Perfect Timing and a Perky Redhead

Chapter 1

I can do this, Beca thought to herself. She checked her great grandfather's watch once more just to make sure it wasn't a fluke like last time. However, the watch continued to count down from one hour, twenty three minutes, and fourteen seconds left until it was time. The brunette checked her outfit once more in the mirror, enjoying the way it showed off some of her tattoos as well as some skin. She wanted to impress the person she was fated to meet, but not appear like she knew it was about to happen. I'm meeting my soul mate today, Beca excitedly thought to herself.

The watch that adorned her wrist was given to her when she was eleven, the last time she would ever see her great grandfather. He explained that the watch had been passed down throughout family, and would skip a few generations to the ones who would more desperately need it. The watch, once worn by the owner, would count down until the second the owner met their soul mate. Of course, young Beca was skeptical, but she loved her great grandpa with all of her heart and was inclined to believe what he said.

The man was a marine and had married her great grandmother merely a week after meeting her. He explained to young Beca that the watch indicated when he met her, and he did not want to waste a second without her, especially because he was about to be shipped out to fight in the war. Beca had always adored the story, but never knew about the watch until that conversation.

The older man handed Beca the watch and said "Please Becs, just wear it for your grandpa, alright? It'll help you like it helped me."

"Pinky promise?" young Beca replied.

The older man had chuckled to himself and wrapped his large pinky finger around Beca's small one. "Pinky promise. Now give me a hug, squirt." The older man embraced Beca, and fought back tears. His father had given him the watch previously, and it had been the last time he saw his father. He knew his time was coming rapidly, and that this was the last time he'd see his precious great granddaughter again for a long, long time.

"I love you grandpa!" Beca squealed into the man's shoulder.

"Love you too, Beca."

Beca missed her great grandpa dearly, and that added to the nervousness she felt today as the watch counted down. She was sitting at her computer mixing her fears away when her father barged into the room. He frowned at his daughter.

"Beca," Mr. Mitchell stated, "Shouldn't you be in class?"

"I'm applying my philosophical question to math class as well. So far, the results are the same: it does still suck even when I'm not at class," Beca retorted monotonously. She so did not need another lecture from her father about his disapproval of her passion of producing and making music, especially on today of all days.

Mr. Mitchell sighed. "Beca…"

"I'm going to the activities fair," Beca's roommate, Kimmy Jin, responded. The quiet, standoffish roommate also did not want to hear the debate between father and daughter once more.

"Me too!" Beca jumped at any chance to leave her father's presence. "You know, with my super good friend, Kimmy Jin."

Kimmy Jin looked back at Beca and rolled her eyes, but remained quiet. Before Mr. Mitchell could finish his sentence, Beca was already out the door and making her way to the activities fair. As she walked quickly away, she smiled to herself. Time to meet you, whoever you are…

Twenty three minutes and fourteen seconds remained.

Beca was walking around, browsing the possible clubs. However, her mind couldn't focus. She wanted to find a decent group to join to fulfill her father's bargain, but mostly she was looking at faces wondering which one would be that of the person she would fall in love with.

What if it's another fluke? Beca worriedly considered to herself. Once before, when she was sixteen, she had been on her way to a giant high school party that had the three high schools from her district in attendance. The watch had counted down to sixteen minutes, but then she was hit by another car a block away from the massive party. She was alright, but required stitches (and a new car) and couldn't make it to the party. When Beca had looked at her watch once more, it had reset and added years and months to the date.

She had been so frustrated that day that she snapped at anyone who attempted to comfort her. Everyone thought it was her injuries, or her car, but no one could suspect the truth. Beca had actually been excited to meet her soul mate, and was very strongly irritated that she could not. No one knew about the truth of her watch because Beca knew how unrealistic it could be. Nonetheless, she put full faith in her great grandfather's word. He never broke it.

After a failed DJ booth (how many 'deaf Jews' attended Barden anyway?), and an interesting meeting with an entertaining blonde woman, Beca checked her watch once more. Two minutes, fifty three seconds.

Beca's heart was pounding loudly. She was so distracted that she ran directly into someone. She rebounded quiet fiercely off of the solid body and looked to see a boy with a goofy grin on his face. Beca vaguely remembered him being the boy singing "Carry on my Wayward Son" to her when she first arrived at Barden University. "Hey," he said casually.

Beca forced out a small smile and kept walking in a random direction. Struck with a sudden thought, she double checked her watch.

Forty five seconds.

Okay, goofy grin boy isn't it Beca thought to herself.

She walked slightly faster, looking around constantly. Would it be a frat boy? Oh please, no. How about a swimmer boy in a speedo? Better, but still… What about –

"Hi there! Would you be interested in trying out for the Barden Bellas?"

Beca looked up to the sound of a perky voice calling her attention and made contact with piercing blue eyes, contrasting perfectly with long, curly, red hair.

Beca lifted an eyebrow, and then she heard it.

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

Beca looked down to her wrist and saw the watch flashing. The countdown had stopped. It finally had hit zero. Beca froze and tensed as she realized exactly what that meant.

Perky, blue eyed, red headed, girl, was Beca's soul mate.

"I…You…uh…I got to go," Beca rushed out, and then sprinted away from the Barden Bella.

Chloe frowned slightly. "That was kind of strange," the red head muttered.

Aubrey looked at the quickly retreating girl. "She seemed a little too alternative for our group anyways, Chloe."

Chloe shrugged. She looked over and smirked at Aubrey, "I bet I could still get her to try out."

Aubrey let out a short laugh. "Good luck finding her. She's a fast runner."

Beca ran out of sight of the red head and turned to a secluded corner of a building. She tried to catch her breath and steady her thoughts.

Well, I'm sure this will be an interesting story…