"Cheeseburgers, bitches!"
Fat Amy placed a tray full of cheeseburgers and fries in the center of the table, the girls not hesitating to dive in. Beca decided it would be a good idea to meet outside of their usual practice place, sort of a treat for the Regionals win and a bonding experience. Beca hung out with the girls individually, but not as a huge group outside of practice. Lately, her only time with them had been Bella practices and when Fat Amy dragged her to a stupid party.
But watching everyone grab their grub, made her feel relieved that one part of their journey to the Finals was over. She had already worked so hard on their second set, she felt it was just time to sit back and enjoy their first win.
As Beca sipped her Coke, Stacie tossed her burger in disgust. "Um... Amy...hello? This is a cheeseburger."
Amy was already digging in her meal when she looked up confused, "Um, yeah...hence why they call it a 'cheeseburger'."
"Well, I can't eat it. I told you guys I was going semi vegan. So...no cheese."
"I have no clue what you're saying right now."
"I read it in People Magazine, Natalie Portman and that chick from Glee totally goes semi vegan...you know, to keep it tight. You give up one thing a week, until you're totally vegan. For like six months. Then you can go back to eating meat."
Beca had to jump in at this point because Stacie could come up with the most outrageous things because of E! Network or one of her many celebrity news subscriptions. "Are you sure it works that way?"
Fat Amy could not comprehend what Stacie was implying. The blonde pointed her burger at Stacie menacingly, as she replied, "That's probably the stupidest thing I have ever...ever heard."
"Is not. It totally works. You'll see. Watch."
"No, it won't. In Tasmania, you don't eat meat, you're basically begging to get punched in the face. It's in the Constitution. You will eat meat or you're disrespecting a whole nation."
"So, does that mean you don't want your cheeseburger?" Marty asked, because- hell,what a waste of food.
"I like cheeseburgers. Sometimes, at night, I like to put my hands in raw meat and rub it on my body," Lily said, but only Beca heard her, and it causes Beca to inhale her soda and choke.
She only lived thanks to Cynthia Rose patting her on the back.
Recovering and now the center of undue attention, Beca tried to go into her speech, but it was hard considering what she just heard from Lily. It took a minute for the mind to process and repress such things.
"Thanks, I'm just...wow...anyway...guys, I just want to say thank you for all your hard work," she says hoarsely. They all looked at her, and Beca felt humbled to be their captain. "I mean, everything was beyond awesome. Marty, you kicked that song's ass. The beat boxing was perfect, the pitch. I don't think we could have done it better. And because of you guys, we're one step closer to winning this whole thing."
"You mean...again!" Fat Amy snickered.
The girls cheered and Cynthia Rose lifted her styrofoam cup to start a toast. This is what it was about, these friendships. They were more than a team, they were a functioning unit as far as Beca was concerned. They were the sum of all of these amazing parts.
She was happy to have these friends, it was something she didn't have before Barden, and she had no one but herself to blame for that. Being a loner was like a badge of honor once for Beca; she looked back and admits she couldn't have cared less if no one ever engaged her in conversation. She had all she needed, a bad ass pair of headphones and her beats and the rest of the world could go fuck themselves. It's funny how all it took was her father forcing an education on her, for her to open up and let all sorts of people in. Normally, she'd drown them out, cutting her eyes at their foolishness as she slipped her headphones on her head. But now, she enjoys listening to them bicker about cheeseburgers, vegans, and...penises?
How did the conversation shift to that?!
"It was what?" she's not sure why she asked, but Beca's a bit confused and clarity is needed.
Stacie sighed, "Crooked. I mean, I've seen alot of dicks-"
"We know," Fat Amy muttered, but Stacie didn't flinch.
"-But this one was like, bent like at a ninety degree angle."
"Ew!" Jessica yelped. "Was it broken?"
Stacie shook her head and ate one of the fries. "Um, no...but it was dark in the back of the van though."
"You had sex in a creepy dark van?" Marty was astounded. The original Bellas didn't flinch. They were used to Stacie's exploits.
