Hey guys! I realize you are all probably unhappy with how long I take to update. I apologize. I'm very happy that you all enjoyed the rough sex scene. I had never written one before and it was received so well, I was in shock. I don't generally like hardcore sex, so I toned it down.
The following contains an unabashed movie reference, classic rock, a card trick, and Benji being a little brother because I always imagined him to be that way.
Beca arrived at the Treble house with her bag, and walked in without knocking. She called for Jesse and walked to the sofa room to wait for him. Benji was sitting in there, practicing a magic trick. When he saw her, he smiled and gestured for her to sit in the chair in front of him.
"Beca! Great timing. Do you have a second?" He asked eagerly.
Beca chuckled at his puppish enthusiasm. "Sure Benji, I'm just waiting for Jesse. What d'you need?" She sat on the rocking chair, looking at the cards in his hands.
"It's a new card trick I've been working on. Pick a card?" He asked it tentatively; as if he was afraid she would say no.
"Sure thing, dude." Her hand reached out and pulled a card from the stack in his fingers. "I don't show it to you, right?"
He nodded. Beca studied the card: three of clubs. She placed it face down on the table and he took it back. He shuffled it into the deck, and Beca was very careful to watch where his eyes were. He dealt each card into four piles of thirteen, face up. Nimble fingers pushed each pile into a vertical line so the face and number on each card could be seen clearly.
"Pick the pile with your card. Don't point to it though." Benji instructed.
Beca did as she was told. Benji carefully studied the piles, and then put them back into a stack in a specific order. Then he dealt four piles again, recreated the rows, and asked her to choose the row with her card. She pointed to it again. Again, he placed them back into the pile.
"Okay, make a fist." Beca was puzzled, but did. "You need to place the deck of cards, face down, in between you index and middle finger. Don't hold it too firmly. Oh, and trust me, I'm not going to hit you."
Seriously confused now, Beca held out the cards. Benji's fist came down and hit the deck. All but one card was left between her fingers.
"Is that your card?" Benji asked confidently.
Beca flipped over the card and stared for a minute. Three of fucking clubs. Beca stared for so long that Benji got nervous.
"I'm wrong, aren't I? Crap…"
"Are you a fucking wizard?" Beca asked the question so calmly, she surprised herself. Benji looked at her with an oddly hopeful look on his face. "How the fuck did you do that?" Benji winced a little as she stood up to fast. He looked like he was afraid she would hit him.
Beca laughed and soothed him. "Chill, man. I'm not going to hit you. You got it right and that trick is seriously… uh, wow."
Benji blushed. "Thanks…" He still looked nervous. He opened mouth like he wanted to say something, but shut it and shook his head.
"What's up, kid? You've got something on your chest, just get it over with."
"You promise you won't hit me?" Jesse asked.
"Promise." Beca laughed. "Seriously, I'm not that bad, am I?"
"No…" Benji muttered. "But you still scare me."
Beca rolled her eyes, "Get on with it, nerd."
"Okay… well, uhm, I just wanted to ask you about Jesse. I mean, I just wanted you to know…" He swallowed. "You know how much he likes you, right?"
Beca blinked at Benji, wondering where the question had come from. Se stalled, not quite sure how to answer him.
As if he read her mind, he quickly continued. "You don't have to respond. I just want you to know that he's crazy about you. It's not a lust thing… although you two have that covered as well, it would seem." His ears reddened, but he pressed on. "I just wanted you to know that and that I think you're really good for him and stuff."
Beca closed the distance between them and pulled Benji into a hug. He tensed for a moment, but when he realized she didn't want to kill him, he relaxed. "Thanks, Benji. I'm glad you said something." She pulled back and looked him in the eyes. "You're such a good friend to him."
Benji beamed with pride. Beca realized she was still gripping his arm. She let go and coughed self-consciously. "Well, uh, sentimental moment over. Show me that card trick again."
When Jesse came down stairs two minutes later, he found Beca swearing loudly at a deck of cards Benji was holding. She felt him slip his arms around her waist and press his lips to the top of her head. She grunted in frustration, her eyes not leaving the cards.
"Oh yeah, I could never understand how he did that one." Jesse commented.
"This card deck is fucking rigged. There is no way these steps are going to get the right result every time." Beca huffed. "How do you do it?"
