Ahoy there m' readers! This story will be eventual St. Berry, with Jesse and surprisingly Quinn trying to get them back together (it will all be explained ;) Set after regionals, but ignoring what's happened in season two. Please R&R, chapter releases will be determined by the responses I get! Enjoy!
Rachel smiled down at where her hand was linked with Finn's, and pushed open the choir room door with her other. She got halfway across the room before she stopped. She had just noticed the curly haired boy standing next to Mr Schuester, acting as if he couldn't see the glares that New Directions were giving him.
"Jesse?" Rachel asked, shaking her head in bewilderment. "Why are you here?"
Jesse raised his eyes to look at her, his expression unreadable. Mr Schuester jumped in before Jesse could answer.
"Rachel, Finn, I suggest you two take a seat." He commanded, and continued once the teenagers had sat down. "Guys, please don't over react on this. But, Jesse is rejoining New Directions."
The club began to mutter angrily, all looking confused. Jesse stepped into the centre of the room.
"Let me explain." He said, giving everyone his usual smug look. "I have been forced to return to McKinley, and trust me, I want to be here about as much as you guys want me to be here. But, I have to be here, and, I'm going to be in glee club no matter what. You guys can't stop me doing that."
"We can throw you out!" Puck muttered, causing the rest of the glee club to murmur in agreement.
"No, you can't actually." Jesse smirked at the assorted teens.
"But wait." Rachel said, still looking confused. "Shouldn't you be at UCLA now? You were a senior last year, you graduated… Unless you lied about your age too?"
"No, I didn't lie about my age. However, the classic Vocal Adrenaline tradition of failing students so that they can stay on in the club was used against me." Jesse told her, looking bitter. "So I was unfairly failed even though I had every right to pass, and had been promised a place at UCLA."
"Even if you failed, why come here?" Finn said, glaring daggers at Jesse.
"My parents decided that they liked Bali enough to go back, meaning I had to move back into my uncle's house. They would never trust me alone at their house; they barely trust each other enough to remain married. Their separate bank accounts show that." Jesse replied.
Rachel nodded. She knew about Jesse's home life. His parents were both from rich families, and had only married so that they could combine wealth and status. Ten years later they had decided they needed an heir, and luckily Jesse was born less than a year later. His parents never really cared for him or each other; his talent only meant that his debts to them for university funds would be paid back quicker.
"Ok, so we know why you're here now." Puck glared at Jesse, who just smiled back sarcastically. "But why can't we throw you out of glee club?"
"Because." Mr Schuester took over from Jesse, who stepped back graciously. "Nothing Jesse did can ban him from being here. Heartbreak isn't punishable."
"What, and neither is egging people? It was on school premises!" Finn asked angrily.
"Jesse wasn't a student here at the time of the incident." Mr Schuester explained. "It was up to his teachers at Carmel to punish him adequately. Other than having to pay a dry cleaning bill for any ruined clothes, no laws were broken."
"Only morals." Rachel said sadly, causing Finn to put a protective arm around her.
"Why can't we just say he hasn't auditioned so can't be in the club?" He asked Mr Schuester.
"Because, Finn." Jesse smirked at the tall boy. "Four national titles speak for themselves. And, I would happily audition, although, I'm sure you wouldn't want to be shown up."
Finn looked at the ground and clenched his fist. He knew Jesse was right. He felt Rachel's hand on top of his, a reassuring smile on her face. Finn managed to smile back weakly.
"Guys, I know your not happy with this arrangement, but there's nothing we can do. We just have to make the best of this situation." Mr Schuester finished.
"I agree." Rachel stood up suddenly, causing Kurt to roll his eyes. "Now that Vocal Adrenaline can't have their lead singer or their old director, due to a mistake made by members of our club." She paused to flash a smile at Quinn and Puck, who just gave her a weird look. "We will be unstoppable against them. Okay, it won't be fun, having someone around who we haven't exactly got in with in the past, but it will be worth it to win. Right guys?"
Mr Schuester nodded. "She's right. So, give our newest member a round of applause and try to make him feel welcome. Now Matt isn't here, Jesse evens up the numbers again nicely."
The club clapped slowly and sarcastically, causing Jesse to grin and grab a seat. Then Mr Schuester started the practise properly.
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Jesse walked along the familiar corridors when he heard a voice call his name.
"St. James!" It called behind him, causing him to spin round, grinning. "What are you doing back here?"
"Aw, don't I at least get a welcoming hug, Fabray?" Jesse smirked at the blonde.
"Why would I do that?" Quinn asked, eyebrows raised.
"What about our strong family bond?" Jesse replied.
"My dad has disowned me and you want to disown your parents. Meaning we aren't related at all." Quinn countered.