"God no. It was a Geico Insurance van. Totally legit. It's his work van...well his cousin's work van, but he applied to there too like six times, so they are bound to call him back. Anyway, so he unzips his pants and takes out his crooked dick, and I'm like 'What the hell?' and he's all like 'Yeah'... but you know, I could work with it. I'm flexible."
"This is an over share," Cynthia Rose quipped and Beca had to agree.
"I'm just saying, I've never seen anything like it. He's like a side show sex freak."
Reagan raised her hand. "I gave Brendan a hand job after the Regionals. His dick has an anger vein. It's scary as shit."
Fat Amy, of course felt the need to join in. "Yeah, Bumper's penis looks like a frightened turtle. I have to coax it out of it's shell sometimes."
Beca choked for a second time. "I didn't need to know that. None of us needed to know that!"
"Well, Beca," Fat Amy challenged. "It's not like all of us have a perfect boyfriend with a perfect body, with a perfect singing voice, with a perfect sausage."
Beca frowned. She was not going there. Jesse was not some piece of boy ass she would willingly share details about with her friends. Their sex life was theirs and hers was hers, and while she can appreciate a candid story from Stacie or an embellished one from Fat Amy, she would not tell them a damn thing about Jesse. He was hers and hers alone. No one at this table needed to know how she felt when Jesse slowly climbed on top of her and her back hits the bed, the sweet pressure of his hips, how he was ticklish right in the crook of his knee, or how he goes a little nuts when she drags her teeth over his earlobe. Nope, they didn't need to know that. It was the something she kept close to her, because their physical relationship was very much connected to an emotional one, and if anything, Beca was a kick ass gatekeeper of her emotions.
She simply sipped her soda as the girls made cat calls. "Can we talk about something else please?"
"No," Everyone at the table said in unison. Cynthia Rose was the only one bored so she was playing spades on her phone.
"I'm not doing public relations on behalf of Jesse's dick," Beca said plainly, throwing on her bitch face for emphasis.
"Okay. Fine. Be that way. He's too cookie cutter for me anyway with his nice abs, and nice arms. I like 'em like Bumper. Chubby and unsure of themselves until you get some lube."
"What does that even mean?" Beca's so confused on why this topic won't die.
Stacie spoke up. "I mean, you guys have been dating for awhile, maybe it's cooled off a bit."
"So...yeah that's totally none of your business," she winked sarcastically, cutting her eyes over to a amused Marty. Too fucking amused, if you asked Beca.
"Yeah Stacie. They are in love. You'd think with the bad ass ear spike, she'd be into some crazy shit, but it's like watching a Disney movie with them. I got a mega box of condoms from Costco and everything, but it seems only Bumper and I use them. Every time I catch Beca and Jesse, they're like, in cuddle mode," Amy's response caused Beca to throw her cheeseburger wrapper at her.
She would have thrown one at Stacie too when she said, "Oh, that's bad. Nothing worse than two people sitting there, just cuddling. Like with clothes on and everything."
"That's not true!" Jessica spoke up. "My boyfriend and I cuddle all the time, and we have a great relationship."
"You're also a giant virgin. Both holes," Stacie shrugged and Jessica looked shell shocked. "It's different when you've driven stick shift, trust me."
"I'm really uncomfortable with the direction of this conversation right now," Ashley replied, but she was ignored.
Beca knew what Fat Amy was doing was just friendly goading, but she's not the type to share such things. "Nothing's wrong with cuddling. And sorry Amy you haven't walked in on me riding Jesse. I'll make every effort to change that."
"So do you think the spark is gone? I mean, I never date a guy more than six months. Keeps it spicy," Stacie replied.
Beca swallowed her desire to slut shame Stacie because they were friends now, but this line of questioning was really pissing her off. "Can we get off of this?"
"That's why I keep a harem. You get bored with one, you can just get another. Once they start writing me poetry and stop rubbing my tits, I think it's time to bench them," Fat Amy said and the rest of the girls chuckled, but Beca couldn't even muster a smile.
