"You're up early" Stacie said sleepily walking into the kitchen
"I feel like a kid on his first day back to school" Beca said through a mouthful of cereal "God I missed work"
"I see that. Don't drown yourself in work, you scared the hell out of us when you fainted."
"Yeah, I promise that I won't" Beca nodded
"Amy thought you were pregnant" Stacie shared with Beca hopping on the counter.
Beca choke and got into a coughing fit.
"Water, I'm dying" Beca said between coughs making Stacie get up and pour her a cup of water.
"Thanks" Beca thanked her after gulping the whole cup in one breath.
Beca exhaled getting up, she wore her messenger bag then grabbed her crutches.
"How are you gonna get there?" Stacie asked
"Amy is driving me to work" Beca said walking to the door.
"Do you have you lunch money?"
"Yes, mom" Beca answered readjusting her messenger bag.
"I think you're gonna be on time for once in your life" Stacie chuckled watching Beca unlock the door.
"Nah," Beca shook her head "We're going to stop by Starbucks" Beca added glancing at Stacie.
"Say hi to Amy for me"
"Will do"
"Jesus" Beca said under her breath watching Bryan run to catch the elevator
"Wait up"
Sighing, Beca blocked the elevator with one of the crutches.
"Thanks" Bryan said breathing heavily as he got inside. Beca smiled tightly at him then looked away, paying attention to the details on the door, that weren't that much.
"How are you?" Bryan asked
"I'm good." Beca nodded, silently praying to God that Bryan wouldn't say anything else
"Did you get the flowers I sent"
"Yeah, thanks, they're really pretty"
"It's just that I left a card with my cell number on it"
Beca ignored him, glad they reached their level.
"Can I help you with something?" Beca asked when Bryan followed her to her office.
"Yes" He leaned over.
Beca unlocked the door and got inside successfully dodging him.
"Go ahead, what can I help you with?" Beca asked putting her bag on her office after she rested the crutches against the wall.
"Would you like to have a drink with me?" Bryan asked,
Beca held back a chuckle.
"No." she simply said taking a seat.
"Why? You're single right?" How the fuck did you know?
"I don't think I owe you any explanation, kiddo. Now if you excuse me I have work to do" Beca said keeping her voice stoic as she checked her e-mail.
"Kiddo?" He said offended. "I don't think a kid could make you scream in pleasure like I did" he added confidently.
This motherfucker. Beca looked up at him.
"Is it 'cause you're like a decade older than me? Don't worry, you look young"
"This is a place of work, if you want to ask me anything, that isn't work related, you should have done so during lunch break that ended-" Beca glanced at her watch "five minutes ago, I'm gonna ask you to leave, again" She nodded curtly at the door as she glared at him.
Bryan nodded before walking out of her office.
Beca sighed sinking into her chair.
"Where are you?" Beca said to the phone
"Um, I'm busy" Amy said breathing heavily
"Who is picking up then?" Beca asked
"Listen I gotta go bye"
"Amy, wait-" Beca couldn't finish as Fat Amy hung up on her.
"I can give you a ride" Bryan said overhearing Beca.
"It's okay, you don't have to" Beca glanced at him as she scrolled down her contact list.
"I insist" he grinned.
Beca looked up. Oh what the hell.
"How about we go have that drink first" Beca smiled at him.
"Even better" he said
"I know this bar close by" Beca said walking behind him.
"What are you having?" Bryan asked when they sat by the bar
"Um, beer" Beca shrugged.
Bryan nodded and turned to the bartender to get them beer.
"So are the rumors true?" Bryan asked sipping his beer and handing her hers
"What rumors?" Beca asked confused accepting the beer
"That your ex-boyfriend pushed you down the stairs"
"Wow" Beca said before sipping her drink. "Is that what people at work think happened?"
"Yes."
"Well they got the stairs part right. I fell on my own though"
Bryan nodded.
"You're graduation this year right?" Beca asked
"Yep, finally"
"I don't know what kids these days do, but in my days we partied the hell out of the last few months, while also studying and all. What are you doing here at a bar with me? You should be out at night club making memories with your college budds" Beca said then chuckled realizing she sounded like her father.
"I'm not a kid, I'm twenty-two"
"Listen, the reason I'm with you here is to tell you that you're wasting your time, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but what happened between us, seven months ago, was a casual hook up, it shouldn't mean anything to neither of us."
Beca took a sip then continued "And it has nothing to do with our age difference"
Tilting her head to face him, Bryan leaned over and kissed her.
Beca pulled away, cupping his face.
