song, she'd have him sing it every morning. Aubrey didn't want to admit it. "It was okay. When Unicycle did that hip thrust... I mean, if you like that sort of grotesque gyrating on stage. Which I do not."

Chloe and Beca just nodded at Aubrey's blatant desire for Unicycle. She still carried that torch.

Aubrey composed herself. "Ahem...Anyway, enough about those dickweasles. Marty...wow. Her voice. How'd you get that out of her?"

"I pulled out the Aubrey Posen Aca-Rule Book," Beca replied as Aubrey flashed a knowing smile, "And then I burned it."

Beca smirked as Aubrey frowned, but the blonde shook her head in understanding. She's come a long way since her neurotic days as the Bella captain. "Good. Because whatever you are doing, it's working. How does it feel?"

"Winning?" Beca tapped her chin. "Like last time. We're all getting used to it."

Chloe suddenly starting clapping. "Ellie Goulding, I so wanted to sing her."

"You still can. Let's do it," Beca watched both women look reserved. Beca rolled her eyes. "Really? Or maybe you lost the ability do a cappella. It happens."

She knew the pair could be goaded. They were still reluctant, so Beca started the beat. She watched Chloe close her eyes and move her shoulders, while Aubrey tried to remain composed. Suddenly, Chloe started singing the first few lines. And she was right, Ellie Goulding sounded great via Chloe. Aubrey tried ignore them, she was a Bella at heart. She joined in and Beca joyfully beat boxed. She missed these girls.

At the end, Aubrey blushed and clapped her hand over her mouth.

Chloe looked concerned. "What's wrong, Aubrey?"

"I'm in lab and people are glaring at me," she whispered and Beca and Chloe were both shocked Aubrey broke a rule just to have fun for even a moment. But it was worth it.

Beca looked at her clock. She had to get back to studying. "Okay ladies, I have to go. I'll be in touch before Semifinals."

"Beca," Aubrey said before she could close out, "Really. So proud of you."

"Thank you," Beca couldn't control how great she felt. Her eyes sparkled as she closed out Skype.

Her phone buzzed- Miss you. Wanna watch a movie?

She couldn't, even though she desperately wanted to. She texted back- Can't. Paper. Call u lata.

She disdainfully looked back at the blinker on her open Word document, and tried to compose herself so she can focus on studying, and not Jesse's face when she distracts him from a movie by climbing on his lap, or trying to perfect the playlist for Semifinals.

Songs used:

Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen

Lights by Ellie Goulding ( a great a cappella arrangement)

All of the Lights by Kanye West

We R Who We R by Ke$ha

As Long As You Love Me by Justin Bieber

If I was Your Boyfriend by Justin Bieber