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ellswritings · 9 months ago

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The Flirting Game

Aka the three times you make him blush, and the one time you don’t.

Jesse Swanson x reader

TW: Cocky reader, romantic tension, and tooth-rotting fluff.

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊰

Barden University was never Y/N’s first choice in a college. In fact, college was never even on her radar in the first place. The girl’s original plan after graduating high school was to make it big as a singer. She could dance, sing, and act if she really wanted to. But her voice was something she’s always relied on when it came to being successful. Unfortunately, her desire to be famous and successful was shut down by her parents. Her mother being a neurosurgeon and her dad being the governor of the state of California, the were both very insistent she go to school. Even if it was just for a backup plan.

Needless to say, they won that battle.

They told her they could pay to send her to any school of her choosing, but Y/N refused. She’s always been one to do things and accomplish them based on her own merit. She applied to multiple different schools, and Barden was the first one to reach out and say she had been accepted. Does she regret not waiting before accepting their offer? Yes. Mostly because her grades got her into Columbia University, but that would’ve been way more expensive. And she’s determined to pay her way through college on her own.

The hallway outside the audition room is buzzing with nervous excitement. Y/N takes a deep breath, grateful to be out of the intense environment, but as soon as she steps into the hallway, she spots someone leaning casually against the vending machine. His dark hair is slightly tousled, and there’s a playful glint in his eyes.

“Hey,” he calls out, a smirk playing on his lips. “You were just in there, right?”

Y/N arches an eyebrow, assessing the stranger for a second. He’s cute, that much is obvious, but there’s something almost too confident in the way he’s looking at her. “Maybe,” she responds coolly. “You stalking the auditions or something?”

He chuckles, stepping away from the machine and sauntering toward her. “No, no. Just... happen to be waiting for a friend who hasn’t gone yet,” he explains kindly. “I caught a bit of your performance.”

“Oh yeah?” Y/N crosses her arms, intrigued despite herself. “And how would you rate it? Since you took the time out of your day to stand here and listen. I’m sure you have plenty of critiques.”

He grins, holding his hands up in mock surrender. “No critiques, I swear. Just... admiration.”

“Admiration,” she echoes, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “That’s cute.”

He blinks, clearly taken aback by her forwardness. “Uh, thanks? I mean, I was being serious. You’re good.”

Y/N smirks, stepping a little closer. “I know I’m good, but I don’t remember asking for your opinion.”

The guy stumbles over his words, clearly not expecting her confidence. “Right, yeah. I just thought—”

“You thought what?” she interrupts, her eyes glinting with mischief. “That you’d swoop in with some charming lines and I’d be all impressed?”

He laughs nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. “Well, when you say it like that...”

Y/N narrows her eyes playfully. “What’s your name?”

“Jesse,” he says quickly, extending his hand with a sheepish smile. “And no, I wasn’t trying to, uh, swoop in. Promise.”

She looks at his hand for a moment before shaking it. “Y/N.”

“Nice to meet you, Y/N.” He’s still holding her hand a little longer than necessary, and Y/N raises an eyebrow.

“You planning on letting go anytime soon, Jesse?”

He immediately drops her hand, flustered. “Right, sorry. So, uh, what group are you hoping to get into?”

“I’m not hoping,” she says smoothly, leaning against the wall. “I know I’m getting in.”

Jesse chuckles, clearly impressed but still trying to regain some ground. “You’ve got confidence. I like that.”

Y/N tilts her head, smirking at him. “Confidence is everything. Wouldn’t you say, Swanson.”

Jesse opens his mouth to reply, but then pauses. “Wait, how’d you know my last name?”

Y/N grins, leaning in slightly as she whispers, “You’re not the only one who likes to scout out the competition. Just the only one dumb enough to make yourself known.”

He’s visibly flustered now, and Y/N revels in how easily she’s thrown him off his game. “Touché.”

“Better luck next time,” she teases, pushing off the wall. “Catch you later, Jesse.”

She gives him a playful wink before walking away, leaving Jesse standing there, completely dumbfounded and wondering what just happened.

