Face Down

A/N: So this is my first take at a story like this. Let me know what you think about it.

Ch.1: The First Time

As she finished her solo, she stood there. Waiting. No one said anything. They were all awestruck. That was possibly her best performance yet. Even Mike Chang was tearing up, though he'd never admit to it. She waited and waited for someone to say something. Nothing. Then, Mr. Shue finally started to clap for her. Everyone else soon followed. She smiled, curtsied, and took her seat next to Jesse. He smiled at her as he put his arm around her shoulder. They had been dating for a few weeks and things were going strong.

The New Directions were gearing up for Regionals and Mr. Shue seemed to think that they would only win if they practiced every day and every few weekends. Most of the club was annoyed at the idea, but Rachel was totally excited.

After the club's meeting was over, Finn met Rachel at her locker wanting to talk to her.

"Hey, Rach." He said with a smile. "Where's Jesse?" He asked noticing the absence of hair gel and overpowering sense of self- confidence that had accompanied her everywhere she goes for the last few weeks.

"He had to go meet with a few of his friends. They are planning a surprise party for someone in Vocal Adrenaline. I opted out. They kind of give me the creeps." She said.

"Oh. Well, I was wondering if you could help me with something." He said plainly.

She gave him a weird look and said, "What do you need?"

"Well, I kinda need help in Bio. If I can't raise my grade in the next few weeks, I'll be off the basketball team and then my mom might kill me." He said in one breath.

She smiled and said, "No problem. When do you wanna start?" She closed her locker waiting for an answer.

"Would it be impossible to start today? Like now?" He said with a huge smile and big puppy dog eyes.

She couldn't resist. She gave in. "You're place or mine?"

Their daily tutoring sessions seemed to be working out. Finn's grades were slowly improving. Rachel enjoyed herself, too. Not a day went by without her laughing until she cried.

They were studying osmosis when Rachel's phone rang. She reached for it excused herself as she walked into the hallway at Finn's house. Finn couldn't help, but eavesdrop.

"Hello?"

"I'm at Finn's."

"We're studying."

"He needed help."

"Jesse, it's not like that."

"I love you, not him."

"Stop it, Jesse. You don't mean that."

"Okay. I'll be right over."

She sighed and then reentered the room. Finn tried to look normal by looking at his book.

"Finn, I gotta go. Jesse wants to see me about something." She says quietly.

"Alright. So can we reconvene tomorrow?" He asked already knowing the answer.

"Well, I'll have to check. I think I have something planned for tomorrow." She said avoiding his eyes.

"Okay. Maybe some other time." He said.

She left a few minutes later. He couldn't study anymore. He was too distracted at the thought of what Jesse's problem was.

She met Jesse at the Lima Bean. He was sitting at a table in the corner waiting for her with two drinks in hand.

"Hey, babe." He said as she approached the table.

"Hey." She took her seat. Not wanting to waste time with small talk, she cut straight to the point. "So, what is your deal with Finn? I was just helping him."

Jesse took a deep breath and said, "Well, if you must know, I don't like the way he looks at you. I think he has a crush on you. I therefore do not want you hanging out with him."

She sighed, "Jesse, we're co-captains of the glee club. We can't not hang out. And besides, nothing happened. This whole tutoring thing has been purely tutoring. He hasn't tried anything. I don't expect you to just plain out trust him, but I do expect you to trust me." She said plainly.

Jesse was fuming now. "I said, 'I do NOT want you hanging out with him anymore.'"

He stood up and motioned for her to come with him. He didn't want to cause a scene. She reluctantly followed. He led her to his car and they both got in.

"I will not stop hanging out with him, Jesse. It's stupid to be like that. You're just acting so…." She was stopped by a hand. It hit her on the side of her face. She saw stars and not the ones like Barbara Streisand. She immediately started tearing up. She reached for the door handle, but was stopped once again by a hand gripping tightly on her wrist.

"You hear me, Rachel Berry. You are NOT to be seen with him again." Jesse said with force.

She didn't answer so he tightened his grip until she nodded. He released her wrist. She was scared out of her mind. She wasn't sure if she should run or just sit there.

"Listen, baby. I don't mean to be like this. I just, I love you so much. And I don't want to lose you." He said before leaning in and kissing her forehead.

Later, that day her doorbell rang. She put down the ice she had on her cheek and went to answer it. She opened the door only to find a bouquet of roses on the top step. She reached down and read the note from Jesse.