Instead, Beca rolled her eyes because she was kind of irritated with the premise of this whole conversation. Sure, she didn't climb on Jesse as much as she did the first two months of their relationship, but they were serious now. They had sex plenty, just not every waking second. She wasn't boring. There were plenty of nights she slept over in his room and vice versa, and they didn't even have sex, but that's the evolution of intimacy, right?
As the girls went on to the next inappropriate topic, Beca felt a bit exposed and lost. She didn't want to doubt her relationship in any way. And while the girls were probably just joking with her, they made a small crack in the foundation because all she could think about was...what happens if and when the spark goes away? Will she lose this incredible guy who is the best friend she's ever had? Will it be her fault if she doesn't keep it interesting for him (because he is a teenaged boy with a dick)?
She's over analyzing their relationship now, and she hates herself for it. She watches everything he does, ponders over every word, and it's fucking killing her because she's not even sure why she's doing it. He's caught her looking at him with this concentrated look sometimes, and he just whistles and shakes his head. He thinks she's weird. Is she looking for a sign of him being uninterested? A problem in their relationship? Why is she seeking out problems? What was wrong with her?
One thing Jesse would do, is tell her if something was wrong, because he never ceases to stop talking. She's not sure why she's so hyper vigilant about her relationship, due to a stupid conversation with the Bellas. Jesse's not pushing her away, but her neurotic behavior might make him run for the hills. This whole thing has been a learning experience for Beca. He's still affectionate, so that's something. He wraps his arms around her without prompting, or in merriment of her physical reaction of hating to be touched without permission, despite the fact she ends up melting into it. He's what she needs and right now, she needs to stop over thinking.
"Where are we going?"
"Shhhh. You'll ruin the mystery."
She's sitting in the passenger seat of his car, watching the streets change. He refuses to tell her where they are going.
"You really know how to woo a girl. Take her to a mysterious location. Where no one can hear her scream."
"I want to surprise you. Be spontaneous," he says, only looking over for a second. She jerks her head, wondering if he knew about the conversation she had with the Bellas and if that's why he's doing this. Of course not, Amy would never tell him.
They are quiet for a moment before he starts speaking again. "So I wanted to surprise you. You're working so hard to get your grades up, and to help the Bellas win, and I know you're really sorry you quit your career stacking CDs with me-"
"Devastated."
"I figured. So, I thought, what could I do to take Beca's mind off of all these things? What can we do for fun?"
"Hm..."
"And then I remembered, Beca hates fun. So there was that obstacle."
She nods in agreement.
"What about Naked Uno?"
"That's not a real game," she says smugly and he just laughs.
"Yes, it is. You've never played Naked Uno? You've lived a sheltered life."
"You haven't either, I can guarantee that," she deadpans, looking out of the window.
"Okay, no, but it could be fun! Right?" His girlfriend looks back at him, unamused. "Anyway, so then I thought about volunteering at a pet shelter but you hate cats."
"Because they are evil," He has this way of making her smile. It's witchcraft. She appreciates this, a lot.
"Yep. And then I thought maybe she'd like it if we threw rocks at passing cars, but I don't want to go to prison. I'm way too pretty."
"Someone's full of himself."
"So...I decided we'd do this..." he pulls into a parking lot and Beca looks out of the windshield to see GROVER'S BOWLING LANES.
"Seriously?"
"Yeah, no one hates bowling."
"You sure?"
Before she could get an answer, Jesse hops out of the car and they walk into the nearly empty bowling alley. It is mid day, so Beca's surprised to see one lane occupied by a small boy and the another two by leagues of older bowlers. She ignores the smell of musk and beer as Jesse pays for shoes (he even got hers without asking her size), and they walked over to a lane.
As she put on her shoes, she smiles to herself. She doesn't care what anyone else has to say, she has an awesome boyfriend who loves her. He thinks of fucking awesome stuff like this for them, and if he was getting bored, or their relationship was in danger, he'd be trying to stay away from her, not spend more time with her.
