AN: I've had this in the back burner for a while. I hope you enjoy it.

Jesse was looking at the girl of her dreams as she danced. He knew she must've had more than a few drinks to be able to dance like nobody was watching.

Jesse pulled out his phone to text Amy that he found Beca and received a reply almost instantly.

'Thank fuck!'

Stuffing his phone in his pocket, he made his way to the dance floor. It wasn't long until she noticed he was there and stopped dancing. She looked a bit confused to see him.

He leaned in to speak into her ear since the music was too loud for her to hear him. "Amy's worried about you."

She pulled her head back to look at him and ask him, "Why?" he couldn't hear her but he could read her lips.

He leaned in again close enough so she could hear him. "Because it's late and your phone is dead."

She patted her pocket and pulled her phone only then realizing that her battery was drained. "Come on, let's go back to the hotel." He placed a hand on her arm and sighed when she jerked it.

"Back off." She pushed him in the chest rather weakly.

He frowned when a random dude materialized right in front of him, shoving him aggressively. "Leave her alone, man," he slurred.

Jesse glanced at Beca who he could see had clenched her fist. He caught a hold of her arm before she threw a punch at the man that was clearly just trying to help. Without context, Jesse wouldn't deny seeming like he was bothering Beca.

He dragged her out of the dance floor before things escalated.

"What the fuck is your problem?" she questioned, pulling her arm from his reach as they exited the nightclub.

"What the fuck is my problem?" he stopped walking once they were outside. "I was worried about you that's my fucking problem!"

Fat Amy told him that Beca bailed on her and the rest of the Bellas when they went out to celebrate winning the ICCAs for the third time in a row. He couldn't go back to sleep after getting off the phone with Amy, asking him if Beca was with him.

He watched her run her fingers through her hair then walked the few steps between them when she held onto the wall puking.

He held her hair back for her and rubbed her back. "You alright?" he asked when she straightened up.

"Yeah," she sniffled.

"Come on, let's get out of here." Jesse sighed in relief when she nodded.

Hands stuffed in his pockets, Jesse occasionally glanced at Beca whose intoxication was apparent in the way she walked.

"You hungry?" he asked, clocking an open diner.

She shrugged in response.

As soon as the waitress placed the plateful of pancakes in front of him, Jesse grabbed the knife and cut the batch evenly before placing it between himself and Beca who hadn't ordered anything herself.

She looked at him in disbelief before looking out of the window.

It wasn't long until she zoned out, he couldn't help but wonder where she went. "Are you gonna get sick again?" he asked. "Then you should probably eat to soak up the alcohol," he advised when she shook her head no.

Beca sighed and reached for the knife and fork.

As they eat, Jesse found himself thinking back at the very first time they shared pancakes. It was her idea to cut them evenly even though she almost always managed to eat whatever was left of his share because she'd finish hers—he actually chewed food therefore ate at a normal pace unlike her.

Her intoxication didn't affect the speed she ate in. Beca finished eating first as usual and he let her have his share as well.

The first time they shared pancakes at a diner in the big apple was forever etched in his memory. How could he forget the night Beca Effing Mitchell serenaded him with his favorite song. He really thought he got his Hollywood ending that night.

To apologize through song was quite the brilliant move. Whatever negative feelings he had for her went out of the window by the time he threw his fist in the air, grinning like an idiot.

They kissed and at her suggestion left the venue. They walked around the city and talked a lot. At the crack of dawn, they stopped at a 24/7 diner and got breakfast before heading back to their hotel and crashing the minute they got to bed.

Jesse felt such strong nostalgia and it had only been three years. Three years of the rollercoaster that was Beca Mitchell.

Jesse was in the middle of unpacking his stuff when he heard a swift knock on the door. He smiled hearing the amused voice of Beca, "Sup, dork?"

"The roof," he grinned.

"Ugh." She grimaced at his reply.

"When d'you get here?" he wondered as he extended his arms to pull her into a hug.

"Just now," she answered, hugging him back reluctantly.

