DISCLAIMER: drugs are bad, unless you're ill and need them. Anyway, I don't endorse their use.

AN: I used 'Show, don't tell.' excessively in this chapter. I got lazy and didn't feel like explaining so I went for the easiest, and my personal favorite, writing technique. I know it could get confusing but bare with me, please.

A month later.

Beca woke up to the sound of a very loud and very close snoring. She was tired and still high from the night before. Eating pot brownies should be a weekends only kind of things— Beca thought to herself, knowing that the fatigue and laziness she was feeling was the effect of pot. She had to wake up for work so she forced herself to sit up. Rubbing her eyes, she sighed.

"Matt, get up," she called as she shook him. He shifted on his other side and pulled the covers to him.

"Get up," she weakly slapped his shoulder.

"No," he replied.

"Dude, we start work in a couple of hours and I won't let you play hooky in my apartment. If you wanna sleep go to your place," she hopped of the bed, stretching before she took off her bandana from her head and eyed it to find that it was Matt's t-shirt. "Last night got weird," she thought out loud.

Beca tilted her head when Matt got up and arched an eyebrow noting that he was half naked and watched him walk to the bathroom and get under the shower.

"Well, make yourself at home," she said loud enough for him to hear.

"You're almost out of Shampoo," he said, tossing his boxers on the floor after he drew the shower curtains then ran the shower.

Beca shook her head murmuring, "ass," before she started to make her way out of her bedroom.

She wasn't even sure why she let him spend the night over. Yeah, right: drugs.

He called and asked if she was up to anything and she told him that she was staying in so he invited himself over and told he had weed.

He showed up.

They baked pot brownies.

She ate a few. He smoked the remaining pot, afraid he'd get a panic attack if he ate any and embarrass himself in front of her.

They watched under her recommendation a documentary on the sea then danced to folk German music they found on Spotify.

Usually, when she would get high she'd become stupid happy and do things she wouldn't do sober like sing Nickelback songs or converse with Matt about who would win in a fight between Charizard the Pokémon and a T-Rex.

She wasn't sure when he went to bed but she was sure she dozed off on the living area floor and that he took her to bed. He didn't wake her up to change from her clothes yet managed to strip down to his boxers.

Matt's a jerk that she actually liked and considered a friend even though when she got to New York he obnoxiously hit on her and annoyed the hell out of her. He still did annoy her but she was somehow okay with it.

Standing in the kitchenette, she scratched her head, looking at the mess Matt made trying to make pizza. Why didn't we just order pizza? Yeah, right we did after making mess!

"Beca, can you get me a towel?" he called from the bathroom.

"BECA!"

She rolled her eyes then started to make her way back to her bedroom. "I'm coming," she would have told him to fuck off if it didn't mean that she'd have to clean after him.

"Beca?"

"Here," she extended her hand and looked away so that she wouldn't risk seeing him naked.

"Thanks," he sniffed, wrapping the towel around his waist.

"You leave any shampoo?" she asked as he stepped out of the shower.

"Yeah," he nodded.

"Good. Now get dressed and go clean the kitchenette while I shower."

He scoffed at her words then made his way to the mirror where he stood eyeing himself.

"Matt, I don't have cleaning people to come clean my apartment. You are going to clean."

"You should hire someone to take care of the place. It's easier. I can call them for you, if you want."

"Matt, get out."

"Okay," he nodded and got out of bathroom, leaving a trace behind him as he walked. His dad wasn't wrong when he told her he's a brat because he really was a big baby.

"Beca, I forgot my boxers," Matt knocked on the door as she showered. "I'm gonna take it, okay?"

"Yeah, okay," she replied as she rinse her hair.

"Fuck," she heard him swear.

"What's wrong?"

"It's wet—I must have gotten it wet when I stood in front of the mirror," he informed her. "Yeah, this is hilarious," he added when Beca laughed at him.

"It's your fault, buddy. You didn't even dry yourself. Also, you're cleaning the trance your left when I'm done," she said as she turned off the water. "Matt, stop scowling and wetting the floor," she peeked her head to look at him, smiling when didn't find him looking at the shower. The curtains wouldn't have let him see anything but her shape anyway but it was nice to know that he wasn't looking her way.

