A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed/favourite/followed. I know this was also long in coming, but my muse got really blocked and for that reason I'm not too proud of the chapter. But I would love to hear what you thought about it all the same.
Rating: T
Characters: Beca/Jesse, the rest of the Pitch Perfect cast (eventually), plus some other characters.
Warnings: Mature situations referenced and swearing.
Disclaimer: I do not own Pitch Perfect or the songs used in this fic in any way. I'm just playing with them.
Hurricanes – Chapter 8 – It's brewing
"Good morning Vicki."
Vicki Parting halted abruptly, looking back into the kitchen to see Jesse smiling at her from the breakfast nook, raising his mug to her in greeting. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion and she said icily, "Yes?"
He shrugged. "I'm just being polite. Saying good morning, hello, how are you, that kind of thing," he replied in an easy tone of voice.
Vicki decided to gather some more information on the boy staying within her home. It seemed from the video footage she had gathered that Jesse and Beca did have a good friendship – something that shocked her, because Beca, being the way she was, simply didn't have friends. But she didn't like him. He was too optimistic and relaxed. He had to be hiding something. "I am well, thank you for asking. And you?" she asked flatly, because she didn't really care.
"I'm great. I've been enjoying Boston so far. And I think tonight is going to be even better, Beca's planning to take us out to karaoke night at a place called Mindy's," Jesse informed her, taking a swig of his tea.
Vicki's nose wrinkled. Mindy's of all places. This is why she cut Beca's allowance by 70% when she was 16. Because she went to places like Mindy's – a casual bar and social watering hole full of people who would never have the hope to enter the upper echelons of society. Honestly, if her daughter had followed in her footsteps instead of being some silly dreamer, she would never have to mingle with the riff-raff.
"Ah. Yes. Well, then you'll both be out past 7pm?" she asked imperiously.
"Yes, but not for too long. Maybe 9pm? Sound good to you?" Jesse put forward, looking as submissive as he could. If he played his cards right, Vicki might be even more flexible in the future days.
"Fine. This doesn't mean I trust you."
"Understood ma'am," Jesse nodded.
Sniffing derisively, Vicki left after that.
"Wow," Jesse muttered, rolling his eyes. There was just something not right with Beca's mother. It was like someone sucked all the goodness out of her…kinda like the dementors in Harry Potter. He drained his drink and washed it out, leaving the mug in the dish rack before moving towards Beca's room. He stood in the doorway, biting his lower lip to keep from chuckling aloud. She was underneath a sheet that was bunched up around her neck and she was snoring so softly he almost couldn't hear it. Her arms were wrapped around her pillow and she looked so vulnerable and at peace.
He didn't want to wake her up, but he did it anyway.
"Sun's up, a little after twelve. Make breakfast for myself, leave the work for someone else. People say…They say that it's just a phase. They tell me to act my age. Oh yeah, well I am," Jesse sang happily as he got closer to the bed. He noticed Beca shifting, and a groan escaped her lips.
"On this perfect day, nothing's standing in my waaaay!"
"I'm about to stand in your way and give you a black eye," Beca's muffled growl broke into Jesse's singing, but he just laughed, knowing it was an idle threat. He sat next to her prone form and poked her legs gently to entice her to get up. She just grumbled and shoved a pillow over her head to block him out.
"On this perfect day, when nothing can go wrong," he continued to sing.
"It's too fucking early for this," Beca huffed, throwing her pillow this way. "Where did you get such a peppy song from?"
"It's on the soundtrack of Legally Blonde. And before you ask, yes, it's on the moviecation list," Jesse replied. "And it's not too early! It's past 8! We were up earlier yesterday."
"Yes, but we were up dancing until 10 and then I had to drive home. Forgive me for being grouchy because I wanted to sleep in," she retorted, sitting up and mussing Jesse's hair up in revenge.
Jesse just looked at her, wondering if she had truly forgot. Seeing her searching his own face, trying to figure out what he was thinking, he surmised that yes, Beca had forgotten. "Becs, you have to be at work today at 9 don't you?"