"Aw, you came to see me the minute you got here?" he figured. "I'm touched."

"Dude, we're the first people to get here. No one is back yet."

"True but you could have gone and unpacked first but you're here." He shrugged, pulling away from the hug and resumed unpacking. "Which can only mean you couldn't wait to see me," he reasoned.

"Sure, man, whatever helps you sleep at night," she said in response and tossed a stress ball of his that she picked up from one of his moving boxes up in the air before catching it.

Jesse glanced at her then smiled. She smiled back meeting his gaze but it wasn't a genuine smile, it was one of her sarcastic smirks that he hadn't seen in quite a while but knew he'd get plenty of now that they're back in Barden.

He really missed her. They talked almost every day throughout the summer over text-messages and on Face-Time and got very close. Close enough he could tell that what she just said was a lie. She was too socially awkward to admit that she missed him and that's okay. Not because he had no problem expressing his feelings, everyone else had to be.

He hoped she'd grow more comfortable around him but wasn't going to push it. He really liked her and was hopeful that she felt the same about him. The fact that she kissed him after serenading him didn't really drastically change the dynamic of their relationship. After the ICCAs they got busy with finals exams and didn't hang out. Then came summer break and they each went home, his being in Charlotte, North Carolina and hers Seattle, Washington. So, yeah, they didn't get to hang out.

"You need help?" she asked.

"Yeah, I could use some help." He nodded while scratching his head.

First month back in University was pretty chaotic for Jesse. He declared a double major last semester and so his schedule for the fall semester was pretty packed. He also had captain duties of the Trebles. He had his work cut out for him and he was thriving. Jesse liked being busy. He was always told he had too much energy as a child and that he needed to slow down. He was finally at a place in his life where being highly energetic was praised.

"How are you like this, dude?" Beca asked. "What's your secret? Are you coked up? Cause it can't be coffee, I drink a lot of coffee and I'm just as tired except my heart beats faster."

He shrugged. "I eat well. I sleep well. And, I exercise."

"And how exactly do you manage to do these things?" she questioned.

"I plan things, Beca. It's not that hard." He found her bafflement amusing.

"Yeah, but it's nerdy as fuck," she countered. "And, I don't plan stuff because I'm cool like that," she deadpanned.

"You're captain of an all-girl acapella team."

"Co-captain," she corrected.

"You're so cool," he sarcastically said.

"So cool," she echoed, snorting.

"Jesse," Luke called, coming out of his booth.

"Yeah?" he looked in his direction. "Want me to get you lunch?" he said in anticipation.

Luke's lunch orders weren't his favorite part about working at the radio station, but he tolerated it. Overall, the gig was fun, he and Beca just stacked CDs and talked about everything and anything.

"No," Luke answered to his surprise. "I wanted to see if you're free to take the night shift, Arthur is a bit ill and I don't want him germing up the booth." He grimaced.

"You want me to come and play music?" Jesse checked in surprise.

"Yeah," Luke said, weirded out by Jesse's question.

Jesse frowned, glancing at Beca. "Isn't that more of Beca's turf?" he found himself asking.

"It is," Luke confirmed. "But Beca has plans tonight," he proceeded to say, winking at Beca.

"Oh." Jesse didn't know what to say. "Um." He paused, needing a moment to wrap his mind around the implication of Luke's words. "Sure. I'll take the night shift," he shrugged, hoping to sound unbothered.

"Cool. Thanks, mate," Luke smiled at him before returning to the booth.

He could feel Beca's gaze on him so he tilted his head to look at her.

"Shut up," she was quick to say, rolling her eyes at him before he could utter a word.

"You and Luke?" he said, ignoring her words but maintaining the casual and unbothered tone.

He was very confused by the turn of the events considering the amount of flirting he and Beca did. Granted, it never went anywhere but he didn't think much of it because he really thought it was a matter of time before the little game they were playing ended when one of them made a move.

She was quiet for a moment before she spoke. "It's nothing."

"Doesn't seem like nothing."

