I do not own Pitch Perfect
5: Interlude: You Belong with Me
Fate leaned on the wall as she listened to the three girls who had cornered her outside the auditorium. It was the third week of practice and they were going to start rehearsals for act three that morning. Stacie was the first to speak, analytical in tone, something she rarely does in front of her friends, and direct to the point. "The songs you make Jesse sing, they represent his underlying possessive nature. He met Beca and fell for her. He assumed the role that he had wanted all his life, the leading man in a romantic movie who meets the girl, falls for the girl, and gets the girl. He wanted it to be the truth so much that he's blind to what his role really is."
"The whole of the first two acts is trying to convey that." Aubrey jumped in. "Beca meets two people who tries to bring her out of her shell, and both of them fall in love with her, and she falls for one of them. While the set-up in the scenes of the first two acts are highly reminiscent of Beca's first year at Barden, you tweaked a few details and highlighted the most important parts. The songs Beca shared with Chloe were sweet and intimate in nature, the songs she shared with Jesse were light and fun."
"Plus you had the Treble keep stealing the scene whenever he starts singing a song to Shawshank." Amy then said, weighing in. "The first time Jesse sings a song for her, he interrupts Legacy and the magician Treble. After that, during the little competition scene, ginger sings her feelings of love to Beca, asking her to her too while Jesse is implying that he's won, that they're meant to be, because they're the lead in his movie."
"But that's not the case, isn't it? The sharp contrast between the two characters. You said Jesse was 'the boy who meets the girl' and Chloe is 'the rival', but from where I stand what's happening is Jesse is the one entangling the story, that he's not really the prince charming to our stormy DJ." Stacie said, once again taking the floor. "He's the interruption to the love story. He keeps interrupting the moments."
"And you're reflecting what really happened years ago, something that Beca herself hadn't noticed the first time around. When I blamed her for losing, Chloe was still there. She never left. She kept trying to reach out to Beca but the munchkin kept her distance because she was afraid that we didn't want her anymore. So she reached out to Jesse instead, Jesse who had all but given up on her because she pushed him away quite a bit." Aubrey stated matter-of-factly.
"That's why when Chloe brought Beca back to us, the only thing missing was Jesse, and short-stack couldn't lose her best friend. Jesse always had feelings for Beca, he made it clear to her, and when she knew she wanted to win him back…" Amy started.
"She focused on trying to prove to Jesse how much she wanted him that she got lost in the whole thing itself. Jesse wanted her to be more than just a friend, and because Beca was afraid to lose Jesse, she subconsciously agreed to becoming more than just friends." Stacie finished.
"And because she knew Chloe would always be there for her, she ended up sticking with that decision." Aubrey added. "What are you trying to do Valentine? Emotions are running high, my best friends are in the middle of it all too."
Fate shrugged, a coy smile on her lips. She had to admit, she was quite impressed by the deductions. "Interesting theory ladies, but without proof then it is just a theory, and nothing but that."
"Well, how about this? The third act is focusing on Jesse getting the girl by proposing to her while Chloe is going back and forth with her decision of confessing her true feelings and fighting for Beca. How the hell did you know that Chloe was going to tell Beca what she really felt only to have that Treble beat her to the punch with the stupid proposal?" Aubrey demanded, her voice shrill.
And with that info, Amy couldn't help exclaim "Wait, the ginger was going to do what?"
"Is that why she's been locking herself in your room being depressed and all?" Stacie asked concerned.
Fate sighed deeply before Aubrey can answer. "You can never force what isn't, it'll only blow up in your face. That said, people often let life lead them away in whatever direction others make it sway them instead of fighting for the things that they want. They think that's easier. But do you know how much easier it would be for two people who love each other to just revel in the love they share and be honest? Love, true love, is one that sets us free, not one that binds us, and that is the difference between Chloe's love and Jesse's love. But what is Beca's love? Truth is she's been deeply hurt in the past, that's why she's afraid to be vulnerable again. But if one takes that away, take away the past that had taught her to be cautious, will she make the same choices or will she finally follow her heart?"
Aubrey, Stacie, and Amy looked at Fate perplexed at her cryptic reply. "What are you talking about?" Aubrey snapped, her voice still a little shrill.
"What happens at the end of act three?" Fate threw back and the faces of the three Bellas light up with understanding.
"Why are you doing this? Helping shorty and red?" this time it was Amy who asked.
"What destiny binds can never be torn apart. But sometimes people keep messing it up, entangling the threads, stretching them further, that when the time finally comes, sometimes it's too late." was all that Fate gave as a reply before turning around, giving some sort of excuse about checking ticket sales and promotional events with Luke.
The three Bellas walk into the auditorium only to see Beca and Jesse arguing on stage about spending some time together. The Bellas and the Trebles were on their respective sides on the stage. Aubrey, Stacie, and Amy quickly made their way to the rest of the Bellas where hanging out.
"I know Jesse. I'm just saying, we have a lot of things to do, and I'm not putting off what I need to get done for my actual job to just hang out." Beca argued.
"Yeah, I know, but I'm your fiancé Becs. You know, the one you agreed to spend the rest of your life with." Jesse argued.
