Jesse couldn't believe she had chosen Finn Hudson over him, again. He'd done everything right this time; he'd gone to her as soon as he was settled at his uncle's, apologized, and tried to explain why he did what he did; he'd given her time to forgive him; he'd forced himself to take it slowly as to not make her feel like he was pressuring into something she wasn't ready for. He loved her with all of his heart and yet for some reason she always chose Finn over him. He walked away from where he stood at the choir room door, hoping beyond hope that no one had noticed him, that she hadn't noticed him. His hope would not be achieved.
"Jesse, wait!" He turned and there she was, running toward him like she would in his dreams. He put on his classic smirk as she reached him, trying to hide the pain only she could cause him.
"Shouldn't you be celebrating with the rest of your team?" he asked her, brining a brilliant smile.
"We celebrate often enough that I can miss a few minutes," she answered honestly. "Besides, I wanted to talk to you."
"So you could what? Rub it in my face that you're back with Hudson? I think I'd rather not."
"I love him, Jesse. I can't help that. But I know I won't be with him forever. He'll always be a country boy; my high school sweet heart, if you will. I don't belong in Ohio but he does. People like Kurt, Blaine, you, and I belong in New York. I felt it and I know you have too. This is the last chance I have with him. One year and that's it. I'll be where I belong and he will be here."
"And what am I supposed to do during this time? Wait for you? I love you Rachel, only you. Can Finn say that?"
"No he can't and no I don't expect you to wait for me. That would be absurd of me to even ask you to do so. What I would like to do is be your friend, get to know you the way I knew Finn before he and I started dating. It'll give us a chance to really get to know each other again. Please, Jesse?" But before he could answer the oaf that was her current boyfriend jugged up to them.
"There you guys are. Everyone was starting to wonder what had happened. Last we heard was that Rachel was coming out to get you before you could get away. That was five minutes ago."
"We just needed to talk privately, Finn," Rachel said to him calmly. "He deserves to hear my reasons for choosing you."
"He hurt you, Rach."
"And you haven't hurt me, Finn? I haven't hurt him. I have forgiven him; I'd be a hypocrite if I'd forgiven you but him. He loves me, Finn. You've been in the same boat he is now when I was with him. Now I need you two to try to get along, for me?"
"I don't think I can, Rach." At this she ruled her eyes and looked at Jesse questioning him with her eyes.
"I can if he can," he told her sincerely. Sighing she turned back to Finn.
"I choose you, not him, but I still want, no need him in my life. He's my male counterpart, Finn. I didn't say you had to like him, but you do need to tolerate him."
"Fine," he answered with a groan. Rachel stood on her tips of her toes and kissed his cheek.
"Thank you," she said to him before she turned and did the same to Jesse. "Now let's get back to that celebration."
Jesse watched the couple turn and walk back to the choir room. One year, he thought. One year and I might have my second chance with the one person I love more than the theatre.