Title: Steal Your Heart

Author: heartsmash

Rating: M, for later chapters.

Disclaimer: I don't own these wonderful characters written by Kay Cannon and brought to life by Jason Moore.

Summary: What would have happened if Beca hadn't put "Don't You Forget About Me?" in the Bellas performance piece for finals? Named for the Augustana song by the same title.

Author's Notes: A big thank you for becc-gallanter for being my sounding board on this first chapter! She certainly gave me the encouragement to post it and get this next story started. I wouldn't consider this an AU piece because everything up until the Bellas perform at the finals happened. I'm changing the ending for my own twisted imagination. As always, would love to hear what you all have to say and think about this…maybe even hear where you would take this story knowing the premise?

Chapter One

Beca breathed deep as she walked into the arts and sciences building on Barden University's campus. It still hadn't lost its stench of mildew and burnt coffee despite being barely used for the summer break - somehow that was still comforting in a way to Beca.

It was the beginning to sophomore year and Beca had set up a nice schedule for herself, not allowing any classes to require her presence prior to 10 am. Her father had made some comment about her actually attending more classes this semester to which Beca had responded with a sarcastic flash of teeth.

But for her first day of classes and not to mention the first class of the day, she would be fulfilling her upper level history requirement with a class entitled Spies, Assassins, Martyrs, and Witches: Famous Trials in American History. She was hoping the two-hour lecture and one hour discussion sessions during the week would prompt to her to actually attend. Nothing was worse last year than her Introduction to Philosophy class as the teacher had sounded like he was reciting from their textbook, lacking that important engaging students in the class aspect. Beca often liked the idea of clawing her eyes out instead of attending.

She found the classroom with ease and took a seat in the back. Beca was completely unwilling to be caught dead near the front of the room during the first month of classes. It would mean an escape to the back of the room later in the semester would be looked upon with disdain and suspicion. Why set the teacher up for disappointment when she could start in the back of the room on day one?

The professor, a stout, short older gentleman was bent over the desk reviewing notes so Beca busied herself with reviewing her course schedule. She had two additional classes that day leaving her with two more on Tuesdays and Thursdays and no classes on Fridays. It made getting a solid daytime slot at the radio station easier before the weekend. Bellas rehearsals were not going to be ridiculous as the year previous. The year would be fun - Beca was determined to make it so - especially after coming back to the new school year as reigning ICCA champions. They would have two rehearsals a week unless another time was needed.

Auditions for new members were not for another two weeks but as captain, she wanted to have the returning members over for a first meeting of the year to gather some input. Luckily, her new roommate was fine with that.

Living with Amy had been fine thus far as Dr. Mitchell had pulled a string or two to get the girls in a suite with separate bedrooms and a shared living space and bathroom. Amy had a place to work on her mermaid dancing and Beca had space to blast music and make mixes.

"Hey Beca," someone said and looking up, Beca saw Benjamin Applebaum, Jesse's former roommate and Treblemakers member.

The boy took a seat next to her and pulled out a notebook, ready to be a model student. Beca found it incredibly endearing.

"Benji, it's syllabus day. You can take notes on the syllabus."

Reluctantly Benji put away his notebook and drummed on the desk top.

"Why'd you pick this class?" he asked.

"The title seemed like the class would keep me awake. You?"

"Close up magic fan. Was kind of interested in the whole witches aspect."

If it was anyone else, Beca would have laughed in their face. But Benji was such a nice person who genuinely meant what he said that Beca could appreciate him being in the class with her. At least she wouldn't have to pretend to be friends with someone to have a study partner.

Her only hesitation lay in Jesse. They hadn't spoken since the finals at Lincoln Center. There had been a good luck before the Treblemakers had performed and quick congratulations exchange between the two of them before her dad and Sheila had taken her to Serendipity 3 to celebrate. Her apology to him before she had rejoined the Bellas hadn't been enough and she really didn't know what else to say.

Beca missed her friend but if he was expecting to break down all her walls and automatically let him into a place that very few knew, then they were at an impasse. After many years and too many times of being let down, Beca had learned the important lesson that it was easier to keep others at arms length than to let them know every part of you and have the ability to break you.

The professor handed out copies of the syllabus to all students and Beca leisurely took notes that were vital to her maintaining a decent grade while Benji scribbled feverishly.

Before she knew it, the professor was dismissing them from the room and she was walking alongside Benji in the hall.