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊰

The empty arena is buzzing with post-initiation excitement. The Bellas, Trebles, and other a capella groups are scattered throughout the empty space, celebrating in their own ways. The air smells like cheap beer and adrenaline, but Y/N’s more entertained watching the chaos than participating in it.

She stands behind one of the many rows of concrete seats. Stars twinkle in the sky as sips her drink. A small smile makes its way onto her face as she watches two of her new acquaintances, Beca and Chloe dance together on the floor. Beca is a lot more stiff than her redhead counterpart, but at least she’s trying to show she’s interested. Suddenly, Jesse appears out of nowhere, his eyes lighting up when he spots her. He’s clearly tipsy, his steps a little uneven, but his usual cocky grin is still in place.

“Well, well, well,” he says, stumbling to a stop in front of her. “Look who’s all cool and aloof.”

Y/N arches an eyebrow, smirking. “Look who’s all drunk and sloppy.”

He lets out a laugh, running a hand through his hair. “I’m not that bad, am I?”

“You’re one wrong step away from falling down the steps,” she teases, eyeing him up and down. “But hey, I’ve seen worse.”

“Worse?” Jesse echoes, stepping a little closer, his smirk widening. “That’s not exactly reassuring.”

“I didn’t say I was trying to reassure you,” Y/N quips, taking another sip of her drink. “Maybe you need to be taken down a peg.”

Jesse grins, clearly emboldened by the alcohol. “Oh yeah? You think you’re up for that challenge?”

Y/N chuckles, stepping forward until she’s barely inches away from him. She can feel the heat radiating off his skin, and she knows she’s got him right where she wants him. “I don’t think it’d be much of a challenge, Swanson.”

Jesse’s breath catches, and for a moment, he looks like he’s about to say something clever, but Y/N beats him to it, placing her hand on his chest. “You’re cute when you’re flustered.”

“Flustered?” Jesse tries to sound offended, but his voice comes out a little too high-pitched. “I’m not flustered.”

Y/N just grins, leaning even closer, her lips hovering near his ear. “Oh, you definitely are.”

Jesse shivers, and Y/N can see the way his face flushes. He’s definitely flustered, and she’s loving every second of it.

“You’re... you’re dangerous,” he mutters, trying to compose himself. “You know that, right?”

“Dangerous?” she echoes, her voice dropping to a low, teasing tone. “Perhaps,” she smirks calmly. “Would you like to find out just how dangerous I can really be?”

Jesse’s eyes bore into hers. She can smell the beer on his breath, but it doesn’t deter her. The skin from his neck to his cheeks is completely red. She snakes her hand up and places it gently on the back of his neck, messing with the baby hairs that rest there. She can feel the heat of his skin, despite the chills that erupt on his body from her touch. He doesn’t move away from her. In fact, his lips part just slightly, showing just how desperately he wants to play with danger.

For a brief moment, she considers closing the distance between them, maybe even kissing him just to see how he’d react. But instead, she pulls back at the last second, her smirk widening as she watches him try to recover.

“Maybe next time, Swanson,” she says, giving him a playful pat on the chest before walking away, leaving him standing there, completely dumbfounded.

Jesse watches her retreat, shaking his head in disbelief. “What just happened?” he mutters to himself, still grinning.

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊰

It was late, and the campus was unusually quiet as Y/N and Jesse stepped out of the radio station, the night air cool against their skin. They’d spent the last hour bickering over their favorite songs, Jesse defending his love of 80s rock, while Y/N insisted that nothing could top early 2000s pop hits. Their conversations were always easy, filled with sarcasm and teasing, but tonight had been different—there was something in the air, some undercurrent that neither of them seemed to acknowledge.

Being in the Barden Bella’s could be difficult at some points. Especially with Aubrey Posen breathing down all of their necks. The blonde woman has a vendetta against one specific a capella group, the Treblemakers. Unfortunately, that was the group Jesse got recruited into.

During hood night, Aubrey was practically fuming when she saw how Y/N was with Jesse. In fact, she confronted the girl during rehearsals the following week, telling her if she saw anything like that again, Y/N would be out of the group. She, of course, didn’t take Aubrey’s warning very seriously. She’s already lost two girls based on this vow, and at the rate they’re currently moving at, if she gets rid of Y/N, there’s no way they’d win at Lincoln center.