"Ugh, Jesse!" Beca groaned but before she can argue that she didn't exactly gave her verbal agreement – honestly she just got swept up by the whole thing and she still hasn't given a verbal yes – one of the Trebles ran up to Jesse, whispered something in his ear, and all of a sudden the Trebles were starting to lay down the beats and Jesse starts to sing to Beca.
You're so damn pretty
If I had a type then baby it would be you
I know you're ready
If I never lied then baby you're be the truth
Bumper then decided to cut-in as Amy settled down with Aubrey and Stacie once they rejoined the rather amused Bellas with Jesse's audacity to sing about being with Beca that night.
Here's the situation
Been to every nation
Nobody's ever made me feel the way that you do
You know my motivation
Given my reputation
Please excuse me I don't mean to be rude
Aubrey made a face as soon as Bumper started grinding against Amy and before the couple could get any further, Jesse coughed loud, attention being brought back to him, taking over the song once again. Chloe simply rolled her eyes and huffed in annoyance as he started breaking down with the Trebles, something that didn't go unnoticed by Aubrey.
But tonight I'm loving you
Oh, you know
That tonight I'm loving you
Oh, you know
That tonight I'm loving
Jesse moved closer and closer to Beca as he sang, trying to loosen up the brunette when the unexpected happened. Fate watched amused from the balcony seats as she observed the little exchange. Chloe dragged both Jessica and Stacie – who were both seating the closest to her – to back her up as she cut Jesse's song short and started singing.
Loving you is not just luck or illusion
It's in the make-up of our DNA
It's not by chance we make the perfect solution
Don't fight it baby, you know that it's just destiny's way
Fate smirked, she couldn't help it. Given the nudge at the right direction, everything falls into place. Jesse looked amused as he and the Trebles backed off from where Beca stood. Beca turned around looking at Chloe with a look that was both highly entertained by Chloe's impromptu song and curious, the song Chloe was singing wasn't something familiar to the DJ. Chloe hit the chorus while Jessica and Stacie caught up with Chloe, catching on to the tune of the song.
Baby lovin' you
Comes easily to me
It's what I'm living for
It's all in the chemistry
Baby lovin' you
Is how it's meant to be
It's something that is oh so natural to me
Aubrey beamed at Chloe with pride, she and the rest of the Bellas start to back her up as she hit mid chorus. The redhead continued to sing, walking closer to Beca and reaching out to hold her hands, pulling her towards the side of the Bellas on the stage. Chloe was smiling her usual Chloe smile that Beca has missed the past few weeks they've been in New York and Beca tried her best to keep the smirk on her face to not turn into the goofy grin that Chloe always brought out.
Turn off the light, lay your head next to mine
Take it slowly, a step at a time
C'mon get close, closer to me
It's oh so natural, it's oh so easy to see
No one even noticed Fate jump from the balcony down to the orchestra seats landing down perfectly on the floor. It wasn't until Fate clasped her hands loudly that the Bellas all stopped singing, everyone turning their attention to the director.
Fate looked pleased but before things get carried away, she remembered that it was time to move along with their practice. "While I did enjoy your sort of little riff-off performance there, we have a musical that we need to practice before our one day only performance in a few weeks' time. We have to get started with act three. So places people!"
The Bellas and the Trebles quickly rushed to their sides of the stage and waited until Fate got up the stage as well. She directed their positions, explained what she wanted to happen, where each one would enter and exit, when they needed to move, where they start transitions from songs, and so on. For one scene in particular, she held out Beca's left hand and pointed at the ring. Beca quirked her eyebrow at the director trying to figure out why she was pointing at the ring,
"Mind if we used this as a prop today?" she asked the DJ. Beca slipped off the ring from her finger and handed it to Fate who in turn handed it to Jesse. "You know what you need to do Swanson." Fate had said as they continued the scene.
Rehearsals were brutal, and highly emotional. Somewhere along practicing a few specific scenes Beca's engagement ring went missing, prompting another argument between Jesse and Beca. Fate called a break as soon as Beca stormed out the auditorium followed by Jesse. When the two didn't return, Fate decided to call it a day. The Bellas and Trebles packed up and left, Aubrey barking orders at the Bellas about their private practice sessions. Chloe looked a little in distress and Stacie was quick to comfort her as they walked out.
"But you never heard me say 'yes' Jesse!" Beca argued. The two acapella teams halt in shock to find the two of them somewhere in the lobby still having a screaming match.
"What do you mean you didn't say yes?" Jesse asked, a little taken aback.
"I smiled at your movie scene dorkiness. It was so typical of you to pull off something like that, and it made me smile because I thought about how incredibly Jesse the whole thing was. But for crying out loud Jess, we just got out of college. I barely spoke to you in months!"
Jesse was about to argue back when Cynthia Rose stepped in, Chloe was a little too stunned to speak for the moment. "Maybe the two of you should cool down for now, you know, just relax and talk when you both have level heads."
With that, Jesse allowed Benji to take him away to the Trebles' bus, the Bellas standing in stunned silence as they watched Beca huff and storm out of the building saying she needed some fresh air. Emily asked if she needed company but Beca was gone before the Legacy could even finish her sentence.