Her face paled and she murmured, "Shit. Well, that's fantastic. Thanks for reminding me Jess." In planning for his trip, Beca had completely forgotten that she did have a job to go to after all and that this time wouldn't be just about avoiding her mum and hanging around with Jesse. "Because the shop I work at is in a mall, do you want to come with for a little while?" she offered.
"Yeah, sure. It means I can get whatever groceries I need for lunch and dinner. You don't mind me making dinner before we go out tonight do you?" Jesse asked kindly, seeing Beca stressing trying to sort out what she needed to do for the day.
She lifted a brow at him. "You cook?"
"Yeah. I mean, I'm no Michelin star chef, but I can cook pasta, steak, burgers, that sort of thing. I can survive. Although, I can't bake. I tried to make my sister a cake for her birthday once and I ended up burning both attempts and having to throw out the pan I made it in," he said, laughing a little in remembrance of his failure. It had been educational. And it got Beca to smile at him in her 'you're an idiot' way.
"Surprise me. Probably best to make extra for mum though," she advised.
"Yup, sure. Now, let's git crackin', daylight's a wastin' darlin'," Jesse quipped with a Texan drawl, having to duck as Beca threw her puppy toy at him.
"Oh Beca, thank God you're here!"
"Hey Garrett, what's going on?" Beca asked her manager as she went into the music shop. Jesse had gone off to shop for groceries and take them back to the house in Beca's car and then returning to wander around the shopping centre in search of something to occupy him.
Garrett was in his mid-30's, a thin, reedy man who was friendly, but perpetually nervous. He was wringing his hands as she came around to the counter. "Tina's just called and said that she can't make it into her shift!" he cried, dismayed.
Beca fought the urge to sigh and roll her eyes. Garrett really shouldn't be surprised. Tina had done that for every one in four shifts she was supposed to have because she enjoyed hanging out with her posse of high school friends. In a way, Beca was relieved she didn't have to spend six hours with her. "So? I can work the shift alone, I've done it before," she reasoned.
Garrett shook his head rapidly. "No, today a new shipment is coming in. I need another person here and I can't stay because it's my son's game today and he gets fussy if I don't go and-"
"Take a breath boss," Beca broke in.
"And no one else can come in. I called Mike, Layla, Andy and Sam, but they're all busy or out of town on holiday. I have no one!" Garrett wailed dramatically.
'Good grief, get a grip before I get one around your neck,' Beca thought viciously. She was not up for dealing with this bullshit.
A light dinged off above her head with her sudden idea. Beca was sure of it. She tapped Garrett's shoulder and proposed a solution. "Look, I know it's against the store policy and against every sane thing ever, but I have a friend visiting me at the moment. He's a nice guy, really friendly, and he's had experience in customer service. Why don't I call him in and see if he can just hang around with me for a few hours just so he can take care of people while the new lot of music and vinyls come in?"
Garrett jumped at the chance. "You're vouching for him?"
"Yeah. 100%, but nothing will happen," Beca replied defensively. As if Jesse would be a worry.
"Then get him in and tell him I'll pay him the same hourly rate as I do for you in cash when he's done. Just write the hours in my notebook," Garrett said, looking a lot less nervous now he knew he didn't have to work the shift himself.
As her boss bolted from the shop, Beca called Jesse.
"Hey beautiful! Miss me already?"
She was never going to admit the compliment made her blush. "No, I don't. I never miss you. I just keep you around for my own entertainment."
"Ouch, right in the ego again. What's up?"
Beca hesitantly asked, "I know you're here for a vacation, but would you mind working with me at the music shop for a few hours? My boss had a freak out about another chick not rocking up so I suggested you. You okay with it?"
And that was how Jesse came to work with Beca at the music store that day.
"I can't believe that your boss is doing this."
"He's weird. He'd rather get a stranger to work than be responsible and do it himself even at the cost of family," Beca replied, not really caring. She was doing her job, marking down old Madonna albums for sale while Jesse was reading the learner manual for the touch screen cash register. "Besides, it's not like we haven't worked together before."
