He thinks his girlfriend looks a bit ridiculous for the Teen Choice Awards, but instead he tells her she looks beautiful. Kendrick isn't there, of course. He's gotten used to her not making appearances at these things, since she's been so busy with her filming schedule. He can't help but be a bit jealous of her success, even though he knows it's well deserved. He has a starring role in a new TV show to look forward to, and things are taking off for him because of the success of the movie. He knows he should thank Kendrick when he accepts his award, but she isn't there and Camp is. Plus, he's going home with Camp and doesn't want her to be mad at him.
"Have you heard anything new about the sequel?" he asks Camp one evening.
"No," she replies, "Only rumors that Demi Lovato might be in it. And Rebel said something about filming in London."
"Maybe when Kendrick comes back from London she'll sign on too," he comments, turning his attention back to the television screen in front of them.
"I don't know if she will or not," Camp grumbles, "Does it really matter?"
"Yes, I think it does. Have you heard how successful Cups is? And how many fans want to see how Jesse and Beca's story ends? I think the public will be upset if she isn't in the movie," he says.
"Whatever," she says, "They've recast plenty of sequels that did just fine at the box office. Besides, Jesse could go for Aubrey this time," she winks, giving him a peck on the cheek.
"He'd never go for her," Skylar answers abruptly, "She's not his type, at all. And she's annoying and stuck up."
Camp narrows her eyes at him, "She's just misunderstood," she says quietly.
"I really want to read the screenplay, but I guess Kay can't write it until she knows who's going to be in the movie," he speculates.
"She could always just say that Beca went off to Los Angeles like she planned from the beginning, leaving Jesse to fall for another girl. Maybe Demi's character!" Camp smiles.
"No!" Skylar interrupts her, "Beca is Jesse's soul mate. That's the way the first movie ended. To change that would betray his character. I'm not sure I'd even want to be in the movie if Kendrick doesn't do it. Only she can play Beca."
Camp shakes her head, clearly annoyed, "Then you better hope she signs on."
Anna Kendrick returns home to Los Angeles after Into the Woods wraps later that year. Her agent persists, telling her to make a decision about Pitch Perfect 2, because she's holding up the whole process, but Anna can't seem to make up her mind.
"I'd like to read the screenplay before I commit," she tells her agent.
"There isn't one," her agent replies, "They're waiting to see if they're writing Beca Mitchell in or out. Do you expect them to have two versions of it?"
"I'll talk to Kay," Anna says.
She and Kay Cannon had become friends when she was originally cast as Beca. She calls Kay on the phone later that day.
"Hey," she tells her friend, "Sorry I'm holding up the show here."
"What?" Kay teases her, "Are you too big for my little movie now?"
"No, no, it's not that," Anna hesitates, "I was just curious as to what the storyline was going to be before I commit. You know I like to stay true to character in the things I do."
"Yeah," Kay answers, "And I admire you for that. Well, I admit I was waiting to see if you'd be in it before I wrote anything final. I mean if you're in it, I'll obviously continue Beca and Jesse's romance, and there will be lots of singing, and Rebel will be hilarious."
"Well that's a given," Anna laughs. "So I'll be doing a lot of scenes with Skylar then?"
"Yes, but you guys got on great right?" Kay asks.
"Yeah, we did. But I haven't talked to him since. Is Camp going to play Aubrey again?" Anna wonders.
"Yes, the producers say the fans want to see Aubrey and Chloe back again, so we've approached Camp and Brittany."
Anna can't stop the sigh that escapes her lips, "Won't that be awkward? Filming love scenes with Skylar while his girlfriend is watching?"
There's a long pause on Kay's end of the line as she processes this, "Awkward for who? You? It's just acting, Anna. You're professionals."
"Right," Anna says, with little enthusiasm.
"I'm not going to beg you, but please?" Kay sounds almost desperate, "The fans will be pissed if you don't do it. Not to lay on the guilt here or pat myself on the back, but I know it opened doors for you. Just think about it, ok?"
"I will, thanks Kay," Anna says, hanging up the phone. Kay is right, she's supposed to be a professional, and it's just acting. She needs to separate the character of Jesse Swanson from the man that is Skylar Astin. Besides, she and Camp had been friendly with each other, and she doesn't want to cause a problem.
Now if she could only convince herself.
It's sheer coincidence that he happens to run into her in a random coffee shop in L.A. She's sitting with Olivia Wilde, a good friend of hers, sipping her drink when he enters the shop and spots her. She doesn't notice him at first, as she and Olivia laugh over someone one of them just said, and he notices her smile. And again he can't help thinking she's beautiful. He's staring at her from across the room when she turns and looks directly at him, giving him a small wave hello. He walks over to their table.
"Hey," he says, smiling at Anna and giving a polite nod to Olivia. "Back from London?"
Her face gives away her surprise at him knowing where she's been the last few months, "Yeah," she responds, "It was amazing there. I'm hoping to get to film there again soon."
"I hear we might be filming the sequel there, at least in part," he replies, looking directly into her eyes. He leans on the table, moving closer to her, "What do you say, Becs? Care to join me?"
Her jaw drops slightly and it doesn't go unnoticed by him that her eyes flicker between his eyes and his lips for a split second before she composes herself and replies casually, "Perhaps. I haven't decided yet."
"Well, what's holding you back?" he smiles, dragging a chair over to her and sitting down, not paying a bit of attention to Olivia, who is intently watching this interaction.
"Um…well, I don't know if it's going to work with my schedule yet. That a cappella boot camp was pretty intense," she stumbles, internally cringing at her mention of the word 'camp'.
"Ah, right," he replies, "I can't forget you're in the big leagues now, and I'm just in lowly television. Won't you grace us with your presence, your highness?" he winks at her, flashing her his trademark smug smile, and she can't help but laugh.
"I'll think about it," she finally answers. It's all I think about, her subconscious whispers.
"Good," he says before adding, "Hey, give me your cell number."
"Why?" she questions.
"So I can harass you into changing your mind," he says matter-of-factly.
She gives it to him reluctantly and he stands to leave. He takes a few steps before turning around and saying, "Hey Kendrick!"
"What?" she replies.
"See you later weirdo!" And with that, he's gone.
Olivia turns to Anna, her eyebrows raised. "What the hell was that?"
"That was Skylar," she replies, "That's just how he is."
"You mean adorably sexy?" Olivia deadpans, "Must be hard to be him."
"Whatever," Anna answers, "It's not like it matters, he's with Anna Camp."
"Seriously?" Olivia shakes her head, "I do not see that working, at all. Besides, from the looks of what I just saw here, he's into you."
"Yeah right, he's like that with every girl," Anna replies.
"He didn't even look at me," Olivia points out.
"Now who's full of herself?" Anna teases, and Olivia rolls her eyes.
"I'm just saying, that there was no one else in the room that mattered to him other than you," Olivia clarifies.
"He just needs me to be in the movie," Anna says quietly.
"So do it," Olivia tells her friend. "So he's with Camp. But you'll be the one getting to kiss him a hundred times."
Her cellphone buzzes with an incoming text and she sees a message with a new number appear on her screen.
Don't you forget about me.
Maybe it won't be so bad after all.