HI! Surprise. Those that follow this story I am genuinely sorry I've basically abandoned it. I am working on it now. I just feel really bad that's it's been so long without an update so I'm going to go against the norm and give what I have that's been sitting there. Just a little taste of where the story is going and to let you know that more will be coming. Again thanks. Again sorrry.

So just briefly, we ended the previous chapter with Beca and Elyse finally having an official date which ended with Beca at the DSM house.

Chapter 12: Part 1

A couple days later Beca found herself back in a Residual Heat recording studio. She sat quietly in the corner as her boss, DSM, and their manager were talking shop. Beca felt a little out of place, even in the corner, but she was soaking up all the experience. Every now and then Beca would catch herself staring at Elyse a little too long.

She reasoned with herself that she could not help it. Elyse on her own was a beautiful sight to see but when she was talking about music and Das Sound Machine she was an awe inspiring sight. She didn't really get what people said about certain people being so captivating in their element; however, seeing Elyse talk music had that feeling coming crashing around her. It was even stronger than when they would spend hours together at the cafe.

A part of Beca had to hang her head in shame when she looked back at the time they spent together and she remained clueless. Quite a few of those get-togethers could be considered a date...if you squinted. But Beca didn't want to spend too much time thinking about how clueless she was. I might as well call myself Cher.

When Elyse had everything set and moved to entering the soundproof room to record, Beca caught her eye quickly. The little smirk she received almost made Beca smile. She had to play it cooler than that though so she looked somewhere else. Beca forced her brain to get in producer mode and not get distracted by what she was seeing. Over the next hour Beca mainly had her eyes closed to focus on what she was hearing instead. The bare essentials was the same as how The Bellas got a performance number down. However, Das Sound Machine was more precise and loud.

Beca had a good view of what her boss was doing at the board and DSM in the booth. She knew that it was part of her job to help but she wasn't comfortable interrupting her boss just yet. They were flowing well on their own anyway. Elyse had a knack for instantly honing in on what was not working within the group. Beca saw how completely different acapella singing is when it's being recorded. She strained her neck to see the mixing board better. Her boss did what he did well.

After a while Beca was feeling too anxious to continue sitting so far away so she had gradually moved her way closer to the mixing board. She hovered as quietly as possible behind her boss, both eyeing the mixing and the singing group in the booth.

Her focus was solely on the different gauges and dials that she jumped in surprise when her boss suddenly hit a button to his left and barked, "Stop." Beca curled into herself and took a big step back, her eyes flicking to DSM to see them stutter to a stop.

"What is it?" Elyse asked.

"Something's off in that transition. It's too jumpy." Her boss offered lazily.

"Jumpy?" Beca could hear from her tone that Elyse was tense.

Her boss waved his hand dismissively. "Yeah, it's too sudden, sounds off, but don't worry we'll make it better." He casts his eyes over the mixing board. "We can just cut that song out all together, it's not important. Oh- hold on." He says while picking up his ringing phone. After a few seconds he's out of his chair with a vague hand gesture to the room.

When he's completely out of the room Beca's eyes snap over to the booth. Elyse looks frustrated and the rest of DSM seem to try to give her as much space as they can in the small room. Thinking quickly on her feet, Beca hits the intercom button she saw her boss use. "That usually means it's an important call. When he does the-" She informs the group, mimicking his gesture. "But I think it sounded good." She tries to offer an encouraging smile to Elyse. It's barely received. There's some light murmuring in the booth in their language which doesn't put Beca at ease. She's suppose to be assisting so...with a steadying breath she pushes the button again. "How about singing between those last two songs again?"

All of Das Sound Machine's eyes are on her and she stands her ground against the urge to look away. It's the final head nod from Elyse that gets the group to be brought back into formation. Beca stays where she is as the group goes through the measures. She can almost see the way the song was laid out on her computer. There's a very big difference from hearing over a dozen voices harmonize the sounds than mixing those tones digitally. She's almost back in her zone, deep in her head, as she picks the sounds apart. As the next song is brought in she watches the individuals in the group bring her idea to fruition. It's just after the point that her boss stopped them that Beca does the same.

"Okay, that's good. Yeah, I hear it. Okay, so we'll need a tenor to switch 4 bars early into Auf Unz. There's just not as much power coming through. Or...leave the tenor and change the bass line earlier." Beca rattles off like she would with the Bellas, however, being at work brings her back to reality. Her eyes pass over the varying looks she gets from DSM however and locks onto those deep blue ones she's come to love looking at.

Beca can't read Elyse's emotion since she's in Kommissar mode but she absolutely refuses to ramble any further. After a bit, DSM collectively look to Elyse for her final say. "Kris, take the next melody at this line." Elyse instructs while writing something on their music sheets. A dark haired man at the outer grouping nods while going over his new assignment. "Again." Then just like that DSM flawlessly start up where they began the last time. Beca immerses herself in the sound and mentally watches it play like she's looking at her computer. A pleased smile crosses her face when the transition is smoother.

She looks up happily, kind of hoping to see Elyse show some sort of enjoyment as well, but the group just sings on. Beca is glad she's helped, like really it's her passion, but for some reason she would have liked a smile from Elyse. The idea is silly so Beca shakes it off.

"It looks like it worked itself out." Beca is startled by her boss' words behind her. She quickly moves a step away so he can slide back into his seat as if he didn't walk out. A small part is telling her to say what she did but the words freeze in her throat. She idles by his side and tries not to be awkward about it. Beca is sure she's failed at that.

TBC... (: