Getting the role had been tough, but she was glad that she'd be making her Broadway debut. She was on Broadway; living, breathing, Broadway.
She brushed through her hair, pining it into pin curls so that she could put on her wig. The wig was heavy, but the weight reminded her that she was really doing this. She was going to be a star. She looked into the mirror as half-hour was called. Her wig looked almost identical to her own hair: long brown tresses that reached way past her shoulders, but was slightly shorter, and it wouldn't fall out of the do that it was sporting when she was dancing.
She was just about finished putting rouge on her cheeks when a Laura, the costumer from Manchester, knocked on her door and entered with Rachel's corset on a hanger.
Rachel smiled at the petite blonde as she took off her robe to allow Laura to help her into her costume. She laced Rachel up tightly and Rachel took slow and steady breaths. Once she was lacing her into the iconic red dress that belonged to her character, another knock was heard on the door.
"Come in!" she called.
Stan the security guard came in holding a bouquet of brilliant white roses. Rachel's eyes immediately lit up as she saw the beautiful arrangement.
"Who're the from?" She asked excitedly.
"The man wouldn't tell me his name, but maybe he said something in the card."
Stan left the room and Laura looked at Rachel.
"Well?" She said. "Go on! Open it."
Rachel opened up the envelope and pulled out the folded up piece of paper. She unfolded the card, and immediately, gold star shaped confetti fell out. She looked inside and all that was there was a gold star sticker. One of the ones she'd used in high school.
"There's no name." Maybe it was from her fathers. Maybe it was from Kurt and Blaine. Maybe it was from Jake! The prospect of her boyfriend sending her white roses was cliché and almost too obvious for Jake to do, but he had his moments.
"Come help me, I never really got the hang of putting on false eyelashes."
When five minutes were called, Rachel was already pacing backstage. She wouldn't be onstage for a while after the show started, but she couldn't wait idly in her dressing room waiting for her turn to take the spotlight. She peaked out from the tiny gap in the curtains. She saw her fathers, Kurt, Blaine, Jake, and Jesse—wait, Jesse?
He was sitting a good few rows behind her family and friends, and he was scowling at her boyfriend. He was in the center of the theatre, and her family hadn't noticed him. Rachel silently thanked whatever God there was. He was right were he'd promised to be.
Kurt, her dads, and Blaine were all buzzing with excitement. Jake was sitting in his seat, checking his phone, and looking rather bored.
So what if the professional basketball player didn't love the theatre? She didn't particularly love basketball, yet he still loved her.
The lights began to dim, and Rachel stepped away from the curtains allowing the boys to get into place for the first song. The orchestra began to play, and the boys began to sing.
Once she was called out to sing "It's a Fine Life," her nerves had completely subsided, and she was ready to take her very first Broadway audience by storm.
Soon she was ready to join the young boys and to sing "I'd Do Anything."
As she had no little siblings of her own, she'd developed a wonderful big sister relationship with the little boy, David, who played Oliver.
"So, 'ow's it go then Dodger? It's all 'bowin' and 'ats off..." Rachel said, making her entrance.
The song had everybody laughing and smiling in the crowd.
"'Ere now, Oliver, you just copy Dodger and I'll help you out with the words, all right? So it's "I'll do anything—'"
She took David's hands in hers. It was unscripted, but he seemed really nervous, and she thought that it might calm him down.
"I'll do anything."
"For you dear—"
"For you dear, anything."
"For you mean—"
"For you mean everything to me."
"Ah, that's lovely!" Rachel said with a smile.
"I know that
I'd go anywhere
For your smile, anywhere—
For your smile, everywhere
I'd see!"
The song ended with a perfect "anything for you!"
Once the scene shifted, Rachel was buzzing with excitement. She left the stage, calmly waiting for her next entrance.
Once she got the cue to come out once again to begin the second act, she had completely forgotten that her current boyfriend was sitting a few rows away from her first love.
Jack Mitchell—also known as Bill Sykes—pushed her to the ground, "punching" her in the stomach.
He walked away, and the first few chords of "As Long As He Needs Me" began to play.
Before she knew it, it was time for her final bow. She heard the voices of Kurt, Blaine, and her fathers cheering louder than anybody else's. Jake was clapping, but she could tell that he was only doing it because everybody else was. Her eyes nested on Jesse, who was barely visible (due to the fact that he was a few rows back). He was beaming, and the small amount of light that shined on the first few rows of people illuminated his tear-stricken face. He looked so ridiculously proud of her. She gave him a smile, as beaming as his own.
The entire cast joined in to once again sing the final few notes of "I'd Do Anything" before they all left the stage to get ready for their cast party.
When Rachel was out of her corset, she dressed in a tight black dress, 6½ inch red platforms (beauty is pain, she reminded herself), and a diamond-studded ring on her forefinger. She pulled her hair out of the pin curls, running her fingers through it, separating the curls apart. Her chocolate colored hair fell to the middle of her back. She'd grown it out, as well as her bangs since the last time that she'd seen Jesse. And there it was. She was thinking about Jesse again. Why, though? She had a boyfriend who loved her very, very much, who was waiting for her to emerge, and she was thinking about a boy she hadn't seen since high school? For all she knew, he was married with children! She expunged that thought quickly from her mind.
Rachel left the theatre and signed as many playbills as people could thrust into her face. She met the cast, their families, and some press at the bar down the block. Sitting down at the bar with her boyfriend, she ordered a Heineken, while Jake opted instead on bourbon. He was in the middle of telling her a ridiculously unfunny joke, though she seemed to find it hilarious, when Jesse came up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder.
"Jesse? What're you doing here?" She asked.
"Rachel," Jake started. "Who is this?"
"Jesse." He said shaking Jake's hand. "I'm Jesse St. James and to answer your question, Rachel, Kurt invited me. He said that since we're adults, we should start over. He told me to join you guys."
"Jesse." She said once again, unable to say anything more.
"I'm Jake, her boyfriend."
"Jake Matthew. I know you. Yeah, my ex-girlfriend was a big Knicks fan. I'm sure she'll be jealous to know that I met you."
Rachel cleared her throat and began to play with her long hair obsessive-compulsively.
"Rachel Berry." Jesse said, directing his attention the beautiful woman sitting in front of him. "Your performance was flawed. You lacked Shani Wallis' emotional depth…but you're talented."
Rachel chuckled and smiled down at her beer before looking up at him. Her fear had melted away.
"Hey! Don't talk to my girlfriend that way! She didn't lack emotional…um…whatever that means…"
"It's okay, sweetheart. It was a joke." She said, placing her hand on her boyfriend's toned shoulder. "That was the first thing he ever said to me. And if he really thought it, he wouldn't have said it to my face."
"Is that so, Rachel?"
"Yeah. It is. I happen to know that when you heard me sing for the first time, my mother had to buy you a pack of tissues. She wasn't even crying."
"Well, she was a little too shocked to begin crying, thank you very much."
"Three hours, Jesse?"
"Can I have a beer, please?" He asked the bartender, changing the subject. Rachel let out a loud laugh, not like the short chuckles that she always used when Jake said something funny. "Have you been speaking to Shelby? Are close?" He said, taking a sip of his own beer.
"We're definitely trying to be. She's been my vocal coach for the past year. She would have come to the party, but Beth is sick, and she went home to relieve the poor babysitter."
Even in the dim light of the room, Rachel's twinkling eyes entranced Jesse.
"I'm confused." Said Jake, making his presence known once again. "How do you know each other?"
"We dated in high school." Said Jesse. "I was the lead of her rival glee choir. My coach was the surrogate for her fathers. It started out as me dating her so that her mother could meet her, despite the fact that she'd signed a legal contract saying that she'd not be legally able to meet Rachel until she was 18. Then things got messed up, and I was a complete asshole to her."
Rachel was blushing, and Jake had a look on his face that Rachel couldn't quite place.
"I'm actually—I've got to go." Said Jesse as he'd finished his beer. "Goodbye, Rachel. It was nice to meet you, Jake."
"Bye."
"Bye, Jess." Said Rachel. He held out his hand to her and she took it. When their fingers touched, it was like magic. Rachel didn't remember feeling that way with anybody. He squeezed her hand once before letting it go.
Rachel made small talk with press and Kurt kept hugging her, telling her how amazing she was.
Jake shut the door to their shared apartment before he went over to Rachel and began to kiss her neck. Hesitant at first, she gave in and turned around to face her boyfriend.
Soon enough, she was lying in their bed, wearing a huge t-shirt, and looking at her boyfriend's sleeping form.
He was attractive, and she'd admit to having a crush on him the second that she saw him. The twist was (unlike a certain high school ex-fiancé) that he felt the same way about her.
She'd walked into MSG to watch the Knicks play with her friend Sophia. Sophie had always been a big basketball fan, and when her boyfriend bailed on her, she'd opted to take her best friend instead.
They walked into the courtside seats and sat down. Rachel knew that she had to be polite and to watch the game respectfully.
The game began, and she locked eyes with one of the starters. He was tall—maybe 6 ½ feet. His milky complexion worked well with his short, sandy locks. His clear blue eyes sparkled from far away and he smiled at her. His perfect, pearly white teeth shone brightly.
He'd scored 15 points in the first half. During halftime, he walked up to Rachel.
"I have to see you again." His voice was soft, deep, and velvety.
"What an opening line!" She laughed. "Do you use it often?"
"Only when it's necessary." He retorted with a glowing smile.
"I'll wait here. Meet me after the game?"
And so she waited. The Knicks had won 62-33.
They'd walked from the Garden to his apartment and they slept together. Rachel was no stranger to one-night stands. When she was in college, a few boys had told her they'd call her, and she'd never hear from them again. The next morning, she knew something was different. They spent the day together, regaling the other with their life stories. He called her the next day, and the two were officially a couple. Rachel was soon cast with minor role after minor role in off Broadway productions.
When she was cast as Nancy, She knew she'd finally made it. Jake was so proud of her. He told her that he loved her, making Rachel feel slightly uncomfortable. Something about his declaration didn't quite seem genuine.
To this day, Rachel was unsure if Jake had ever meant saying that he loved her. She was hesitant to say that she loved him back because it seemed to her that every boy she'd said it to, something went horribly wrong.
She knew that he was mad she'd left out her debacle with Jesse, though he would deny it. She'd told him everything about Finn about all her other boyfriends, one-night stands, and lovers, and he'd done the same. She'd only left out her tryst with that boyfriend because she was positive that wound would never heal.
She looked over at the clock. 8:00 AM. She hopped out of bed, put on a bra, underwear, and a pair of shorts and walked down the block to the newspaper stand.
On her way home, she read the review.
Oliver! Glorious Oliver!
I have nothing but positive words to describe my experience watching last night's revival cast of Oliver. Every single cast member was phenomenal, and had me wanting more. David Michael was superb! His sweet soprano brought me nearly to tears and wondering myself, where is love? My dear friend Jack Mitchell had me hating him as he pushed his Nancy to the ground.
The real star here was Rachel Berry, a Broadway newcomer. She brought the house down. There was not a single eye dry as she belted out "As Long As He Needs Me." Is she perhaps the next Patti LuPone, Bernadette Peters, or Lea Salonga? Do I smell a Tony?
Mike Riddle has really outdone himself. Five stars!
The article ended.
Rachel had tears running down her face as she entered the apartment. She grabbed a pair of scissors, cut out the short article, and placed it into a frame that she found lying in her closet. She started the coffee pot when she heard her phone buzz.
She was so excited about the article that she didn't even notice that she had 5 missed calls and 15 text messages.
Sophie: DID YOU SEE THE ARTICLE? OMG RACH!
Kurt: It was practically a love letter to you. You were so great!
The text messages went on and on. Some were from her fathers, some from other friends and relatives. One caught her off guard.
555-1234: I told you it was inevitable.
She didn't have to call back the number to know who sent her that text message, and it was the only one that she replied to.
Jesse…how did you get my number?
555-1234: Kurt gave it to me last night. I told him that I would want to congratulate you personally, so he gave it to me. How'd you know it was me?
Well, you weren't exactly subtle…the whole "inevitable" thing.
She quickly threw her phone on the couch when she heard Jake's footsteps.
"Hey, honey." He said, kissing her cheek before pouring himself a cup of coffee.
She handed him the article before walking into the bathroom to take her shower. She washed away the lingering sweat from the previous night, and her wrong thoughts about another man. But not just another man, Jesse. The one man she hadn't told her boyfriend about. The only man she'd thought on and off about for years. The only man she'd ever reconsidered giving a second chance. The only man she'd ever truly been in love with. Yes, she loved Jake, but she'd only ever been in love with Jesse.
She turned off the water and threw on her towel. Changing, she walked out of her bedroom to find her boyfriend eating a bowl of cereal on the couch.
"No food outside the kitchen." She said as she walked into the kitchen.