"So, warning...I come from a long line of professional bowlers," he brags as he chucks his ball right into the gutter.
"I see. The force is with you."
"HA!" Jesse points at her, her movication has been working in overdrive lately. "AHA! Star Wars reference. I'm winning somewhere. Your turn."
She walks up to the line and he whistles at her, causing her to glare playfully over her shoulder. She rolls the ball and it goes into the gutter as well. Beca does what she does best in situations like this...she shrugs.
"Well then...at least our aca-babies will have the gift of voice," he teases and she elbows him as he takes his turn.
Another two gutter balls, and both of them are wondering if this whole thing was rigged. The small boy turns out to be the child of bowling alley owner, and he's striking it up in his lane, causing Jesse to grumble, "Shouldn't he be in school?"
They pause the game to go eat a slice of grease that posed for pizza. Jesse devours his first slice, and Beca tries not to seem so obviously distracted. "Are you...happy?"
She's not sure why the fuck she let that come out of her mouth. She's equally as surprised as him as it slips from her lips.
Jesse's not sure what she's talking about though. "I'll regret this later, I'm sure, but for now...so delicious."
"I mean, happy with us. Not...not the pizza. With...our sex life?"
He stops chewing, his mouth full."Whoa. Um...this is different."
"Yeah, I don't...god, this is so weird talking about this...ignore me," Beca waves it off but of course Jesse's not going to let this go.
"Well now I'm curious!"
She hates this, even though she's gotten better at opening up to him, it's still difficult. Who talks about things like this? They aren't married, they are dating, but it's just sitting there, playing with her mind. "I can't believe I'm telling you this. The Bellas were talking...and somehow they brought up our relationship and they said we've probably hit the point where we're bored with each other."
"I just want to be clear. The Bellas were discussing how we...? Cause, right now, I'm sort of freaked out."
"Well yes and no. We were talking about penises and then it got out of hand..."
"Before or after you started discussing dicks?"
"After..."
He bites his lip and nods. "This was not a medical discussion. Right?"
"No."
"I'm not sure how I feel about that. And boring? Look at us, we're bowling. Does this look boring to you?" Jesse bristles indignantly and turns to indicate the nearly empty bowling hall. Then he looks at her. "What do you think?"
"I think..." she looks down her half eaten pizza. "I know...we're good."
He looks like he doesn't believe her and seems a little hurt but he recovers it quickly. "Then we're good."
They finally start hitting some pins and it's getting to be a lot more fun. Jesse is giving her moments like this to file away to replace her sarcasm, her bitterness, her distrust, and suddenly she stops caring about what her friends are saying because she's in this relationship real time and she loves it. He makes her feel special and their relationship is more than a drunken frat booty call in the middle of the night. She'd much rather spend time laughing with him than fucking his brains out...wait, did she mean that? Yes, yes she did.
She's not sure what the fuck she was thinking doing this. Oh god, a slight panic attack is hovering over her like a dark cloud but she moved forward regardless. She marched across campus towards the Treble house, muttering curses at how stupid this whole idea was. He's going to laugh at her, and god forbid someone else walk in and laugh at her too. She'll have to go on a punching spree and for what? This was all to prove that she could be some sort of wanton seductress? She paused, thinking of turning right back to her room and tossing on some sweatpants, but she reluctantly followed her original plan through.
She snuck in, and saw Brendan and some other guys sitting in the living room area, arguing over which cartoon is best, Adventure Time or Aqua Team Hunger Force. Idiots...all of them. But she doesn't let that deter her from her goal. She knew he'd be there, in the practice room, standing by the piano. Mostly because a minute ago she texted him and he texted back, Practicing w/ Piano. I am Awesome.
He had English Comp in like thirty minutes, so she better make this quick.
"Hey, what are you-?" he looked happy to see her, but she wasn't here to talk. She's not going to playfully tease him. She's not going to talk about her feelings.
