| When Words Fail | Jesse Swanson x Reader

A Ca-Children [2]

  "So, what do you plan on doing with your four years of college?" Jesse smiled as he crossed his arms over his chest. Claire let out a sigh as she looked into the sky.

  "Passing, mostly." She smiled, making him chuckle.

  "Well, yeah, but don't you want to have fun? Try something exotic-" He asked, but was cut off as Chloe and Aubrey waved vigorously at Claire. She threw on an awkward smile and politely waved back, grabbing Jesse's arm and rushing them both forward.

  "Hey, that's fun and exotic!" He chuckled as he pointed a thumb behind his shoulder. She scoffed and rolled her eyes.

  "We have very different ideas of fun. Those girls are too 'barbie' for me, and I seriously doubt they sing anything published after the 1990's." Claire sighed, watching as he tilted his head at her.

  "You don't like music?"

  "N-no! No, no, I love music, I just... I don't sing." She sighed. His eyes widened and a grin made it's way to his face.

  "You don't sing? What kind of cliche school girl are you if you if you don't even sing, that's against like all the rules of college." He teased, making her giggle.

  "Music speaks to me in a different way, I use it when I write. I've just never sang before." She shrugged. His eyes widened again, making the both of them giggle.

  "No, I don't believe that. How can someone never try singing?" He asked, nudging her with his elbow slightly.

  "I don't know, dude, I just haven't." She giggled as she covered her mouth with her hand.

  "Well, I love to sing. I'm going to be trying out for a spot on the Treblemakers, courtesy of my roommate." He boasted with a smile.

  "Oh, yeah? What's he like?" She asked as she glanced among the sea of college students.

  "Benji? Oh, he's uh... interesting." He chuckled, making her snicker. "Nah, he's a nice guy. He really wants to make it on the team, too, but his passion is stronger than mine. I just hope he makes it." He sighed, glancing down at the ground for a moment.

  "Yeah, I get it." Claire side smiled, reaching for her phone in her back pocket. Jesse's eyes brightened before he grabbed her wrists.

  "Hey, I just had an awesome idea. You should try out for the Bellas while I try out for the Trebles, and then we could be competing against each other in competitions. Plus, then you have some lady friends, which I know you don't already have." He smiled. Claire's eyes widened.

  "Wait, how did you know I don't have any female friends?" She asked skeptically, but she smiled as he grinned at her.

  "I work for the CIA." He whispered, making her giggle. "Come on, Claire, do it! You'd be one of those A Capella girls, I'd be one of those A Capella boys, and we'd have A Ca-Children." He smiled a wide grin, making her giggle again. He raised his eyebrows at her with a hopeful look, and she bit her lip as she scanned his face. Finally, she heaved out a heavy sigh.

  "I'll try to make it to auditions, okay? Are you happy now?" She asked with a joking smile. His grin brightened.

  "Yeah, actually. Now, come on, we have so much to explore today!" He said as he grabbed her hand and pulled her forward, making her laugh.

 

  Claire stared out the window of her dorm room, watching the puffy clouds slowly pass with the wind. She was thinking about what Jesse had said. She really had never tried singing before, so she didn't know if she was even good enough to be in an A Capella group. Pulling her laptop closer to her, she began scrolling, searching for a certain song on her playlist of music that inspired her to write. When she finally found it, she threw her headphones on and tapped the space button. As the song started, she hummed along with the words at first, but soon was able to join in singing. She bobbed her head to the music and sang along, her eyes brightening as she realized how good she sounded with the band. The door opening caught her attention and she hurried to slam her laptop shut. A girl walked in, but ignored Claire as she threw her bags onto the spare bed.

  "H-hi! I'm Claire, you're new roommate. It's nice to meet you, you must be-" She was cut off as the girl spun around. She just stared at Claire, and Claire awkwardly smiled back, not knowing what to do. The girl pushed her bags off of her bed and climbed in it, flicking the light off with her left hand. Okay, then. She's a hoot. Claire thought, but soon set her laptop on her desk and climbed into her own bed, curling deep down into the covers as if they were going to hide her from her issues. She had a decision to make, and that was if she was going to try out to be a Barden Bella after classes tomorrow.