YOU REALLY GOT A HOLD ON ME

chapter.ten

chapter.ten

"Hi"

Beca was still gaping at him at the doorway and Jesse began to wonder whether coming over to her place was a good idea. It seemed like one at the restaurant just now. He couldn't get her out of his mind and Jesse knew he would toss and turn all night if he didn't see her again. He remembered where she lived. It wasn't that far from H&H and Jesse found himself automatically making his way there. But now standing here in the cold light of the corridor, with Beca Mitchell dressed in a bathrobe, staring up at him, Jesse wasn't so sure.

"What are you doing here?" Beca finally found her voice. She didn't sound hostile; more like incredulous. Jesse had one hand on the door frame and his fingers restlessly scratched its surface. What was he doing here? What was he thinking coming all the way here?

"I had to see you."

Beca frowned at his confession, thinking it over.

"You can see me at work on Monday."

Jesse merely shook his head.

"Not soon enough."

They were standing staring at each other, unsure what to do or say next. The impasse was broken by a loud meow. Snowball had bolted out and was now rubbing himself against Jesse's leg, purring. He made no move to pick the cat up, eyes still on Beca.

"May I come in?...umm...I thought you might be hungry..." Jesse continued, lifting the bag of food he had in his other hand. Please say something. Please say I can come in. Or not. Just say something. Please.

Beca's gaze fell to the sight of her cat being a turncoat, miaowing at Jesse's feet and then to the proffered food. It did smelled delicious. Then, embarrassingly, her tummy gave a loud rumble. Jesse was stifling his smile at the sound and Beca scowled even deeper.

"You've got egg rolls?" she asked, head cocked to one side.

"Yep." Jesse rustled through the bag. "Mushu pork, chicken chow mien, egg fried rice. I'm not sure where you are with vegetables so I got two. And fortune cookies. Extra fortune cookies. And a chilled bottle of white."

Beca nodded like he passed a test.

"Ok, you can come in," Beca said. Jesse was smiling now and Beca held up her hand imperiously stopping him in his tracks. "Just because you brought food, ok? And wine."

"Sure."

He picked up Snowball who was now on his hind legs, clawing at him and followed Beca into her apartment. She made a beeline into her bedroom, shutting the door behind her, leaving Jesse in the living room.

Beca hurriedly rifled through her drawers, pulled on her underwear, a pair of sweatpants, tshirt and hoodie. She switched on the hairdryer, drying her hair as quick as she could before brushing and braiding it. By the time she came back into the living room, Jesse had unpacked all the food and was now looking at her photographs with Snowball flopping contentedly over his shoulder.

Jesse turned round on hearing her.

"Hey, your pizza's here"

They both stared at the food on the coffee table.

"That is a LOT of food," Beca said. She made a move to her bag. "Let me get you the money for all this."

Jesse looked offended as he sat down on the sofa with Snowball snuggled up beside him. "Can you just sit down and eat? It's my treat."

"Dude, there's no need to do all this," Beca said.

"Do what?" Jesse answered distractedly. He was busy lifting the lids of the takeaway boxes and peering inside.