Jesse's POV

We pull up to the address of the party, and you could already hear the bass of the music pounding. We climb out of the car and start toward the front door. We step right inside because it's no use to knock.

Beca goes straight toward the direction in which you can see the kitchen, and I follow her. When I get there, she had already pulled out a bottle of beer, and a Solo cup.

"Eager, aren't we?" I laugh over the music.

She rolls her eyes and takes a long sip, so I tease, "Maybe tonight you can take the sobriety test."

"Ha-ha," she deadpans.

I watch as Beca's eyes scan over the room, admiring how effortlessly beautiful she is. Shannon made her take off her heavy eye makeup, and she's right. It makes her look much more approachable, and I can tell she doesn't like it. As she continues to look over the room, I can tell he feels misplaced.

I grab her hand and tell her, "Come on. I'll introduce you to some people."

She nods slowly, and takes my hand. In her other, she holds her cup close to her like it's her life line.

I laugh at her as we work our way through the massive crowd of people. I spot some people I knew in high school and make my way over to them.

We reach them and they smile at us.

"Hey, Joey!"

"Jesse, my man! How are you doing?"

"I'm doing great! And you?"

"Amazing, as always. This is my girlfriend, Clarice. We met at Yale."

"Yale? That's great! And hey, Clarice! I'm Jesse."

"Hey. You can call me Clare," the blonde says just loud enough that I can hear her over the music. I can tell she's not too comfortable here.

All of the sudden, I feel a pain in my bicep, and look down at Beca. She smirks and questions, "What happened to introducing me?"

"You're just so small that I forgot you were there."

"You're so funny," she retorts in a monotone voice.

I roll my eyes, and say, "This is my girlfriend, Beca. We met at Barden University freshman year on the first day, but I only got her to go out with me a year later."

"He's too much of a dork. He bombarded me with juice pouches and movies. Apparently didn't get the memo when I said I hated movies."

Joey laughs and holds out his hand, "Joey."

My girlfriend takes it and shakes his hand, "I'm hoping that was clean."

"You'll never know, Miss Beca."

Beca lets go of my hand and turns her body a little bit, asking me, "Do you have any idea where Shay is?"

"None."

"I feel really awkward here."

Clarice speaks up, smiling, "Me too. Wanna go sit in the living room? Whoever you're looking for may be in there. If she's not drinking."

Beca smiles slightly and takes up her offer, leaving with Clare. Letting her be, I go to try find Cam an Ryan with Joey, hoping they're not already wasted.

…..

Beca's POV

I follow Clare into the small, second living space. Not as many people were in here. Most everyone is in the main area.

We go and sit on the couch once I spot Shay sitting there, on her phone.

"Shay!" I practically yell.

"Beca, how much did you drink?"

"I only had two cups. Barely buzzed. Why?"

"You seem happy."

"Wow, Shay. You should really look into comedic careers. You'd be great."

"Hey, look! Sarcastic Bec is back!"

I roll my eyes, and glance over at Clare, then back at Shay.

"Shay, this is Clare. Joey's girlfriend from Yale."

"Hey! I'm Jesse's younger sister. Only reason I'm here is to be the designated driver."

Clare smiles widely, "I came with Joey, but I'm also the designated driver. I don't drink. Not until I'm twenty-one, at least."

"A saint!" I yell.

They both start laughing, and I grab another drink from the cooler that's beside the couch.

"So you're in Barden?" Clare asks, interested.

I swallow, "Yeah. My dad made me go a year before he would let me go to L.A. I actually made some friends and met Jesse, so I decided to stay."

"Cool! My cousin goes there. He transferred this year. I think he's in your year. You're a sophomore there, right?"

"Yeah, I am."

"Oh! You might have some classes with him then! He's here somewhere, actually. He stayed with my mom and I here for spring break. Just so happen that Joey and I were from different sides of town!"

"Awe! That's sweet! What's your cousin's name?" Shay asks, curious.

I look behind Clare, and my eyes widen.

No.

"His name is-"

She's cut off by the person behind her.

"Taylor Reed."

"Oh my God," I breathe.

"Oh! Hey, Taylor!" Clare says, beaming.

Shay smiles, confused as to why I'm in the state I'm currently in. I lock eyes with Taylor and get up.

"I'm sorry, Clarice. You seem really nice. I have no idea how you could be related to this piece of sh*t."

Clare and Shay both furrow their eyebrows and Clare starts, "What-"

I cut her off by yelling at Taylor.

"You ruin my life by coming to Barden and messing with my boyfriend and I, and now you screw up my spring break too?"

"Didn't know you'd be here, Beca Mitchell. What a terrible surprise."

"You're one to talk."

"Wait!" Clare screams, and all eyes avert to her, "You're that Beca? The one who he cheated on? Wait, that means that you're the one that messed up his face a while back."

I smirk, laughing, "Awe! Did someone go crying to Auntie when his little ex-girlfriend broke his nose?"

He scoffs, crossing his arms, "Go ahead. Act all tough, but everyone here knows what a wimp you are."

I look around me, and it seems the music has stopped and our yelling has attracted almost everyone in the house try to get close to the living area, watching us while whispering to each other.

"Shut up, man! That world hates you. Doesn't mean you need to take it out on the girl who beat the sh*t out of you with one punch," I hear Jesse say behind me.

I look over at Shay and Clare, to see that they have been joined by Ryan, Cam, and Joey.

"Oh, come on. Beca, you need your boyfriend to defend you now, huh? You may act tough on the outside, but we all know that you're a broken, little girl who grew up unloved. No friends. Divorced parents. No boyfriend until me. All you had were your dumb mixes which sound absolutely terrible. You're-"

He's cut off by Jesse's fist pounding into his mouth. I jump back in shock as the crowd goes into one massive "Oooh!"

"Come on, guys. We need to get out of here."

"Jesse, stop! Don't do that! I get it. You're mad, but that's not you. That's unlike you."

"I know, but Beca. You were just standing there. Someone had to do something, now let's go."

I nod, but before I turn, I walk up to Taylor and crouch beside him.

"Go to hell, Reed. And when you get there, make sure to tell my friend, Satan, I said hello."

I punch him in the gut and his arms immediately go from his face to hit stomach. There's some blood in his mouth, and on his hand, so I'm guessing Jesse knocked out some teeth.

I turn to leave with Shay, Ryan, and Cam following Jesse and I.

We get to the car, and everyone climbs in. While I'm getting in, I'm stopped by a hand on my shoulder.

I turn to see Clarice and Joey standing behind me.

"Hey," I say, confused, "Shouldn't you be helping your cousin?"

"Not after what he said to you. I don't care what you did, or he did, no one deserves to be told off like that. Especially not a girl."

I smile, "Not how I would word it, but thank you."

"Here's my number. I can always help you with Taylor stuff when you get back. And I'd like to get to know you better. You seem like a cool person."

"Thank you. For everything. I, uhm, will text you my number. Do you guys need a ride?"

"Nope!" Joey says, smiling, "Clare is staying at mine tonight, and Taylor has some friends there, so h can get his own ride home."

"Okay! I'll see you sometime, yeah?"

"Yeah. I'll be at the ICCAs. You're in the number one group, right?" Clare asked.

"Yeah! I'll see you then, bye!"

"Bye Beca!"

And with that, they left.

Jesse looks at me weirdly as I get into the car, resting my head on his shoulder as he wraps an arm around my torso.

"You don't seem yourself tonight, Beca. No offence, but you seem really happy-go-lucky. You just made friends with a stranger."

"I'm never myself when Taylor arrives after I've had three drinks. Makes me happier knowing he's lying, hurt on the ground somewhere. So, I tend to befriend strangers."

He lets out a deep chuckle, and I let myself fall asleep to the feel of it sounding through his chest.

A/N: Beca's a little OOC in this, but I tried to explain it in the end, between the lines. I really like Clare, so I want to see more of her.