Chapter one

Beca POV

It is our annual acapella party, a sort of welcome to the year type thing.
The music was great and the drinks were even better; I was in the process of struggling with the idea of balancing my internship at Residual Heat with Bellas rehearsals, let alone finding time to spend with Jesse. Yeah, I am totally stressed right now.
I already had to lie to the girls this afternoon about where I was, it wasn't easy looking into Chloe's eyes and saying something that wasn't truthful; she is always so trusting in me.

I figured that if I get as many drinks into me as possible before heading into the masses, facing Chloe and Jesse will be so much easier.
I'm just about to swallow my fourth shot when a young, overly bubbly girl I've never seen before comes running up to me.
"Hi I'm Emily. Emily Junk. I'm the new legacy, well, I mean - because my mum was a legacy. It's so crazy. It's all happening so fas-"
Emily must've seen the look on my face as I tried to keep up with her because she took a deep breath and started again.
"Sorry. My name is Emily, you must be Beca. I heard your mash-ups at last year's ICCA's... I'm a huge fan. I really can't wait to work with you."
"Hi, yeah, I remember Chloe texting me that we got a legacy, I didn't even know that was a thing-"
Right at that moment my phone started ringing,
"Ahhh sorry do you mind if I..?"
I could see some of the energy leave Emily's face at the sound of my ringing phone, I would have to make a point of introducing myself better later in the evening.
"Yeah, sure, of course, I will just be over there somewhere." Emily's hand half-heartedly waved in the direction of the party, "Umm, talk later", and with a brief and awkward action that looked like a bow mixed a wave, she dejectedly walked away.

I looked down at my phone screen and saw Jesse's big head pulling a stupid face flash across my screen; *sigh*
I knew this moment was inevitable, there was no use putting it off any longer.
"hey babe," I answered. "I only just arrived, sorry, whereabouts are you?" I sighed again; why couldn't tonight just be over already, all I wanted to do was crawl into my bed and sleep until all this stress went away and all my problems solved themselves.
"Only just arrived?" He asked it like a question, but for some reason I felt like he already had the answer to that one. "Beca, I've watched you down like three shots already." Bingo, he already knew I was here. "This is what I'm talking about, it feels like lately all you do is avoid me, it's like you don't want to be with me anymore. We used to always spend so much time together. Now it's a struggle for you to even give me an hour of your time."
"Jesse, I'm sorry okay, it's got nothing to do with you. I'm going through a really hard time okay. You don't understand how hard it is to balance everything, the internship, the Bellas, it's like I'm part of a juggling ac-"
"The Bellas!?" I could hear the anger start to rise in his voice, he must've had a few drinks, he never, ever raises his voice. "Beca, seriously, you have given three years of your life to that group! Haven't you done enough!? Why can't you just call it quits and focus on your internship, focus on us!"
Was he seriously saying all this right now? He wanted me to quit Bellas? To be honest, I don't think he could care less about my internship, this is about me not spending enough time with him and that was it.
"Jesse, are you kidding right now?" Please tell me he is kidding. "All I need is a bit of support! Why can't you understand that? It's not forever, I just need some time to get some balance back into my life, this is all so new..." I looked over into the party, Fat Amy and Stacie seemed to be doing some form of sexualised dance to Beyonce's Countdown, whilst the rest of the girls stood back laughing. My eyes lingered on Chloe for a second longer than what they should have; the way her intense blue eyes always sparkled with happiness and curiosity, they made me feel so vulnerable and so safe at the same time; it's like she can see straight into my soul just by looking at me.
Seriously, what am I thinking? This is so wrong, I'm on the phone to my boyfriend, Chloe is my best friend, my straight best friend; the alcohol must already be getting to me. I quickly glanced away, before I could think too far on the subject.

I looked over to Cynthia-Rose who was busy watching Fat Amy's and Stacie's rambunctious display, whilst also staring at Stacie's ass; I couldn't help but chuckle.

"Beca are you even listening to me right now?" Jesse's angry voice cut me out of my daydreaming. Shit, for a second I forgot he was even there.
Jesse was an amazing guy, he is normally so supportive, I guess he has been holding on to this for a while and the drinks haven't really helped.
"Yeah, sorry I just..." I chanced another glance over in Chloe's direction and was caught off guard to see her staring back at me; concern was flooding into her perfect blue eyes.
"Look Beca", Jesse's voice took on a gentler edge, "I'm so sorry, I don't know what just came over me, I think I just need a few days to think things through and then we can talk. I don't want to fight like this." I could hear the defeat wash over his normally warm voice. I know he feels like he is losing me, whilst I feel like I'm continuously in limbo.
"Okay Jess, you're right, I think that's probably best. I don't want to fight like this either."
There was a bit of silence on the line.
"I love you Beca."
Another silence.
"I - I love you too." Was that the truth? I wasn't sure anymore. Everything was so overwhelming and confusing.
The line went dead.
I looked down and took a deep breath, contemplating whether or not I should just head back to the Bella's house.

"Hey there", a smooth gentle and calming voice sliced me from my thoughts like a dagger.
I looked up to see Chloe standing before me, her eyes following mine to the phone in my hand.