"Well, it is. Trust me," she deadpanned, glancing at the booth.

"Are you planning on killing the guy and sacrificing him for wealth and fame?" he sarcastically asked. "If so, you might wanna find a virgin instead because you will probably end up unleashing a boy-eating-demon into the world."

"What are you going on about?" she asked in understandable confusion.

"We're definitely watching Jennifer's Body together," he concluded, instead of answering her. "You're gonna love it."

She frowned, holding his gaze. "You say that about every movie."

"And I'm right every time," he confidently said.

"Sure, bud," she mumbled.

Jesse spent the better part of his night shift thinking about Beca and Luke's date. He wasn't jealous. He was just surprised . Beca never seemed like she was interested in pursuing Luke. Sure, he'd catch her checking their handsome manager out every now and then but he never thought much of it.

He was yawning when his phone vibrated with a text from Beca.

'Let me in.'

He frowned and watched the three dots that signified she was typing. 'I'm outside the radio station. Open up.'

'Coming.' Jesse got out of his seat in the booth and paced to the door, turning the key and unlocking the door.

"Hey," he said in confusion. "What are you doing here?" he asked.

She shrugged and walked past him.

He locked the door and followed her inside, watching as she set her backpack on the no-sex desk.

"Have you been drinking?" he asked, noting how she stepped back and stumbled a little.

"Yup," she told him, pulling a bottle of what looked like whiskey.

"I'm working, Becs," he said when she walked up to him and extended her hand, offering to share the bottle.

"More for me," she mumbled and brought it to her lips. He watched her make her way to the booth and stop by the volume controller to raise the volume up a little as she nodded to the mix that was playing. "This is my mix," she noted.

"Yup," he confirmed. "I've just been playing one of your playlists," he told her. "Your beats are sick."

"Damn right they are," she grinned.

"How was your date?" he asked, watching her bring the bottle to her lips.

"Dude, you know I don't date," she told him.

"How was hanging out with Luke?" he asked instead.

"We didn't really hang out," she began saying. "I just did him a favor." She hopped on the desk and sat on it. "He asked if I could fill in for his girlfriend who usually DJs at The Garage so that he could take her out since it's their anniversary."

"I didn't know Luke had a girlfriend."

"Me neither," she said. "She's so cool. Like, cooler than Luke."

"Luke isn't cool," he scoffed.

She chuckled, "you say that because you're jealous of him."

"What is there to be jealous of? His supermodel good looks?" he asked as he walked towards her. "His amazing bone structure? His sandy blonde hair?"

He grinned, noting her amusement. "You got to DJ at The Garage and it was a favor to Luke. I'm guessing this is celebratory?" he asked, nodding at the bottle in her hand.

"Sure," she said with a shrug.

"I can have a sip in celebration," he figured, touched that she wanted to celebrate with him even if she wouldn't say the words. He took the bottle from her hand and didn't miss the way she was looking at him as he brought it to his lips. He used the back of his hand to wipe his lips as the hard liquor went down his throat.

"I hate Whiskey," he grimaced, setting the bottle down. "What?" he asked, noting how she was staring at him.

"Nothing." She hopped off the table. "Come on, let's dance. I feel like dancing." She grabbed him by the arm with her. He humored her even though he was definitely not on her level. She wasn't completely wasted but she was very buzzed and was letting her guard down. He knew what to expect from buzzed Beca. What he wasn't used to however was touchy-feelyness. If he didn't know better, he'd say she wanted him. He brushed that thought off and took her hand, grinning when she laughed as he twirled her before he dipped her.

"Okay, now you get dipped," she told him when he pulled her up.

"You sure?" he worried she'd drop him.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," she nodded and he reluctantly let her dip him. As expected she couldn't help but drop him then fell on top of him, laughing.

"Dude, you okay?" she asked, trying her best to contain her laughter.

"Uh-huh." He rested his weight on his elbows. "You?"