For a while, she did try to avoid Jesse, just to keep the peace. But she realized it was too addicting to mess with the boy. He just made making him flustered way too easy. It’s almost addicting. So when he offers to walk her home, how could she turn down such an ample opportunity.

Jesse walked beside her, hands shoved in his jacket pockets, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. He hesitated for a second before breaking the silence. “You want me to walk you to your dorm?”

Y/N didn’t miss a beat, her lips curling into a smirk as she gave him a sidelong glance. “What’s this? Jesse Swanson, my personal bodyguard?”

He chuckled, though it came out more nervous than he intended. “Just thought I’d be a gentleman, you know? Make sure you get back safe. It’s dark out.”

“Mmm,” Y/N hummed thoughtfully, pretending to consider it. “And what do I owe you for this gallant service? A song request at the station? A mixtape of all your favorite 80s ballads?”

Jesse laughed, shaking his head. “Nah, I wouldn’t subject you to that again. How about just… your eternal gratitude?”

Y/N stopped walking abruptly, turning to face him. She crossed her arms over her chest, amusement flickering in her eyes. “Eternal gratitude, huh? That’s a pretty tall order, Swanson.”

Jesse stopped too, grinning at her, though there was a hint of nervousness in his eyes. “I’ll settle for a ‘thank you,’ maybe a smile. I’m a simple guy.”

“Oh, just a ‘thank you’? Such modesty.” Y/N stepped closer, her voice dropping to a lower, more playful tone. “And here I thought you were after something more.”

Jesse blinked, visibly caught off guard by her sudden proximity. “Uh, I—” he started, but whatever comeback he was searching for seemed to die in his throat as he stared at her.

Y/N laughed softly, clearly enjoying how easily flustered he got. She placed a hand on his arm, her touch light and teasing. “Relax, Jesse. I’m just messing with you.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Jesse muttered, shaking his head as if to snap himself out of it. “You’re too good at that, by the way.”

“Good at what?” she asked, though the mischievous glint in her eyes told him she knew exactly what he meant.

Jesse huffed, exasperated. “Getting under my skin.”

Y/N arched an eyebrow, leaning in even closer, her breath brushing against his ear. “Maybe you’re just too easy to get under.”

Jesse swallowed hard, his breath catching in his throat. “Maybe,” he murmured, though it sounded more like a concession than an actual response.

They stood like that for a beat too long—her close enough to feel the warmth radiating from his body, her lips so close to his cheek that if he turned just slightly, they’d touch. Jesse’s heart was pounding in his chest, and for a split second, he thought maybe this was the moment. But then, in true Y/N fashion, she pulled away with a grin, breaking the tension as easily as she’d created it.

“Come on, Swanson,” she said, her voice light and teasing. “Let’s get going before you make this weird.”

Jesse let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding and fell into step beside her, his brain still trying to catch up with what had just happened. “Right,” he muttered, trying to regain some semblance of composure. “Wouldn’t want things to get weird.”

But as they continued walking, Y/N couldn’t help but glance over at him every now and then, a small, amused smile tugging at her lips. She loved how easily she could fluster him—it was like a game. And the best part? Jesse seemed to enjoy playing along just as much.

“So,” she said after a few moments of silence, her tone casual, but the mischief in her eyes was unmistakable. “Does this gentlemanly escort service come with a guarantee? Like, if I get jumped, are you actually going to throw punches? Or just stand there looking pretty?”

Jesse laughed, though he couldn’t help but roll his eyes. “I’d throw punches. Maybe not good punches, but punches nonetheless.”

“Oh, great,” Y/N teased. “So I can count on you for a half-hearted swing and then some pretty-boy posturing?”

Jesse scoffed, pretending to be offended. “Pretty-boy posturing? Please. I’m more than just a pretty face, Y/N. I’ve got charm. Wit. Unmatched banter skills.”

“Uh-huh,” she replied, clearly unimpressed. “Keep telling yourself that.”

He shot her a sideways grin, eyes twinkling with mischief. “You don’t believe me?”

“Believe you?” Y/N repeated, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Oh, I believe that you think you’re charming. But as for the rest of us? Jury’s still out.”