"Don't you just love our wonderful, extremely functional family." Jesse muttered.
Jesse's mother was the younger sister of Russell Fabray. Their father had been so happy that he could marry his youngest child off to the rich heir of the St. James family, sealing the wealth and status of both families, as well as creating useful friends. As the two richest families around, the marriage had made them the most powerful people in the town.
"So, why are you here anyway?" Quinn asked.
"I explained it all in glee. My wonderful parents went back to Bali in attempt to be even richer than they already are. Leaving me to have to come back here." Jesse kicked the locker next to him.
"Well, you better not cause any trouble. We've had enough of that already." Quinn responded as they began to walk down the hallway together.
"Me, cause trouble? Honestly, cousin, don't you know me at all?"
"That's what I'm worried about. You are related to our family after all." Quinn raised her eyebrows at Jesse.
"Just because my uncle is a dirty, rotten, lying cheat, my father is a jerk who doesn't love anyone except himself, and my mother probably has multiple suitors, who says that I'm going to cause trouble?" Jesse asked, his voice layered with sarcasm.
"Well, it does run in the family. Dirty, rotten and lying? You can tell that you're related to my father." Quinn said.
"And the multiple suitors bit makes me realise how close you are to my dear mother. Sometimes she has so many I often wonder if I'm actually my fathers son." Jesse muttered.
Quinn rolled her eyes. "No, you must be. Not only do you look a lot like my Uncle John, but you have the same 'I'm better than everyone else and I know it' demeanour and the same arrogance as well as the fact that you both have huge dreams and will do anything to get them, no matter who you hurt in the process." She countered.
"Good point. Shall we call a truce to our petty banter? We could say we were reunited by our hatred of our respective parents." Jesse said, extending his hand.
Quinn shook it. "Anyway, no causing trouble please."
"Hey, I'm not going to affect you. I'll only be provoking the giant you call Finn, although should be called Flint, as that is the tool that his equals, the cavemen, used."
"What?" Quinn asked, her cousin never failing to confuse her, as sharp as she was.
"Don't worry my superior wit isn't obvious to everyone. Let me rephrase that for you cousin. I'll only be causing trouble for Finn." Jesse spoke slowly, causing Quinn to swat him playfully.
"Don't hurt Finn. He's already been hurt before, he doesn't deserve it." She told him.
"He does when he has the solos and the girl I want." Jesse responded.
"Oh no you don't Jesse St. James! You don't do anything to Rachel and Finn's relationship!" Quinn raised her voice slightly. "I've already hurt Finn, don't you too!"
"Aw c'mon, I thought you'd be a little more supportive. I need to even up the evil count on either side of our family. Anyway, it's not as if you wont benefit." Jesse smirked.
"I don't know what you mean." Quinn replied, turning to walk away, but Jesse grabbed her arm.
"I know you love Flint." He told her, making her smile slightly. "He's like a Chihuahua to you girls, dumb but very loveable, you just want to put him in your handbag and show him off to everyone. He can be yours if I have Rachel."
"I love Finn enough to not want him to be hurt." Quinn admitted, her voice breaking slightly. "And he's not like a dumb little dog. He's kind, and he's caring and he's a great person. Unlike you."
"Work with me here, cousin. I also know you quite like Rachel, as much as you'd hate to admit it. If I dated Rachel again, you'd have a reason to talk to her, if she was kind of part of your family. And I know you want Finn, as scared as you are to hurt him. And I know you know that Rachel would be better off with me and Finn with you." Jesse said, staring at her intently.
She glared back for a few seconds before looking down in defeat, hating to hear the home truths from Jesse. She looked back up.
"You're right. " She said quietly, before adding. "But like I'm going to let anyone know I'm related to you. They'll probably egg me for being evil by association. The club hates you quite a lot you know."
"I know, they'll get over it. They can't blame me though, it's in my genetics." He winked. "So, you'll help me restore order to this pathetic club?" He asked.
"I suppose so. And I agree, our family is quite awful." Quinn replied. "And, also, its not pathetic, its an awesome club. And about this little agreement, I'm not doing anything pro- active that will hurt Finn. I'll support your cause but I don't want to have a lead role in it." Quinn told him.
"That's good enough for me. So, don't I get my welcoming hug?" Jesse smirked.
Quinn narrowed her eyes at him, before giving in and hugging her cousin. Jesse grinned. With the formidable Quinn Fabray on his side, he couldn't fail to win back his girl. And he knew the power of the Fabrays. He had half of it in his blood anyway.
Tell me what you think of this so far! I quite enjoyed writing the Jesse/ Quinn friendship, especially formulating an equally awful family for Jesse. I've got a few scenes of this planned out, but not exactly sure where it's going yet. Anyway, please review :)