Benji smiled shyly and a bit smugly. "Sorry. A magician never reveals his secrets."
Jesse pulled Beca out of her seat and into a kiss. When he pulled away, she had calmed down. He raised his brow and gestured towards the door. Beca sighed, picked up her bag, and made an "I'm watching you" sign at Benji before backing out of the room.
Jesse laughed at her and put an arm around her waist as they headed out to his car. He put her bag and one of his own into the trunk, taking the other one with him to the front. He settled in, plugged his iPod into the auxiliary and pulled a juice pouch and a cheese stick from his bag. He tossed them to her, and handed her his iPod.
"I'm driving, so you can pick the music."
Beca smirked and scrolled through his music. She was impressed by the large selection of genres. She chose his Classic Rock playlist and picked one that made her smile.
Carry on my wayward son
There'll be peace when you are done
Lay your weary head to rest
Don't you cry no more.
Jesse laughed loudly as he threw his car into reverse and backed out. Beca snuck glances at him, enjoying the way he laughed so carelessly. They sang loudly and obnoxiously together as they got to the highway, rolling down the windows so anyone could hear. Beca's hair whipped around her face and she crinkled her nose at Jesse when he sang to her. The myriad of classic songs occupied them quite thoroughly, but it didn't stop Beca from leaning over to kiss Jesse whenever they had a red light.
When the lights go down in the City
And the sun shines on the bay
Do I want to be there in my City?
Ooh, ooh
"Watch the road, you maniac!" Beca squealed at him. He had been too busy serenading her to realize the light had turned green. The car behind them honked and Jesse's head snapped forward as he pressed the gas. Beca laughed in surprise as she was pushed back into the seat for a moment. After a moment of searching, Beca spotted their turn-off. She pointed and Jesse turned the car down the dirt path.
The trees closed in on the car, holding it in a green embrace. In the distance, a brown building peeked out from a clearing. They pulled up to it and Jesse pulled over. He got out and walked into the building. After a few minutes, Beca got bored and followed him. He was talking to a gray old woman with hair tightly curled and pinned to the top of her head. Beca walked up to the counter and interlocked her fingers with Jesse's. She smiled at the woman as she leaned against him.
"Just one night? Of course. Will you be using the lake?" Jesse nodded and the old woman smiled. "My husband and son run the boat rentals, if you'd like to take a canoe or kayak out there. It's very nice this time of year."
She handed Jesse a map of the site and the keys to the cabin. "Be careful of tall grass. 'Tis the season for ticks. I wouldn't want either of you lovely young ones to get bitten."
Jesse and Beca thanked her and left the shop hand in hand. They got back in the car, with Beca reading the map and directing Jesse to the cabin. It was a cozy little place with wooden steps that led to the sandalwood door. Beca pulled the door open, pushed the screen door aside, and walked into the cabin.
It smelled a little bit like biscuits and honey. There was a small kitchen and a couch in the first room. A door led into a bedroom with a large bed and a bathroom attached. Beca sat down on the bed and looked at the bedside table. There was a corded phone and a bunch of take-out menus scattered across the top.
"It looks like they knew you were coming." Beca teased as she held up a menu for a Thai restaurant.
"Yes! Do you think they'd deliver out here?" He asked her.
"Only one way to find out. You can call and ask, I'm going to change. Do I need to wear a bathing suit?"
"No, I was thinking we'd go canoeing not swimming. You can wear it if you think you'll fall in. But you won't." He dialed the number as he spoke, putting the phone to his ear and winking. "I'd love to see you in a bathing suit eventually."
Beca shook her head and walked into the bathroom with her bag. She pulled on a pair of shorts and a light t-shirt, listening to Jesse on the phone. Judging by his enthused speech, the Thai place did deliver out here. Beca shook her head again, walking out of the bathroom with her lighter clothing.
"Turns out they deliver to people out here all the time. Great, we can have Thai food for dinner." Jesse smiled as he grabbed her hand. "Ready?"
Beca nodded, pocketed the keys to the cabin, and walked out into the sun.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed. It means so much to me and it's still hard to believe that you all like my stuff. So to everyone who has reviewed, thank you so very much. I would be much obliged if you continued to give me advice and make me a better writer.