"You didn't feel anything when I kissed you?"
"Apart from your tongue, nothing" she shook her head. "Actually it did make me notice something" Beca said letting go of his face to hold her beer.
"What?" Bryan said watching her.
"It's personal" she grimaced
"Wait let me guess," he sipped his beer not tearing his eyes off of her.
"Go ahead" Beca arched an eyebrow at him.
"When someone, aka your ex-boyfriend, kisses you feel like you're turning into jelly and you didn't feel it when I kissed you?"
Beca chuckled.
"So, am I right?"
"Partly, although I wouldn't describe it as 'turning into jelly'- it's more like a weird feeling in your stomach, I don't really know how to put it" Beca shrugged.
"I think you're talking about love"
"I guess I am" Beca said feeling weird about how easy it became to admit how she felt.
"So, I should probably stop harassing you, huh?" Bryan blew a breath resting his elbow on the bar
"Probably" Beca nodded before finishing her beer. "I'm glad we talked" Beca said putting down the empty beer.
"Me too. We should have done this a while ago"
"We should have" Beca agreed glancing at her watch.
"I should probably also drop you to your place"
"You should." Beca nodded.
"Bumper?" Jesse said unlocking the door "What are you doing here?"
"You gonna let me in or what?" Bumper asked
"Sure, I'm sorry. Come on in" Jesse said letting him in.
"Um, can I get you something?" Jesse said locking the door.
"No, I'm good" Bumper sang jumping on the couch.
Jesse nodded joining Bumper on the couch.
"What brings you here?"
"I'm here, to tell you that we're going to Atlanta, Georgia"
"We as in me and you?"
"Yeah and Benji, we're invited to go on a birthday trip," Bumper said grabbing a handful of popcorn. Jesse watched him, waiting for elaboration.
"It's that bitch that broke your heart's birthday" Bumper said as he chewed the popcorn
"Don't call her that, and why are we even invited and most importantly why are you telling me?"
"I call her whatever I want, I don't know why we're invited but it's gonna go on a private flight I'd be a moron to say no to that, and Amy asked me to asked you to come with us—It doesn't matter why" Bumper shrugged taking the beer from Jesse's hand.
"Well, I don't think I should go" Jesse said snapping out of his thoughts as he took his beer from Bumper
"Actually you must go. I'll tell you why" Bumper cleared his throat "You get back at her."
"What are talking about?" Jesse questioned confused
"You said, if I remember correctly, that she broke up with you even though she has feelings for you, because she's fucked up or something like that, right?"
"I don't recall telling you this, but yes that's true."
"You might have told Benji and I might have made him tell, but that's irrelevant—So, you have to go because you deserve a rebound and she has to see it happen."
Jesse popped popcorn into his mouth as Bumper's words sunk in.
"Hang on, you want me to go on Beca's Birthday trip, and hook up with a girl in front of her, what's the point in doing so? And she apologized-"
"You're a fucking pussy," Bumper reached for the popcorn "she apologized" he said mimicking Jesse.
"I'm not a pussy and I'm not an asshole either, I'm not going to hurt her just because she hurt me" Jesse shook his head.
"Fine, then you should just go to have fun, I mean they're getting a fucking private jet,"
"Who's they?"
"Her friends," Bumper shrugged. "They're your friends too, think of it as cool ass weekend with your female friends"
"You said they invited you, Benj and me?"
"Yep, I'm gonna have fun watching Benji creep that singer he has a crush on" Bumper chucked.
"Another reason you should go, watch out for Benji, you know how much of a weirdo that guy is"
"Your arguments are shitty" Jesse said leaning against the couch.
"You don't want to go, because you want her back yet you know that you shouldn't. I get it"
"It's not that I want her back, it's just that when we were stuck in the elevator and I had a panic attack, she helped me by kissing me and it felt right, you know, being with her feels right"
"Hold on, I think I just got my period. What the fuck are you talking about, she's a bitch, she dumped you, and now invited you to her birthday trip to get drunk and party, I say you take advantage of the situation." Bumper got up and walked to the fridge
"You're indecisive about whether you want her back or not, here's a suggestion, you go on this trip and have fun then see if she's worth it"
"That made zero sense" Jesse said watching Bumper grab a beer.
"Holly fuck, just come with us."
"Let me think about it"
"There's nothing to think about," Bumper said pulling his phone from his pocket
"Who are you texting?" Jesse narrowed his eyes as he watched Bumper sit down and he texted.