"Look in the bottom drawer in my closet there should be a couple of boxers in there," she sniffed, quickly checking him out because: biology. "Put yours in the hamper," she told him when he nodded and started to walk out and he tossed his boxers on the floor. He walked back and sighed as he picked them up.

"The door," she called and he shut it behind him.

Matt was making her feel like she was babysitting a teenager. She reached for her bathrobe and wore it, towel dried her hair before blew drying it. Stepping out of the bathroom she walked to the door and closed it before she got dressed for the day. It wasn't that she didn't trust Matt not to barge in but she didn't want to risk it. He's her friend but he still wanted to get in her pants.

Walking out of her bedroom after she got dressed, did her hair and makeup, Beca arched her eyebrows when Matt walked into the apartment. "I got us breakfast," he held up the Starbucks bag up before he closed the door behind him and walked to the kitchenette.

"You like black coffee so I got it for you. I didn't know what else to get to I went with muffins," he tossed her keys on the counter.

"My keys were in my bag, Matt," she said as she walked to him.

"Yeah," he nodded, unpacking.

"You went through stuff, never do that again," she picked the coffee up. "Now clean this mess," she gestured with her hand around. "Matt, you did this while I was watching the TV. Clean," she held his gaze, resisting the urge to laugh because he really didn't want to clean.

"Okay," he said watching her take a muffin.

"When was the last time you cleaned?" she leaned against a wall, enjoying her breakfast and watching him.

"I can't remember," he shrugged. "I never needed to clean after myself."

"What about back when you were in college. You had people come clean your dorm for you?"

"I never cleaned," he glanced at her. "Ever met anyone that cleans their dorm-room?"

"Yeah, everyone I knew back in college cleaned their rooms, you pig!" she made a face, bringing the coffee to her lips. He shrugged at her words quickly sweeping the counter and dropping everything in the trashcan.

"There. It's clean," he gestured with his hands at the counter.

"Good, now the bathroom," she sucked her teeth.

"I am never hanging out with you here again," he said as he walked to the bedroom.

"That's great to hear," she mumbled, taking a bite from the muffin.

"So, am I wearing your ex-boyfriend's boxers?" Matt asked from the bathroom.

"Yes," she answered after a beat.

"Didn't you break up like 3 months ago, why do you still have his boxers?" he asked.

"It's none of your business, Matt," she said, taking a seat on a stool and and gabbing her cellphone from the counter to find out that it had ran out of battery so she got up to look for the charger.

"What time is it?" he asked, walking out of her bedroom. Beca plugged her phone then glanced at her watch. "8:10—you done?" she arched an eyebrow.

"Yeah," he answered walking to her.

"That was quick," she said.

"I used one of the bath mats and voilà," he grabbed his coffee and took a sip.

"You got any plans for tomorrow?" he asked, hopping on a stool.

"I'm gonna stay in," she walked back to the counter and pick her her coffee up.

"Well, they just got a karaoke machine at Morgan's if you change your mind," he informed her.

"No, thanks," she took a sip.

"Why?"

"I just don't like singing in public."

"You did A cappella and won the international championship," he frowned when she leaned against the counter facing him.

"Yeah, but that's different. I had my friends with me," she shrugged.

"I'm your friend, aren't I?" She nodded at his question. "We'll sing together. Mind you, my voice isn't that good so don't show off your vocals."

"I'll think about it," she finally said. She hated to admit it but karaoke was actually fun especially when she's intoxicated. "Are you finished? We should get going."

"I have my car I can get us there in 10 minutes."

"Cool, then you'll be early for a change," she straightened up then went to her bedroom and got her her messenger bag, checking her stuff before they headed out. Her phone had barely charged when she unplugged it and turned it on.

"Shit," Beca murmured going through her logs as Matt pushed the button for the ground floor.

"Who is do-not-call?" Matt asked, peeking his head.

"Shit," she rubbed rubbed her forehead when it came back to her.

"Oh," Matt exclaimed in realization.

"Yeah," she said.

"Text him and explain all these calls," he shrugged. "How many did you make?" he asked.

"34," she informed him before tapping on her messaging app.