"It's okay. I'm done." He said giving her a quick kiss on the cheek, and the bowl full of unfinished cheerios. "I have to go." He grabbed his jacket and walked out of the apartment, leaving Rachel to her thoughts.
Why was she thinking about Jesse so strongly again? What was so special about this time? So what if she'd seen him for the first time in 5 years? So what if she'd actually spoken to him face to face? So what if when he'd walked up to her, her stomach twisted into tiny knots, she felt like she was about to throw up, and her heart sped up? Oh god.
Jesse walked through the streets of the big city. The may air was warm against his skin. It was easily 10:00 at night, and the bright lights of Time Square were glowing as he stopped in a Starbucks. As he exited the store with his coffee in hand, his phone began to ring.
"Hey, Jess."
"Hi, Elizabeth."
"How's NYC? Big enough for you?"
"You're hysterical." He flirted. "Actually, it's amazing. I've never felt more at home."
"Aw, c'mon. I love Chicago."
"I do to! But it's something about the call of the stage…the bright lights…the…people."
"Okay, if all's well…I just called because I wanted to see how you're doing. Any estimation as to when you're coming home? I miss you…"
"I miss you to Elizabeth. No…I think I need to stay here a while longer. I really just need these few days to myself."
"Okay. I guess I'll see you in a few days."
"Bye."
"Bye."
Elizabeth Hansen had been his best friend for years. He'd met her whilst attending Tisch, back when he was in college. She was a freshman when he was a sophomore, and they'd hit it off immediately. She was a very talented performer. She could dance, sing, and act almost to perfection. She wasn't the most talented person he'd ever met. She'd lacked emotional depth and she used her vibrato far too much, but she had natural talent.
After she had been cast as Eponine in their school's production in his senior year, Jesse couldn't stop making connections and comparisons to the one woman he believed would be the best Eponine ever. In a very weird way, Elizabeth was much like Rachel, physically at least. Her dark hair flipped behind her, and her eyes twinkled in any possible light. She was driven, and passionate, but Jesse thought—no, knew—that she lacked something. She wasn't feeling the character. She was singing it as one would in a concert, impeccably for the lack of actual training she had, but without a feel for the character. It came to him right then, and there, while he was sitting on the glowing red stairs in the middle of Time Square. The one thing missing from Elizabeth was that she wasn't Rachel.
Jesse had spent the last 7 years wondering why he wasn't pushing a relationship with her. He'd spent the last year wondering why he was so much more critical of her than any other person.
It didn't help that two months later, he'd started sleeping with her. She was good in bed, clearly not a virgin, but she wasn't passionate. When she belted out "On My Own" a few weeks after, any possible passion that she held onstage was diminished. She couldn't deliver the passion in the song because she knew that she had her Marius. It wasn't fair. He'd wanted a compatible partner performance wise. She was sub par for all of the qualifications.
They'd been together on and off for the better part of three years. She was there if he needed a night in bed after a paper or exam. He was there when her boyfriend had dumped her. They were there for each other when they were merely horny or drunk. In the time that they'd been sleeping together, they were mostly monogamous. If the other had a boyfriend or girlfriend, then they had the freedom to do whatever they wanted. Otherwise, it wasn't fair.
After a while, he'd gotten tired of Elizabeth. She was very self absorbed. Unlike Rachel, she truly believed that she was the best person in the world. Rachel only let people believe that she was, because she was so insecure about what other people thought, that she felt like liking herself was the only way to ensure that she'd always have a fan. What she didn't count on was that even years after they'd broken up, Jesse was still her #1 fan.
Who was the Jake character anyway? He was a professional basketball player! What was he doing going after a woman who's love for the theatre was greater than the love for the man she was sleeping with.
Jesse kicked a stone on the sidewalk and began the 15-block walk to the hotel.
"They what?"
"They want me to move to Miami…" Said Jake. He'd been offered a spot as point guard for the Miami Heat.
"Are you going to?"
"I don't know…do you not want me to?"
"Of course not! I want what's best for you, but if it involves moving that far away, then we can't be together."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"I can't just get up and move, Jake!" Yelled Rachel. "I'm not some teacher or lawyer or doctor, that could allow me just to relocate somewhere else! I'm an actress. I have to appear on stage every night. The show just started and I can't leave so early into the production. Do you know how hard it is for new actresses like me to find work? What is there in Miami for me?"