"Where are you headed next? I've got Statistics in Drake."

"I've got Comparative Literature one floor up."

Beca stopped dead in her tracks.

"Not with my dad right?" she asked fearfully. If she could keep everyone she associated with at Barden from taking a class with him, she would be a happy camper. Beca was positive that her father used pithy stories about her childhood as examples in his course and that made her want to die.

"No, Dr. Kilner," Benji replied with an easy smile.

Beca sighed audibly. "I can walk you. I've still got a half hour."

Benji stuttered something and it didn't take a genius to figure out that Jesse was in the class as well. At least Benji was looking out for her in a way.

"Enough said. I'll see you around."

Slipping on her headphones, Beca found the nearest staircase and left the arts and sciences building. In the bright morning sunlight, she thought she caught sight of messy auburn locks heading into the building. She felt a pang in her stomach that she immediately willed away.

Letting emotions take over would make her weak.

Benji found Jesse sitting on the left side of the room, lost in thought. He took a seat that his friend had saved for him.

"Hey man," Jesse said, coming out of his daze.

"First class of the day huh?"

"Yeah, these late start mornings may be a blessing or a curse. Not 100% sure yet."

Benji smiled and turned back to the front of the class and waited for Dr. Kilner. The beginning of class time passed by and the professor was late. It was seven past the hour when someone that was not Dr. Kilner rushed into the room.

"Good morning everyone, I'm Dr. Mitchell. Turns out Dr. Kilner went rock climbing in Tallulah Gorge over the weekend and fractured his femur. So as we wish him a speedy recovery, the department has split up his assigned classes for the semester and I will be taking over this section of Comp Lit. Any questions thus far?"

Benji looked over at Jesse who had slunk down in his seat a little. With Beca's father teaching the course and the inability to bolt from the room, Jesse was trapped for the next however many minutes.

"All right, here is your syllabus for this course. Ignore the class number at the top of the page as I did not have time to change it before running in here. All calendar dates are accurate however."

Benji accepted the pile from the girl in front of him. Glancing quickly at Jesse once more only confirmed that this was going to be one long class, not to mention an entire semester if them.

As soon as Dr. Mitchell dismissed them, Jesse bolted for the door and Benji scrambled to catch up. He almost had to jog when they got outside the building to keep up with Jesse's long frenzied stride.

"Man, you've got a fire lit under you," Benji teased as they headed towards the student center.

When he got no answer from Jesse or even a grunt of acknowledgement, Benji pushed further. "This wouldn't have anything to do with a five foot Bellas member whose father just taught our class?"

Jesse shot him a look but Benji looked at him passively. The comment had not meant to make him angry but simply to understand the issue for walking so quickly.

"I have a class with her. The one before Comp Lit."

Still nothing.

"Barden is a big school but not so big that you're never going to see her. Especially since you're a Treble, she's a Bella."

"Dude, drop it please. My current policy is avoid until otherwise noted."

Benji obeyed his friend and followed him into the little sandwich place that was in the student center. Over lunch they began talking Trebles strategy since the two of them were co-chairing the group - to Benji's delight and Jesse's chagrin.

"We've got three spots to fill and the Bellas have song choice for auditions. What do you think they're going to pick?"

"Whatever it is hopefully it shows off their range and some sort of arrangement ability," Jesse answered him picking at the leftover crust.

The Bellas had went with a melody of songs layered over one another at the finals - Price Tag, Give Me Everything, Just the Way You Are and We are Young. The arrangement for the Fun. piece had been incredible – multi-layered and rich. The popular music choices combined with their choreography had given them the edge to win.

Jesse had been happy for the girls but it still saddened him to know that his friendship with Beca was over. He had gotten fed up of being shut out repeatedly when he had only been there for her as a friend. Sure, he had thought of her as possibly becoming more some day but that would never happen with how Beca kept her walls up.

The loud unmistakable laughter of Cynthia Rose boomed as the girl walked into the student center with Stacie. Jesse caught her eye and gave a small nod hello. It was time for him to head to his next class, even if he had another twenty minutes to spare. He didn't want a chance meeting with Beca. Avoiding awkwardness on the first day of classes was ideal.

Benji looked at him in surprise but at also spying the two Bellas who had walked in he understood.

"I'll see you at the house," Jesse said and lifting his backpack into his shoulder headed out into the sunshine.