"I just told Amy that you're coming" Bumper said before bringing his beer to his mouth. "And I'm gonna make sure you hook up with some chick there,"
"Thanks for the ride" Beca said unbuckling her seat belt
"You're more than welcome" Bryan jumped from his seat to get her crutches from the backseat.
"Here" Bryan said handing Beca her crutches.
"Could you kiss me again?" Beca asked taking the crutches from him.
"I just want to double check" Beca shrugged
"Okay" Bryan nodded giving her his hand to help her out of the car.
After getting on her feet, Beca wrapped her arms around Bryan's neck as he leaned down.
Don't think about Jesse, Beca kept telling herself as she kissed Bryan,
"Boy, you're a good kisser" Beca said pulling away.
"But not as good as what's his name" he guessed stepping away. "I felt you force yourself" Bryan smiled at her as she ran a hand through her hair.
"Night, boss" Bryan saluted her as he walked backwards.
"Night" Beca said watching him started the car.
"Sorry I didn't come but you will forgive me for it because I got Bumper to get Jesse come and guess what? It was a success." Amy said first when Beca picked up.
"So, am I forgiving?" Amy asked when Beca didn't say anything
"I should get a driver" Beca said watching Bryan drive away.
"What?"
"Never mind, yeah you don't have to be sorry for leaving me, your currently disabled friend waiting for you to come pick me up, while you were busy fucking-"
"Okay, I get it, I said I'm sorry"
"I'm messing with you, so Bumper convinced Jess, huh?"
"Yes he did."
"I better started preparing my speech,"
"Call your dad, for some pointers"
"Listen, I gotta hang up, I can't be on the phone and walk at the same time"
"Sucks to be you right now,"
"Tell me about" Beca sighed
"Bye, Shawshank"
"Bye" Beca turned on her feet and made her way to the complex.
Someone please shoot me, now.
"Hi" Beca said when she made eye contact with Jesse.
"Hi" he nodded as he started to walk the parking lot's way.
"I guess you won't be needing me to scare Bryan, huh?"
God, if you're listening, I want you to know that I get it, I'm an awful human being, but you didn't have to let him see me kiss Bryan.
"Amy was supposed to drive me home but had something to do so he offered me a ride." Beca explained
"And you said thanks by kissing him" He nodded opening his car door.
Fuck me.
Beca stood watching him look at her.
"Thanks for the invite by the way, I'll be looking forward to it" He said before getting inside the car.
"How was your first day?" Stacie looked up from the papers she was reading.
Beca threw her bag on the floor before she pulled her hair in a ponytail then rested her crutches against the counter.
"Not so good" Stacie said watching Beca grab a beer from the fridge.
"What happened, Mitchell?"
"Jesse saw me kiss Bryan" Beca said as she sat facing Stacie by the kitchen table.
"Bryan the intern?" Stacie asked going through the paper in front of her.
"Yes"
"What were you doing kissing Bryan?" Stacie looked up
"I was trying something" Beca said holding her head in both hands as she rested her elbows on the table.
"Explain, I can't read thoughts"
"Amy forgot to come pick me up so Bryan offered me a ride, earlier today he asked me out. After work we went for a drink, I only went to tell him nicely that me and him won't happen in a million years"
"Okay" Stacie chuckled "Sorry keep going" Stacie added when Beca glared at her
"So, anyway he kissed me and it didn't feel right"
Stacie nodded
"when we got here I asked him to kiss me again, to see if it was just 'cause he basically attacked my face or because of the way I feel about Jesse"
"And Jesse caught you" Stacie finished
Beca buried her face in her hands
"You should have seen the way he looked at me.—what was he doing here anyway?"
"He was dropping by some dvds I asked for. Why rent when he has every movie ever made—So this means he's not coming with us to Atlanta?"
"He's still coming, call me cynical but it doesn't feel right. Something is up"
"You are cynical, thought you were working on that"
"I trying to adult, and working on my cynicism is the last thing on my mind right now, give me a break. You would have been proud of the way I handled Bryan"
Stacie got up and patted Beca on the shoulder "Well done Beca, you deserve a cookie for acting how you are supposed to act"
"I'm gonna go crawl and die in my room"
"Now you're being dramatic" Stacie watched Beca get up.
"What about dinner?" Stacie asked
"I'm not hungry" Beca shrugged trying to kneel down to grab her bag.
Stacie grabbed it for her then handed her the crutches.
"You don't mean that, is Chinese good?"
"Yeah whatever" Beca sighed walking to her room.
AN: Thank you for reading and your awesome feedback, you awesome people. I love reading your reviews.