"I'm great," she answered, placing a hand on the floor but not getting up. She placed her free hand on his chest and leaned forward, kissing him. It took him by surprise but he immediately opened his mouth, letting her slip her tongue. He sat up when he felt her reach for his zipper as they made out and pulled away.

"What are you doing?" he asked, swallowing as he eyed her.

"I thought you wanted this."

"You thought I wanted what?" he asked.

Instead of answering him, she rolled her eyes and pulled herself up.

"You're seriously just gonna leave?" he asked in disbelief, watching her grab her backpack, and stood up. "Beca," he called. "You thought I wanted what?" he asked.

"I thought you wanted to have sex with me," she said, turning around to face him.

"On the dirty floor? Not even this bad boy." He playfully slammed his hand against the desk, smiling when he could spot a hit of a smile on Beca's lips. "Of course, I'd like to very much have sex with you, Becs. Not here, though. And definitely not while you're drunk. "

She rolled her eyes. "I'm barely buzzed."

"You're drunk and you're thinking with your lady bites."

"Gross," she muttered.

"If you wake up tomorrow and still wanna climb this." He gestured at himself. "Then come over to my place sober and I'll rock the absolute shit of your world."

She was intrigued, he could see it in her eyes.

"But I won't take advantage of you while you're inebriated and can't consent."

"You make it sound like I'm too shitfaced to know my own name," she deadpanned.

"I stand by it." He shrugged.

She let out a breath then nodded. "Fine. We'll do this tomorrow."

"Will be looking forward to it. Just make sure you come over after six-thirty. I'm gonna sleep in plus I have some errands to run and I also go workout in the afternoon." He grinned at the scowl she had on her face. "I better get back in the booth," he told her.

"Want some company? I promise I won't try to change your mind about having sex."

"Are you kidding? I'd love it if you'd stay. I was dying of boredom. I don't know how you do it, Becs." He began making his way to the booth.

"I don't feel the time pass by," she said with a shrug.

Jesse didn't expect Beca to drop by the next day. He had a tiny hope she would but wouldn't even admit it to himself because he didn't want to be disappointed. Who was he kidding? He would love to sleep with Beca. He was insanely attracted to her. The brief makeout session on the floor was all he could think about the whole day. She had very soft lips and was an excellent kisser. Even for how drunk she was, she used an appropriate amount of tongue.

He'd finished everything he had to do for the day, worked out, then went home. He ate and showered before he got comfortable in his bed and put on a movie that he quickly lost interest in since his mind seemed to favor thinking about a certain burnette.

Jesse looked up when he heard a quick knock on his bedroom door and hit the spacebar to pause. "Come on in," he said, not hiding his surprise when he saw Beca at the door.

"Benji let me into the house on his way out," she awkwardly said, locking the door.

"You came," he mumbled.

"Yup." She rubbed her arm.

He closed the lid of his laptop and set it down on the floor just as she dropped her backpack on the floor and made her way to him, not wasting time.

"This doesn't mean anything, okay?" she clarified as she climbed on his lap, saddling him. "It's just sex."

"Uh-huh." He cupped her face and leaned in just as she did.

They'd grown closer as friends so there was trust since they knew each other pretty well.

They'd flirt a lot with each other but it usually never went anywhere so there was quite a lot of unresolved tension between them.

"So good, Becs," he said, catching his breath, and held his hand up for high five. He grinned when she high-fived him then proceeded to place a peck on his cheek.

He inhaled deeply then pulled himself up to go clean up and get rid of the condom.

When he came back she was getting dressed.

"You're leaving?" he asked.

"I have a shift at the radio station. Art is still sick and someone has to take his shift."

"Okay," he mumbled, scratching the back of his head and watched her walk past him and leave the room to go use the bathroom. He wore his clothes back in the meantime.

"This was fun," she told him when she came back into the room.

"A lot of fun," he agreed, watching her pick up her backpack and wear it.

"See you around, weirdo," she smiled at him before she left.

Jesse went to bed right after she left while wondering if they'd hook up again because he really wouldn't mind.