"You're being really selfish! Can't you just be happy that I got this job?"
"Yes, Jake. I am happy. But I'd be even happier if I could come with you."
"Why can't you?" He said honestly.
"Were you even listening to a word I was saying?"
"Frankly, no. I wasn't. You were just yelling to me about your job, when I was really excited about my new job."
"You have the right to call me selfish when you weren't even listening to what I had to say? I was saying that I couldn't move to Miami because my job won't allow me to do so. I'm sorry. If you want to stay together, then you can't take this job."
"Well, I'm taking it! So if we're over…"
"We are." Rachel grabbed her keys and began to walk out of the apartment. "Oh, pack up your things. I'll be back soon and when I am, I want you gone."
"Well, since we're over…there's something I want you to know."
Rachel froze, she looked over her shoulder at the man she'd once thought she'd marry.
"And what might that be?"
"When you were away at your fathers' I slept with another woman. She told me that you wouldn't mind."
"Who is she?" Rachel's voice was in a terrifying whisper.
"Hilary."
"Hilary McCormack? My vocal professor from NYADA?"
"Yeah, her."
"And you've been sleeping with her for how long?"
"Three years."
"I want all of your things gone when I get back." Rachel snorted and left the apartment.
She walked thought the streets of Manhattan in the pouring rain. The water soaked through her leather jacket. Her jeans were uncomfortable, and her tight white tee shirt was dangerously see-through. Her black patent leather heels were the only things that seemed to survive the walk.
When she entered the bar, it was close to 11 at night. She walked straight up to the bartender and asked for a beer as she sat down on the stool.
He handed her the beverage before she looked at the guy sitting to her right.
"Go figure." She said, and he looked up at her.
"Hi Rachel." Said Jesse. "It's great to see you too."
"I'm sorry. Bad night. How are you?"
"I'm fine, but by the look of you…you're not so good." A lone tear fell down her face. "What's wrong?"
"Jake and I broke up. I thought things were going so well. He got traded to the Heat. I told him that I wasn't leaving and that if he does, we're over. And he's going."
Jesse ordered more beer for the two of them.
"I mean, it's not like we were made for each other, right?" Began Rachel on what was sure to be a rant. "He'd never follow my rules, he wasn't spontaneous, and he didn't make my heart leap every time that we'd touch…"
Jesse's hand grazed Rachel's as he reached over to get the second beer bottle, and her heart sped up.
"And," she continued. "To top everything off, as I was leaving, he told me that he'd been sleeping with my NYADA professor. For three years! I can't believe that I thought I loved him…I can't believe that I thought he'd loved me."
"Did you really think that he loved you?"
"No. I didn't." It was the first time that she'd ever voiced her thoughts on the matter. Neither Kurt, nor Sophie knew that Rachel had doubted that her boyfriend loved her.
"Are you surprised that he cheated on you?"
"I guess not…I always assumed that something big would happen to make us break-up. I didn't think it would merely be our differences. I don't even know if I thought that we'd get married. I thought that I could live out this big fantasy of being married to a famous sport star. No…I'm not sure I loved him."
Jesse took another sip of his beer, while Rachel finished her second bottle. She ordered bourbon, and was getting steadily drunk with each sip.
"Please. Lets stop talking about me. I can't think about myself anymore. What's been happening in your life?"
"Well, I went to Tisch. I've moved to Chicago with my best friend, Elizabeth, and—"
"Ah! Elizabeth. Have you slept with her?" Rachel wasn't acting a bit like herself, but Jesse blamed her confidence on the alcohol in her system. He chuckled at her.
"I have…yes. I have. I'm starting to get less proud of it though. I can't help but compare her to the one woman whom I've ever loved."
Rachel cleared her throat and looked at him in the eye.
"And who might that be?" She whispered, dangerously close to his parted lips.
"Rachel Barbra Berry."
He sealed the kiss. Pressing his lips to her soft pink ones. Soon the kiss became passionate and breathtaking. The one thing that he lacked with Elizabeth was everything he seemed to have with Rachel.
Her warm tongue made it's way into his mouth, and he brought up his hands to cup her face. He brought his thumbs up and they stroked her cheeks, brushing a few damp hairs from her face. He pulled a 50$ from his pocket and left it on the counter.