Jesse placed a hand dramatically over his heart, feigning hurt. “Wow, way to bruise my ego, Y/N.”

“Your ego needs bruising,” she quipped. “It’s getting way too big for your head.”

They both laughed, the sound echoing across the quiet campus as they continued walking. But as they neared her dorm, the playful banter between them started to fade, replaced by something more—something neither of them seemed willing to address head-on.

Jesse slowed his pace as they reached the entrance to her building, turning to face her. “Well, here we are.”

“Here we are,” Y/N echoed, her voice softer now, the teasing edge gone.

There was a brief, awkward pause as they both stood there, neither of them quite sure how to end the night. Jesse shifted on his feet, glancing at her with that same unsure smile he always gave her when he was nervous. “So… goodnight?”

Y/N smirked, taking a step closer to him, her voice dropping to that playful tone she knew always got under his skin. “That’s it? I thought I owed you my eternal gratitude.”

Jesse blinked, caught off guard once again. “Uh, right. I mean, you could—”

She didn’t let him finish. Instead, Y/N reached out, grabbing the collar of his jacket and tugging him closer, her lips hovering just inches from his. “Thanks for walking me,” she whispered, her breath warm against his skin.

Jesse’s brain short-circuited. He could barely think, let alone speak. “Y-you’re welcome.”

Y/N grinned at how flustered he was, enjoying every second of it. But just when it seemed like she might close the distance between them, she let go of his jacket and took a step back, leaving him standing there, dumbfounded.

“Goodnight, Jesse,” she said with a wink before turning on her heel and heading inside, leaving Jesse standing there, still trying to process what had just happened.

As the door closed behind her, Jesse let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through his hair. “Damn it,” he muttered to himself, shaking his head with a small, defeated smile.

She’d won this round. Again. But something told him he wasn’t quite ready to give up the game just yet.

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊰

Backstage at Lincoln Center, the buzz of excitement was electric. The Bellas were huddled together, running through last-minute vocal exercises, but Y/N’s mind wasn’t exactly on the task at hand. Sure, she was ready to perform, confident in their setlist and her place in the group, but something else was pulling her focus tonight—Jesse.

He wasn’t being his usual goofy self. Well, not entirely. Y/N had noticed a shift in his behavior over the past couple of days. The playful glances they exchanged weren’t just playful anymore. They were heavier, more intense, and laced with something unspoken.

Aubrey surprisingly found a way to let loose. She apologized to Y/N for her rude behavior and actually gave her ‘blessing’ for their weird relationship. Not that she needed the woman’s blessing, but it was nice to know that she wouldn’t be kicked out of the group for simply playing with the poor boy.

Now, as she stands off to the side, letting out a long breath to calm her nerves, she could feel Jesse’s eyes on her again. When she glanced across the room, there he was—watching her from where he stood with the Treblemakers, leaning against the wall with that stupid grin she’d grown way too fond of.

She raised an eyebrow, and instead of backing down, Jesse pushed himself off the wall and began making his way toward her. The confidence in his stride was new, different from the easy-going, jokey guy she’d spent so much time teasing.

Y/N forced herself to focus on her breathing. It’s fine. He’s just being Jesse. But the closer he got, the more she realized that whatever this thing was between them, it was building to something—and fast.

When he finally reached her, Jesse stopped just in front of her, standing a little closer than usual. He tilted his head, giving her a once-over before meeting her gaze with a grin. “You look ready to kill it out there.”

Y/N smirked, crossing her arms over her chest. “Oh, I am. The real question is—are you ready? Because I’ve heard you singing your set, Swanson. And, I mean... it’s cute, but it’s not exactly mind-blowing.”

Jesse’s grin widened. “Oh, it’s cute, huh? Cute enough to beat you?”

Y/N raised an eyebrow, not missing the flicker of determination in his eyes. He wasn’t backing down tonight, and it was... kind of hot. “Not a chance. You forget, I don’t lose.”

Jesse stepped closer, close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from his body. His voice dropped, the playful edge still there but darker, more serious. “See, that’s where you’re wrong. Tonight... you are definitely losing.”

Y/N blinked, thrown by the boldness of his words. “Bold move,” she nods. “But let’s be real—you’re all talk.”