"Yeah, but we stack CD's, not actually sell them at Barden," he pointed out, closing the manual and starting to play around with the register to get the feel of it.
Beca snorted and said, "This isn't really that different. You'll be fine. I bet you anything you'll smile and get any girl to buy something in here."
Jesse picked up on the undertone of her voice, and he looked up, finding her jamming Madonna back into the racks more forcefully than what was necessary. "Well, yeah, gotta turn on the charm so that we make sales, make sure your boss still likes you," he mentioned, still gauging Beca's reaction.
She paused, shoulders hiking up when she tensed. It was a dead giveaway that she felt at least a small amount of possessiveness over him. For some reason, it made Jesse grin that Beca could be a little jealous over him. It stroked his ego in a way he'd never felt before. But to soothe her, he murmured quietly, "But it's a pity. The only person worthy of my charm happens to be a total movie hater."
Beca's posture eased again, and Jesse could just see the faint smile on her face as she turned to mark down some old Matchbox 20.
As it turns out, Beca's prediction was partially true. Teenage girls and young women walking past the music shop slowed and actually went in at seeing someone new and good looking manning the register. Jesse was friendly and engaging, eagerly discussing whatever music each customer was looking for. While he worked his people skills, Beca had the time to stock each new shipment of CD's and vinyls, glad, for once, that she wasn't dealing with people. When the end of the shift approached, Beca raised an eyebrow and asked him, "So, how many numbers did you get?"
With a flush, Jesse pulled three out of his pocket and promptly tore them up. "I hate it when you're right. But on the plus side, I managed to get rid of that over order of George Michael in the back," he said.
"Nice." Beca smirked, reaching over and ruffling his hair, not voicing how grateful she was to have him working there with her. She'd rather him over any of the other people she had to work with.
Garrett appeared then, looking flustered as he came to take over the shift. "Everything went well?" he questioned the pair.
"Yep. Can we go?" Beca asked, itching to get out of there.
Her boss nodded. The pair collected their things and were almost out the store when a strangled sort of sound coming from Garrett made them turn back around. "What's up man?" Jesse called.
The reedy man stared at the couple in astonishment. "How…what…this can't be right! You can't have made this much money! It's Wednesday, one of the most flat days in the week, and you've made more today than we have in the past six months!" he sputtered.
Their eyes widened and Beca informed him, "Jesse was the only one really helping people. I was rarely on the cash machine."
"You looking for a job Jesse?" Garrett burst out excitedly.
He laughed and shook his head. "Sorry dude. I'm a North Carolina boy through and through, but I was glad to help out today. Just give the cash to Beca when it comes time for the pays." He grasped Beca's hand and they walked out of the shopping centre and got into Beca's car.
"That was impressive," remarked the brunette woman.
"I was just trying to give people what they wanted," replied Jesse casually. He really didn't see what the fuss was about. He just did what he had to do.
Beca was quiet until they were almost at her house. She finally whispered, "Thanks Jesse."
"You're welcome," he said warmly.
After an awkward dinner in which Vicki joined them at the table to eat steak with a pear, rocket, spinach and blue cheese salad, Beca and Jesse headed out to Mindy's. It wasn't too far away and so they had decided to walk there. Beca was just relieved to get out of the house. Her mother had burnt her back with her blazing glare as she and Jesse chatted while they washed up. It had made her gut twist in anticipation. She hoped her mother wasn't planning something.
"You know, you don't like singing in public unless it's for Bella's, and even then, you kinda look like you don't wanna be up on stage. Why are you taking me to a karaoke night?" the treblemaker asked.
Beca shrugged in response. Dissatisfied by this, Jesse nudged her. She shoved back. So he tickled her, making her laugh uncontrollably. "Okay, okay!" she cried. "Uncle, uncle!" When Jesse released her, she replied, "I thought you'd enjoy going up on stage and making a fool of yourself while I watched."