The two made the ½ a block walk from the bar to his hotel. The second that the elevator reached the 17th floor Rachel's lips were once again on Jesse's. He put the key into the slot with difficulty and stumbled into the hotel room. Rachel's hands traveled his black button down, and pulled the shirt apart, popping off half the buttons in the process. He pressed his bare chest to hers and she shivered from the contact. He threw her leather jacket across the room and pulled her white shirt over her head, revealing the white-lace bra she was wearing. While her mouth was still attached to his, she unbuttoned his trousers, and placed a cold hand into his boxers. He shivered at her touch as her hand was clamped around his growing arousal. He felt warm to her touch, and he pushed her onto his bed. Her damp hair splashed him as she hit the surface. She kicked off her shoes, and he pulled her jeans down her legs, revealing her matching underwear. He stood back and kicked off his own jeans so that they were both clad in only their undergarments. They were both on their knees on the bed when she pushed him down, and hooked her finders into his boxers.
There he lay. Completely exposed to her and she once again leaned in to kiss him. This time, it wasn't hurried. It was slow and passionate. Her kisses were electric against him as she slowly kissed down his neck…to his chest…to the trail of hair leading from his navel…
She stopped at his member and looked at him. His eyes were dark with desire and anticipation. She leaned in and took him in her mouth. He bit his bottom lip at the feeling of her around him. Back and forth, she moved her head, lightly grazing her teeth over him.
"Fuck," he panted as he felt his orgasm coming nearer.
He came inside her mouth, and she swallowed, and wiped her chin. He sat up to kiss her and brought his hand up to unhook her bra. He threw it across the room and turned her over, so that he was once again on top. He pulled her underwear off and left her completely nude.
"You are the most beautiful woman in the world." He whispered against her lips.
His fingers grazed her sides as he lowered his hands. He placed a finger at her opening, and with another, separated her folds. A pushed inside her, and with his thumb, he grazed over her nerves. She gasped at the contact, and her hand instantly snapped to his. She grunted and gasped until she came onto his fingers.
He once again tenderly kissed her before looking into her eyes asking a silent question. She nodded her head, understanding. Kissing her once again, he situated himself before her open legs. He pushed inside her and both of them gasped. Rachel whimpered as he began moving in and out of her. He took one of her hands in his and interlocked their fingers, pressing their connected hands to the white pillow. She bit down on his bottom lip and she came closer and closer. He could feel her around him, warm and tight, contracting, as she was almost ready to come. He kissed her neck, sucking on her pulse point. He rested his forehead as they both came undone. One last time, he kissed her before he rolled off of her, spent. Their hands still clasped tightly together, they fell asleep in each other's arms.
The weeks went by. Jesse had gone back to Chicago and left Rachel in New York. He doesn't love you. She reminded herself as she walked out of the terminal. Why are you doing this? It was a one-night stand. Surely he doesn't care about it like you do.
Rachel walked through the city, finding the address she'd asked around for. She knocked three times on the door before it was opened.
"Who're you?" Asked the brunette in the doorway.
"I'm Rachel. Is Jesse around?"
"No," she said in a singsong voice. "But he'll be back in a few minutes." She let Rachel inside and walked her into the kitchen.
"Is there anything that I can do for you?"
"Oh, um…no. There's just something I really need to talk to Jesse about."
"And what is that?"
"I think it's better if I talk to him alone…"
"Wow, what makes you think you're better than I am?"
"I beg your pardon! I said nothing like that. I merely said that there's something I need to talk to him about, and it really is personal."
"Yeah, but do you think that I would waltz into your house asking for your boyfriend, and then not tell you what I need to talk to him about?"
"First of all, I had no idea that you're his girlfriend! Second of all, it really doesn't concern you!"
"Ah. Well, listen here bitch. I'm the only girl he's ever going to love. He loves me. And he'll never love you."
"Really? Because that's not what he told me."
"You better not have fucked him!"
"Elizabeth!" The two were unaware of Jesse's presence. "I can't believe that you'd say something like that to her. Please. Go home. I need to talk to Rachel alone, and you don't need to be here for it."
Elizabeth's eyes widened as she left the apartment. When the door slammed, Jesse turned to Rachel and hugged her.
"I'm sorry, I had no idea that she was your girlfriend…"
"What? Is that what she told you? To be honest, I've not had sex with her in a month. That's why she's cranky. Just the thought that I've slept with somebody else makes her furious. She has no idea."
"I need to talk to you about something."
"I'm pregnant, Jesse."