Jesse chuckled softly, his hand reaching out to gently tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The movement was so unexpected, so intimate, that Y/N felt her heart skip a beat. “I’m not all talk, Y/N. Not with you.”

She swallowed hard, trying to keep her cool, but the tension between them was palpable. She’d been in control of their banter for weeks, but tonight, Jesse was flipping the script, and it was starting to get to her.

“Oh yeah?” she said, keeping her voice low as she looked up at him through her lashes. “Then prove it.”

Jesse’s grin turned wicked. He leaned in slowly, his face inches from hers, his breath warm against her skin. “Careful what you wish for,” he whispered, his lips brushing her ear as he spoke.

Y/N felt a shiver run down her spine, but she refused to let him see how much he was affecting her. “I’m not scared of you, Jesse.”

“Good,” he murmured, his hand sliding down to cup her cheek, his thumb brushing over her skin with a touch that was both gentle and possessive. “Because I’ve been dying to do this since I met you.”

Before Y/N could respond, Jesse closed the distance between them, capturing her lips in a kiss that was anything but playful. It was slow, deliberate, filled with a quiet intensity that made her knees go weak. She wasn’t used to this side of him—the one that took charge, that knew exactly what he wanted and went for it without hesitation.

For a moment, Y/N let herself melt into the kiss, her hands instinctively reaching up to grip the front of his shirt. The world around them seemed to blur, the noise of the backstage chaos fading into the background. It was just them—just this moment.

But then, just as quickly as it started, Jesse pulled back, his forehead resting against hers as he caught his breath. He didn’t move away entirely, though. His hand remained on her cheek, his thumb still tracing lazy circles on her skin.

Y/N blinked, trying to process what had just happened. “That was... unexpected.”

Jesse smirked, his voice low and full of mischief. “I told you. I’m not all talk.”

Y/N narrowed her eyes, though there was a playful glint behind them. “You think one kiss is going to rattle me? Please, I’ve had better.”

Jesse chuckled softly, clearly not buying her bluff. “Sure you have.”

Y/N bit her lip, determined to regain the upper hand. She leaned in, her lips brushing against his ear as she whispered, “You’ll have to do better than that if you want to win.”

Jesse’s breath hitched, and Y/N knew she’d gotten to him. For a moment, she reveled in the victory, but then Jesse did something she wasn’t expecting—he took a step back, giving her space, but his eyes never left hers.

“You know what the best part about all of this is?” he asked, his voice calm, almost cocky.

“What?” Y/N replied, crossing her arms again, her gaze wary.

Jesse’s grin was slow, confident. “The fact that you’re going to be thinking about that kiss every time you see me. And when we’re out there performing, you won’t be able to stop thinking about it. About me.”

Y/N’s heart raced, but she forced herself to stay cool. “You really think you’ve got that kind of power over me, huh?”

Jesse stepped closer again, his eyes never leaving hers. “I don’t think it—I know it.”

For once, Y/N didn’t have a comeback. He was too confident, too sure of himself, and she hated to admit it, but he was right. That kiss had rattled her more than she’d like to admit.

Jesse’s grin softened as he reached out, his hand brushing against hers briefly before dropping back to his side. “See you out there, L/N. Try not to get too distracted.”

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Y/N standing there, her mind spinning. She watched him go, her eyes narrowing as he disappeared into the crowd of performers.

Damn him.

He was winning, and he knew it.

But Y/N wasn’t one to back down from a challenge. If Jesse thought he had her figured out, he had another thing coming. She’d play along for now, but the next round? That would be hers.

As she rejoined the Bellas, she tried to shake off the lingering heat of the moment, focusing on the competition. But as they prepared to do their group pep talk , she couldn’t help but glance over at Jesse one last time.

He caught her eye as the rest of the Trebles walk out on stage, the music starting. A knowing smirk covers his face, as he gives her a subtle wink.

Y/N rolled her eyes, but there was a smile tugging at her lips.

This wasn’t over.

Not by a long shot.

#beca mitchell #x reader #fluff #chloe beale #aubrey posen #jesse swanson #pitch perfect #imagine #a cappella

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