'I'm sorry for draining your battery with my calls. I got high last night and I don't know why I kept on calling you. If I left any voicemail please ignore them. Sorry.'

"Shut up," she said, hearing Matt chuckle then rested her head against the elevator's wall. Beca tried to recall if she left any voicemail and nothing was coming back to her.

She sighed stepping out of the elevator and stuffed her phone in her pocket. Matt walked ahead of her and held the door for her after he got out.

She was putting her messenger bag in the car when she glanced up and saw Jesse running her way. She froze for a second then put on a stoic expression and stepped back and watched his as he got into a coughing fit when he reached her.

"You okay?" she asked, eyeing him as he rested his hands on his knees. He nodded and continued to cough. He looked like he just got up, wearing a pair of sweatpants, sneakers, a white t-shirt under the unzipped leather jacket he was wearing and a pair of sunglasses.

"Are you?" he asked, straightening up. "I saw your calls like an hour ago and when I called it went straight to voicemail," he said between coughs.

"You came to check on me?" she asked, fearing anyone would hear how fast her heart was beating.

"I got worried so I came," he cleared his throat then glanced at Matt hearing the car door get shut

"I'm fine. I'm really sorry I made you come up here," she apologized watching Jesse frown. "I texted you explaining why I called."

"Wha-" he looked back at her.

"I said that I'm fine and sorry and that I texted you," she watched him pull his phone from his jacket.

"You did," he unlocked the screen. "You got high with him?" he scratched his growing beard.

"It got weird," she shrugged. "You know the usual shit stonned me does?"

"Yeah, I do," he sighed. "Well, you're fine and that's great," he stuffed his phone back in his jacket. "Bye," he turned on his heels.

Beca watched him as he started to walk away and ran her fingers through her hair.

"Jesse wait," she said in a loud enough voice for him to hear, grabbing her messenger bag from the car. "I'll see you at work," she said to Matt.

"Okay," he nodded, starting the car.

"What's up?" Jesse asked, arching an eyebrow. I just wanna walk with you— was on the tip of her tongue."I'm gonna take the subway," she told him. He nodded at her words and started to walk again.

"Beca, hurry up," Jesse said watching Beca go through her bag, looking for her metro card.

"I can't find it," she looked up. "You go ahead, I'll go buy a new one," she wore her bag properly.

"You'll be late," he looked around them.

"There's a venting machine over there," she nodded at it then looked back at him. "C'mere," he reached for her arm and pulled her to him while he pulled his card. He threw his arm around her shoulder and pulled her to him as they got through the turnstile after he had slid the card. She wasn't sure being if pressed against his chest was necessary but she didn't complain about it.

"Thanks," she stepped back when he let go.

"Yeah," he looked away.

"Hold on to me," Jesse said as he held on to a strap.

"No, it's okay," she declined, trying to still have some personal space despite being in a very crowded place. She lost coordination when the subway started to move. "Told you to hold on to me," Jesse grabbed her arm and kept her from falling. Beca held on to his jacket when he removed his hand.

"Rough night?" she asked when he sucked in a deep breath and blew it while rubbing his temples.

"Nothing new," he replied, looking up. He eyed her for a while then pushed down his sunglasses to have a better look at her. "You okay?" he frowned, noting the sweat forming on her forehead.

"Yeah," she nodded. "I'm a little nauseous."

He leaned back when she leaned up.

"I had pot brownies last night," she said into his ear.

He nodded when she pulled away.

Beca clenched his jacket when the subway stopped. "Thanks," she thanked him when he wrapped his arm around her waist to keep her from getting manhandled by other passengers. He dug his finger in her waist and pulled her to him then looked away from her only looking back when she placed a hand over her mouth. "You gonna get sick?" he asked.

She closed her eyes and nodded.

"Well," he looked out of the window, "We'll get off at this station and find you a trashcan that get the next one. C'mon," he let go of the strap and lightly pushed her to walk. She paced to the first trashcan she laid eyes on and puked. Jesse ran after her and held her hair back while he rubbed her back.

"How many did you eat?" he asked when she was done throwing up.

"Three," she answered as she straightened up.

"Beca, I don't wanna freak you out but you're sweating a lot," he took off his sunglasses and kept eyeing her then sighed when she turned to the trashcan and started throwing up again.

