He wasn't kidding when he said he'd annoy her until she agreed to be in the movie. It started with one text per day, and then increased. She didn't usually respond to him, not only because she was busy, but also since she didn't want things to be even more awkward than they already were. She wonders if Camp knows how often her boyfriend has been talking to her.
One day, the text comes that forces her to make up her mind.
Please. It won't be the same without you. We need you.
She has to be in the movie. Her agent is right. If she's not, she'll disappoint not only Skylar and the rest of the cast, but also her fans. She doesn't want to do that.
I need you, he stops short of saying. His fingers are poised to type it when her reply appears on his screen.
Ok, I'm in.
He's thrilled, and immediately dials Camp's number. "Kendrick's in!" he blurts excitedly when she answers the phone.
"How do you know?" Camp questions.
"She just texted me," he explains.
"Oh, I didn't know you were friendly with her," Camp replies.
"Well I ran into her a few weeks ago in a coffee shop, and told her I'd bother her until she agreed to sign on," he says.
"Why didn't you mention this before?" she wonders.
"I didn't think it was a big deal. It was just a few texts," he pauses, "I can't wait to read the screenplay!"
"Yeah, ok, I gotta go," Camp says hurriedly, and he notes the shift in her tone. Before he can reply, the line goes dead.
He sighs heavily before sitting down on the sofa. He was attracted to Camp at first because he thought she was pretty, and then after that they seemed to hit it off. Initially, she was a free spirit who could make him laugh, and he never thought he'd have a shot with someone like her. She was a much more experienced actress than him, and she was tall, thin, and blonde. The beginning of their relationship was so easy, and he loved the idea of being with her. The press had a field day over it, the headlines announcing their relationship read, "A Pitch Perfect Couple" and things like that.
Lately, he feels out of step with her. He figures it's due to the fact that they're both so busy, but deep inside he knows it's more than that. Camp came with baggage, she was married after all, and he guesses he was naïve to think it would be easy.
She sends the text and then just stares at her phone for a full minute. She knows if she calls her agent and the announcement is made, she's going to have an influx of tweets and texts and phone calls, and she just isn't in the mood for it right now. She's sure that Skylar will probably tell Camp, and the news will spread quickly after that through the cast. She doesn't want to answer questions about why it took her so long to decide. She's not even sure she knows why.
The next year passes in a blur, and Anna is so busy that she barely notices the passage of time. The movie is set to start filming in the fall of 2014 and be released in 2015, exactly three years from the first film. Once the screenplay arrives, she reads it in one sitting, eager to know how Beca Mitchell's story plays out in the end.
Beca and Jesse are college seniors, and after the Bellas and Trebles had both lost last year's National competition, they decide to join forces and become one group. The movie is really funny, and they'll be filming in a lot of different locations this time. Her heart starts to pound every time she reads in the script that Beca and Jesse kiss, or cuddle, or do anything romantic whatsoever. There are no sex scenes, thankfully, as this isn't an R-rated movie, but there is a scene where they're in bed together in a partial state of dress.
This is going to be really awkward, she thinks as she boards the plane to head to the first day on set.
He doesn't know why he's so nervous. It's the same people as the last movie. And his girlfriend of two years is here with him. But still he can't shake his nerves. The first few weeks on set are spent in a cappella boot camp. The cast needs to learn how to sing together again, and they spend many hours rehearsing the musical numbers and choreography so that they actually become a group. Kendrick is friendly to him as always, and he notices the way she always seems like somewhat of a tomboy, easily fitting in with the guys, her dry wit and humor constantly making them laugh. She's always being picked up or carried by one of them, and he sometimes makes himself available for the job. She's just so tiny.
Camp only has a small role, being that her character graduated after the last movie, but every chance she gets she's on set, watching from the sidelines. He loves playing the character Jesse Swanson, because the guy is so adorably dorky and charming, you can't help but like him. He has to admit he's enjoyed being the fantasy of so many women and teenage girls because of Jesse's role in the first movie, and he makes sure to turn on the charm whenever he's around Kendrick.
"I'm trying to stay true to character," he teases her, when in reality, it's only part of it. There's just something about Anna Kendrick that he can't ignore. At least for now he can hide behind his character.
She's relieved that they start with boot camp, because it throws her in the midst of all this action, and she doesn't have to spend any alone time with Skylar, yet. Camp is always watching, and it makes her even more uncomfortable. The woman only has a cameo in the movie, so why is she here?