Aubrey asked Stacie and Amy to keep an eye on Chloe and let her know when Beca rejoins the group at their place. She decided to stick around as she watched the Bellas leave. Once gone, Aubrey went back into the auditorium where she saw Fate standing on the stage, her back to the audience seats. It looked like she was trying to imagine and work out the set-up of the props for the upcoming scenes. Reminiscent of their first meeting, Fate was once again singing the same song she was singing before.
The dawn is fire bright
Against the city lights
The clouds are glowing now
The moon is blacking out, is blacking out
So I've been keeping my mind wide open
I've been keeping my mind wide open
Your love is a symphony
All around me
Running through me
Your love is a melody
Underneath me
Running to me
Your love is a song
"I hope you're happy. Messing with people's feelings usually end up in tragedy." Aubrey puffed as she stormed in.
Fate looked back at her unfazed. "A greater tragedy, Ms. Posen, is to live out a lie, to impose something that was never meant to be because you are afraid of going after what you want, afraid to let go of your safety, and afraid to admit that you were wrong, you weren't the one."
"Just because your name is Fate doesn't mean…" Aubrey started but Fate cut her short by raising her hand and gesturing to Aubrey to settle down.
"The red string of fate brings two people who are meant to be together, well, together. But there are people who have been hurt so much that they are afraid to pursue the happiness that awaits them, they think they're not worthy of it. Some people just need enough of a push. Others, well, they become obsessed by the thought of finding it that they write themselves into the story of others. Ms. Posen, everything we have done in acts one and two represent the past and we both know it. Act three is the present. Soon, we'll move to acts four and five, which represent the coming days that we'll be facing together."
"Don't end this in tragedy." Aubrey warned and Fate simply sighed.
"I cannot determine the end, I've tried imposing my will and what I had intended when I bound them but those three are a unique case. Only they can decide how the story will end while the audience will know none the better." Fate answered cryptically.
"What on earth are you talking about?" Aubrey asked and Fate smiled.
"Posen, Fate smiles upon the love between your friends so instead of being too concerned about the state of their love affair why don't you focus on your own. Aren't you running away from the person at the end of your string too? Because of what? Afraid that daddy dearest can't accept what you feel? Stop running away and focus on what's in front of you now. As for Beca and Chloe, sometimes we have to break, we have to be apart, so that we can be brought back together and become stronger together."
Aubrey looked at Fate quizzically as she left the stage. Who the hell is she? was all that Aubrey could think of because Fate Valentine seemed to know everything going on among all of them.
It was late at night when Beca got back to the Bellas' flat. The only reason Cynthia Rose noticed the DJ's return is that she was on the terrace talking to her wife when she heard her singing as she made her way straight into the kitchen.
No matter what I do
All I think about is you
Even when I'm with my boo
Girl you know I'm crazy over you
"Singing Dilemma huh little bit?" she said as she entered the kitchen, Beca looking at her wide eyed as she hungrily stuffed her face with the sandwich she had hastily made.
Beca downed half the contents of her glass of water before giving Cynthia Rose a look that told her everything she felt.
"Hey, it's gonna' be okay Beca. Never saw the Treble that angry before though." CR started, propping herself up the seat next to Beca on the counter. "Is it true? You never even said yes and he just assumed?"
"Well, yeah, didn't even get the chance to properly talk to him." Beca said.
"Why not?"
"I don't know." Beca answered truthfully. "Ugh, I've made such a mess!"
"Beca, it's alright. I mean he…" CR started but Beca shook her head cutting her short.
"It's not Jesse I'm worried about. Ok, well, maybe I'm a little worried about him. I'm such an idiot when it comes to feelings… Why do I have to be so incapable of sorting out my own emotions?" she whined and Cynthia Rose looked at her with intense curiosity. Beca was mumbling about her emotions, about being wrong, about being blind about something and taking someone for granted for so long and the DJ had never done this before.
"Beca, slow down, what are you talking about?" Cynthia Rose asked, although something inside her already told her she knew the answer.
"I'm not blind CR. I know that Valentine knows something, I mean have you read the script so far? The songs are also on point on how I feel, how we all feel." Beca said. She slumped down and placed her head against the cold counter. "I'm an idiot. I'm such an idiot."
"Beca, you're not an idiot. Maybe oblivious sometimes…" CR started again but she stopped when Beca looked up to her.
"You know, don't you?" Beca asked slowly and CR nodded.
"We all kind of know."
"And Chloe?" Beca pressed, her voice getting weaker.
"I think she has an idea but she doesn't let herself hope. It stings a lot, you know, if it wasn't true."
"But it is… I just don't know what to do."
Cynthia Rose looked at her friend sympathetically. "Let's start with following your heart, how about that?"
NOTES:
**Interlude Title inspired by Taylor Swift's song
**Songs in this chapter include
- Tonight I'm Loving You (Enrique Iglesias)
- Natural (S Club 7)
- Your Love is a Song (Switchfoot)
- Dilemma (Nelly ft. Kelly Rowland)