"I was fine this morning," she said accepting the tissue he handed her.

"How are you feeling? How's the nausea?" he asked, watching her wipe her lips with the tissue he handed her. "Beca, are you late?" he hesitantly asked. She froze for a second then nodded. Jesse kept looking at her with a very vague expression on his face then blinked.

"Call in sick and let's go get a test," he ran his fingers through his hair.

"Jesse, I don't think I'm—"

"You're late that's enough reason to get a test," he cut her off.

"I think I have food poisoning," she sniffed.

"What did you have for breakfast?" he asked.

"Um, Matt got coffee and muffins."

"You think you can walk?" he watched her wrap her arms around her belly.

"Yeah," she nodded.

"C'mon, let's get you home," he wore back his sunglasses.

"No, you go. I'll be fine."

He took her bag from her and wore it before he wrapped an arm around her waist and started to walk her, ignoring what she said.

"The pharmacist say this will help with the food poisoning," Jesse pulled the medicine from the plastic bag he was holding as he stepped into Beca's bedroom after he let himself in.

"I'm gonna kill Matt," she tightly wrapped her arms around herself, curling up in her bed.

"I'll help you get rid of the body," he said walking to her bed, making Beca chuckle in spite of herself at the jealous tone in his voice he was trying to hide.

She forced herself into a sitting position when he took a seat on the bed and accepted the pill he handed her along with the glass of water he had put on the nightstand before going out to get her something for her stomach.

"You need to rest, Bec," Jesse said taking the glass from her after she sipped as little water as she could to wash down the pill.

"And you need to get hydrated," she laid back and wrapped her arms around herself. "Painkillers are over there," she lifted her hand and pointed at the nightstand.

"I'm fine."

"You're wearing sunglasses indoors, Jesse, and you reek of bourbon."

"Get some sleep," he rubbed her arm then reached for her bag and pulled her phone.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"I'm gonna call Matt, he should be here when I leave," he answered without looking up.

"If I see him now I'll strangle his sorry ass for doing this to me."

"Well, he texted you," he tossed her phone on the bed for her to pick up.

"Jesse, moving hurts. Read it for me."

Jesse grabbed her phone and unlocked the screen. "If you didn't show up for work 'cause you're busy banging your ex-boyfriend I'm gonna shame you for it for weeks," Jesse read out loud the text. "What do you want me to text back?" he asked, mustering his best indifferent tone.

"Ignore him," Beca rolled and laid on her stomach then closed her eyes. "I don't even know why I'm friends with that ass," she murmured to herself.

She heard Jesse get up and figured he was leaving but was too tired to say anything to him.

Beca woke up a few hours later, her mouth was dry, she was still nauseous but her stomach wasn't trying to kill her anymore.

Hearing a series of profanities coming from inside the apartment she hopped off the bed, deciding to go see what was going on to find Jesse hold his thumb and looking around.

"What are you doing?" she asked as she walked to him.

"I cut my thumb cutting carrots."

"Carrots?" she frowned.

"I'm making you soup," he nodded at the counter then walked to the sink and ran the water. Beca dragged herself to the bathroom to get the first aid kit then made her way back to the kitchenette.

"Show me your thumb," she placed the kit on the counter and waited for him until he dried his hand with a cloth. She glanced at the half full bourbon bottle, that she didn't remember buying, on the counter then took his hand and applied antibiotic ointment on his wounded thumb.

"How are you feeling?" he asked as she placed a band aid around his thumb.

"I'm fine," she stepped back. "You don't have to do this," she gestured at the counter. "I can take care of myself," she walked the fridge and pulled filter pitcher and poured herself a glass of water.

"I know," he ran his fingers through his hair then stuffed his hand in his jacket's pocket and pulled a pregnancy test.

Beca sighed then poured herself another glass when she saw it in his hand.

"Beca, you said you're late," he watched her drink water then put the pitcher back in the fridge. She walked to him and took the test before making her way to the bathroom.

Jesse waited outside until he heard her flush the toilet before he joined her.

"Relax, Jesse," Beca said watching Jesse biting his nails.

"You could be carrying my child and you want me to relax?" he questioned, watching her walk to the sink and wash her face.