Of course Camp's there when she starts rehearsing her scenes with Skylar. They're only running their lines while Jason Moore tells them where to stand and how to look for each shot. The tone of her character has completely changed from the first film. This Beca Mitchell is in love, she's not hiding behind her fear and her pain. Sure, she's a little rough on the edges, but being with Jesse has softened her, and they've really grown up together. Kay has written him perfectly, and her character would be insane not to love him.
"And this is when you'd kiss," Jason tells them, interrupting her reverie.
"Want to practice?" Skylar whispers in her ear, and she suppresses a shudder.
Anna glances over at Camp, who is talking animatedly to Kay off set. She looks up at Skylar and replies, "Don't worry, we'll have plenty of chances for that." She flashes him a wink and a smile and turns around before he can say anything.
"What the hell, Skylar?" Camp says, pacing around the hotel room. "I thought you said we were going out alone tonight?"
"We were, but then Rebel said there was this really cool club and we should go check it out. Come on, everyone from the cast is going to be there," he answers, changing his shirt into something more appropriate for a night club.
She sighs, crossing her arms over her chest, "I wanted to go to that restaurant and have a nice romantic dinner with my boyfriend who I barely see!" she snaps.
"Barely see?" he questions, "You've been here watching me like a hawk since we started filming here. We're together all the time!"
"No, we're near each other all the time. You haven't spent any time with just me. You never talk to me anymore, Skylar!" she's practically whining at him.
"Talk about what?" he replies, "You know everything about me already. What more do you want? Listen, I'm going out to the club tonight, and you can come or not come. I wish you'd understand that this film is really important to me and my career. I'm not you, Anna, I'm not already in HBO series and popular films. Just let me do this and be happy."
"Fine," she snaps, "But you're going alone!" And with that, she slams the door.
He runs his hands through his hair, exasperated. Nothing makes her happy anymore. Anything he does just isn't enough. All he wants to do is go out with his friends and have a good time. Is that too much to ask from the person who is supposed to love him?
He arrives at the club a little later than everyone else, his fight with Camp delaying him a bit. He walks through the crowd until he finds the rest of the cast. He spots Rebel first, vigorously dancing with Adam in the middle of the dance floor. He sees Kendrick a moment later, almost not recognizing her at first. She's dressed in a short, tight black dress that leaves little to the imagination, and hugs all her curves perfectly. She's showing off a bit of cleavage and her hair is in loose curls. She looks stunning.
"Hey," she says as he approaches. She glances over his shoulder behind him, "Where's Camp?"
"She's not feeling well," he lies, not wanting to get into it right now. Ben walks over to them and slaps him on the back, along with Adam and David.
"Looks like you need a drink," Adam says, pointing in the direction of the bar.
Skylar gets himself a beer, and sips it while he glances around the room. Rebel is right, this place is great. The DJ played great track after great track, and the dance floor is packed. He sees Kendrick dancing with Rebel, Alexis, Ben, Michael, and Utkarsh. He can't help but stare as her hips sway to the music in that dress. He hasn't eaten anything since lunch, and his mind is already growing fuzzy with the effects of the alcohol.
He's on this third beer when he approaches her from behind and says in her ear, "I thought Beca Mitchell was DJ-ing here for a minute."
She smiles, rolling her eyes at him, "I wish I were that talented," she replies.
"You are," he says automatically, and she blushes.
"I meant with music," she smiles up at him.
"You are," he repeats, and starts singing "I got my ticket for the long way round," while drumming on the side of his cup of beer.
She laughs, "I think you're drunk already. Rough night?"
"I'm not drunk you're just beautiful," he blurts.
"Yes, you're definitely drunk," she answers, "Need me to call Camp to pick you up? Oh right, I forgot she's sick."
"She's not really sick," he slurs.
Anna stops dancing and stares at him. "Sorry, it's none of my business," she says, and she turns to walk away from him.
"Anna, wait!" he calls after her, causing a few other cast members to stare questioningly at him as he practically runs chases her out of the club.
She's standing on the sidewalk looking up at the stars when he catches up to her.
"Do you need me to call you a cab?" she asks without turning around.
"No, I'm good," he says, standing beside her. "We're friends, right?"
It's such a loaded question, and she's unsure how to answer when he continues, letting her off the hook, "We had a fight. She doesn't get how important this movie is to me, to my career. She thinks I should be spending all of my energy and focus on her right now." He turns to Anna, "I mean, you get it, don't you? That's why you're here."
She turns to look at him, "Yeah, that's why I'm here," she replies.
They stand for a moment staring at each other when a cabbie pulls up. "Need a ride?" he asks. Skylar nods, telling Anna it's probably best if he just rests up for tomorrow since they have a big day ahead of them.
And as he gets in the cab, she knows she was telling him the truth.