Enough with the talking. She instantly cut him off when she dove in and kissed him. And it wasn't one of their "goodbye, I'm off to class" kisses, she had him pushed up against the piano, her lips hungry, her tongue probing. I'm possessed, she thought, she's kissed him like this once before, but not with this intention. Even after the ICCAs, when she kissed him in front of hundreds of people, that was a different sort of heat. This? Was animalistic and she's not sure where inside of herself she dug that up from, but there it was and when Jesse moaned into her mouth, that just threw gasoline on it. She doesn't even have time to really register what's happening before her instincts kick in and she wrapped her arms around his neck, fisting his plaid shirt in her hand. He turned them around so that she was against the piano now. His hands stretched around her waist and he lifted her a bit, and her legs wrapped around him, using the piano on her back as leverage.
Well, shit.
He's not talking anymore; he's not even sure why she's there, and honestly, right now, he probably didn't really care, she could stay for as long as she wanted. She's unpredictable, she's a bundle of fucking mystery and fuck yeah, she's climbing her boyfriend unabashedly in the middle of the got damn day. There was heavy breathing and everything, and he moved from her mouth to her neck, possibly needing air. His hands are kneading her breasts and her arms have moved to pull his shirt up a little so she can feel skin.
"Beca...what-?" Oh god, stop talking.
She knew her actions were a little startling. She fisted his hair and drew him back to her mouth, grinding her hips forward to a particular area that's definitely responding. Why did she wear panties? Hell, why did she even wear pants?! She felt him move his hands back up to her face, then torturously down her neck and straight to her mid section that was slightly exposed. They were really close to fucking on the piano when they heard someone clear their throat. At that point, Jesse pulled back, his eyes lustfully heavy as he scanned her face. All she felt was heat, and she's a little miffed they were interrupted. Jesse just looked shellshocked, and for whatever reason, she found that sexy as fuck.
He composed himself, and lowered her to the ground, morphing back into the modest Jesse she knew. Beca looked to see Bumper standing there. She tried to gather herself and find her center of gravity, since she rolled in and literally sucked all the sense out of Jesse's face.
"Alright. Whatever. Just know...now, we're going to have to sterilize that thing. Clean up when you're done. Animals," Bumper muttered and then took a sip from his fast food cup. "And cut off the lights. First Brendan and his damned hand job now this..."
Bumper left, leaving both a breathless Beca and Jesse standing there awkwardly. Beca's hand flew to her swollen lips and she bashfully looked up at Jesse.
"Uh so..." she couldn't form words right now, so that was all she could think to say.
"I...gotta go to English?" He posed that as a question, and looked equally bashful all of a sudden. He's so adorable when he's flustered.
"Yeah. Shouldn't miss that."
"Dinner later?"
"Yeah." What just happened?
He looked roughed up, his lips pink and thoroughly kissed, his hair mused from her hands, his shirt crumpled, and he was probably wondering how she mustered the courage to come in and practically dry hump him against the practice piano.
As Jesse checked his rumpled shirt, Beca pulled something out of her pocket.
"I'm going to go...so bye," she handed him the box and pecked him on the lips before scurrying out of the room, leaving him in a haze of lust and confusion. She didn't even hear him squeak out a goodbye to her.
She marched towards the door, the argument of Cartoon Network still continuing. Bumper was propped up next to the bar, shaking his head at her for what he just witnessed. Beca simply nodded and walked out the door. What was that? Who was that? That was all her. Boring, her ass. She let a devious smile stretch across her face.
Inside, Jesse looked down at the box Beca just handed him and let a surprised chuckle. It was a box of Uno cards with the word Naked scrolled across it in marker, and a sticky note that said "Just a friendly game or two."
~*~*~WARNING: A problem is coming up for our couple. I know I know, but if I'm going to keep them together until the end of time, they have to experience problems at some point...right? Don't be mad at me! I'm sorry in advance. Again, the reviews only make me want to write more! Thank you so much!