"Yeah," she tilted her head to look at him. "I can't keep a fish alive, I doubt I can take care of child," she said, reaching for a towel to dry her face.

"What are you saying?" he stopped biting his nails.

"I'm saying that I won't keep it," she blew a breath.

"No, you can't do that."

"First off, It's my body, Jesse, you can't tell me what I can and cannot do. Second, I have a career that needs my full time. Third, by the time he or she is born, that if there is a baby, I'll be living 1400 miles away from you and keeping you involved will be hard as fuck."

They both tilted their heads hearing Beca's phone beep when the timer was done.

"And, if we were still together would you have reconsidered?" he asked.

"We're not, so I don't know," Beca reached for the test and picked up, "it's negative," she lifted it for him to see for himself before she threw it in the trashcan.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, feeling slightly judged by Jesse's hurt expression.

"Sorry," he blinked, burying his face in his hands and rubbing it.

"Well, I did what you've stuck around for," she sighed. "It was good seeing you and sorry for freaking you out twice," she watched him look up.

"I stayed because I wanted to make sure you're fine," he hardened his expression a little.

"I'm fine," she crossed her arms. "I don't think I can eat yet, though, so no need to finish that soup," she added.

"Then, I guess, I'm out," he ran his fingers through his hair then turned on his heels. He was reaching for the front door's knob when Beca tightly hugged him from behind. He threw an arm over her shoulder and turned her to embrace her in his arms. Hearing her sniff, he placed a kiss on top of her head, "shush," he placed another kiss. "You're fine, remember?" he told her and she answered with a curt nod. "Good," he rested his cheek on her head. "You're more than fine, you're really strong and I—" he paused briefly, "I really care about you," he tightened his hold.

"I love you too," she mumbled into his chest.

"Wanna watch a movie or something on Netflix?" he cleared his throat. He knew he was giving into what he wanted and strongly believed he didn't deserve to have. He missed her terribly and when he got up to throw up in the morning and saw her calls he got worried and welcomed the chance of going to see her.

She had put a good front but it didn't last long and he felt guilty for hurting her by showing up when he was supposed to leave her alone so that she'd forget about him and move on.

"Netflix is cool," she sniffed.

"Yeah," he agreed. "C'mon," he unwrapped his arms from around her and took off his jacket while she gave him her back to wipe her tears.

"I think Rocky is still available," he followed Beca to the coach and sat down next to her, keep his distance from her.

"So, what's the deal with that guy you work with?" Jesse asked, breaking the silence they got in as they watched the movie.

"Strange enough, we've become good friends," she shrugged. "He's a spoiled jerk but I somehow like hanging out with him and making him all sort of things he has people do for him. I made him clean the kitchenette and the bathroom this morning," she smiled to herself, remembering how great it was to watch Matt struggle to do a simple task.

"And, you always have sleepovers?" he asked and closed his eyes, cursing himself for letting her hear jealousy in his tone.

"He spent the night 'cause I fell asleep on the floor," she curled up and wrapped her arms around her legs. Jesse nodded, feeling relieved. He'd be lying to himself if he said he didn't care if she's hooking up with Matt. Beca glanced at him and smiled noting the small twitch in his lips before she looked back the screen.

She had no idea what they were doing watching a movie together. She had no explanation as to why she ran after him and hugged him. She had no reason to be sitting with him. She was supposed to being getting over him yet being in the same room as him made her happy and the heaviness in her chest had shrunk just by being next to him.

She was doing a terrible job at getting over him.

They watched the movie in a comfortable silence. Beca tried to enjoy the movie by pushing all her thoughts and worries to the back of her mind.

"Hey, did you know that," Jesse tilted his head then paused when saw that Beca had fallen asleep. He reached for the remote and paused the movie then go up. He went to the kitchenette and picked up the bottle of bourbon, gulping from it before he went back to preparing chicken soup.

He made as little noise as he could then washed the dishes and left the soup on the stove. He made his way to the couch and picked up his jacket and chuckled seeing that Beca was curled up in a fetal position with her arm over her head. She looked comfortable so he figured he shouldn't disturb her by taking her to bed.

He watched her sleep for a few seconds then turned on his heels and headed out of her apartment.