The words were insulting, but the tone wasn't, and Jesse could see right through her. He knew what she wanted then. She just wanted to hear his voice. Fair enough, but he felt like being cheeky. "Okay, I'll sing whatever you want me to sing, and I mean, you can pick whatever I sing, but on one condition."
Beca eyed him warily. "What's the condition?"
"You have to sing just one duet with me."
"No."
"Beca-" Jesse protested, but Beca cut in over him.
"Look nerd, I'm not comfortable. I might have dedicated a song set to you for ICCA's, but no way am I comfortable enough to sing a duet with you yet," she explained flatly.
Jesse's tone became soft and pleading. "Beca, please? If not a duet, can you sing a song? Any song, I really don't care, but I want to hear you," he implored.
'Why do I always give in?' she asked herself, knowing that she was going to do it. "Okay. One song, and after you've done the first one," she bargained.
"Deal." They shook hands as they reached the bar.
Mindy's was an interesting place. It was more reminiscent of the 80's, with posters wallpapering ever section of wall behind the bar and a jukebox underneath the stairs up to the karaoke room. The decor utilised mostly wood and brass, offset by a dance floor up lit with blue and yellow lights. There were young people, old people, and people in between, all from different walks of life. It was a cheery atmosphere, which surprised Jesse.
"Everyone seems pretty cool," observed Jesse.
"Yeah, Mindy, the owner, doesn't like people fighting or macho bullshit in her bar, so everyone knows if you've got a problem with someone, you don't come into the place," Beca explained. "She's also cool with under 21's being in here, as long as they don't order alcohol."
"Sweet."
Beca led him up the stairs to where the Karaoke night was beginning. They signed their names, with Beca choosing Jesse's songs and hiding her own song choice from him. After sitting through an unbearable rendition of Whitney Houston's 'I will always love you' Jesse was up next. When the song title came up, he grinned widely. He was surprised that the aloof, reclusive at times girlfriend of his would want him to sing this. Mustering up his Treblemaker swagger, he focused on Beca, sitting on a stool towards the back of the room.
"I'm bringing sexy back
Them other boys don't know how to act
I think you're special, what's behind your back?
So turn around and I'll pick up the slack.
Dirty babe
You see these shackles
Baby I'm your slave
I'll let you whip me if I misbehave
It's just that no one makes me feel this way…"
Beca was completely amused and definitely heating up from watching Jesse strut his stuff on stage. The reason she had chosen this song was to laugh at Jesse asking her to whip him if he misbehaved, but the lyrics took on a more sensual meaning when they passed through his lips. She just sat, watching him through lowered eyelids, as he was absorbed in the music, shaking his hips and pointing at her. When he finished to loud applause and whistles, he strutted over to her and handed over the microphone, challenging her with a look. Beca took it and went off up to the stage, exaggerating the sway of her hips.
She was going to sing one of her favourites.
Been there, done that, messed around
I'm having fun, don't put me down
I'll never let you sweep me off my feet
I won't let you in again
The messages I tried to send
My information's just not going in
I'm burning bridges shore to shore
I break away from something more
I'm not turned off to love until it's cheap
Been there, done that, messed around
I'm having fun, don't put me down
I'll never let you sweep me off my feet
This time baby,
I'll be, bulletproof
This time baby,
I'll be, bulletproof
After her song, Beca returned to where Jesse sat beaming at her. She didn't realise he wanted to hear her sing that badly. While the next person got up and attempted to have a crack at Wham's 'Wake Me Up!', Beca took a sip of her lime and bitters.
"Nice work, although I should have expected that song from you," Jesse remarked proudly.
Beca just gave him a plastic smile and said lowly, "Can't wait to see you sing the next songs."
Jesse's stomach sank with the realisation that maybe the JT song was just an easy warm up and to never underestimate Beca's devious mind.
A/N: Yeah, I stopped it here because the chapter was getting too long. That, and it'll make it a point of conversation for the duo next chapter.
Like I said in the first note, I'm not too happy with this one as it's mainly a bridging chapter before the drama, but feedback is always appreciated.
