Love, Beca

3 - Band and Bellas

A slightly tipsy Beca entered the music practice room where Jesse and Luke were already waiting for her. She had intended on only having one drink with Stacie, but one beer soon turned to two and then another followed which caused her to lose track of time.

Beca was only ten minutes late but she didn't want to risk losing any practice time. They had cut their last practice short when Aubrey demanded Beca to 'haul her butt into the auditorium' for 'urgent' extra Bellas practice after their last performance went completely tits up.

Their band used the music practice room as frequently as they could in school time - typically their free period that they all shared. At the weekends they practiced in Luke's basement, which had installed sound proofing and the instruments they needed.

Neither of her bandmates looked up at her, but she figured they weren't yet aware of her presence as the door hadn't shut behind her loud enough to alert them.

The tallest band member was sitting at the drums, twisting the drum sticks in his hands and pretending to start up a beat.

Jesse was sitting on one of the chairs, staring intently at his phone. Beca didn't need to see his screen to know he was playing candy crush.

The small brunette walked towards the guitar stand but her foot knocked against a chair in the process which caused the other brunette to snap his head up.

"There she is." Jesse said as he chucked his phone into his bag. His words made Luke look up and face the small brunette with a playful grin.

"Hi." Beca set her lips into a tight smile before she made her way over to another chair and rid of her jacket.

The two guys stared at her for a moment longer, both analysing her current mood.

"Bree said you left with Stacie." Jesse started when they had been silent for too long. "Where'd you go?"

Beca didn't really think it was any of his business, she could go whether she wanted, whenever she wanted. She didn't need his permission.

A frown settled at her lips in addition to the way her eyebrows furrowed as she assessed the snarky remark that sat at the tip of her tongue. But she quickly reminded herself that her defence mechanisms weren't needed.

He's probably just asking where you went because you totally flipped at everyone in the cafeteria earlier.

Stop being weird, you freak.

Beca didn't need to close herself off from Jesse just because she was not in the greatest mood. Jesse was her friend. She used to distance herself from him when she didn't feel like talking, but that was years ago - before they actually got to know each other.

She glanced up at her friends and grunted a response that she knew they wouldn't have been able to hear. Her feet carried her over to the guitar stand and she dumped her bags onto the floor.

"Went to Don's." She finally said once the guitar strap was around her shoulder.

"You went to a bar in the middle of the day?" Jesse asked, his tone somewhat surprised.

"Yeah?" She paused. "I don't feel like talking. Can we just...?" she didn't finish her sentence but it was enough for both of them to know what she meant.

"Well you don't seem wasted so...let's roll." Luke chuckled.

Beca was a little surprised when Jesse didn't protest, but she was glad that he didn't interrogate her anymore. She just wanted to push her thoughts to the back of her mind and let the music take over.

-

"That was fucking good." Jesse breathed. And Beca had to agree - they sounded pretty dope.