Summary: Rachel always knew she and Kurt would make it to New York City. What she hadn't counted on was that the ex boyfriend she'd tried hardest to forget would be there too.

Rating: M (for language and suggestive content)

Pairing(s): St. Berry (heavy Hummelberry friendship)

Set: September 2013 (Rachel's first year of college)

When We Collide- Prologue (end of 2x22).

He wasn't quite sure why he was here. He just knew that he couldn't stand to get on that plane back to Ohio, to continue to live the mundane life that that state limited most of its inhabitants to, and that he couldn't stand being anywhere near her. Watching someone who he'd assumed to be his girlfriend- though clearly he'd been wrong in thinking that pouring your heart out to someone and then sharing a kiss with them meant that they might have warmed to you a bit- make out with another guy, on stage, unscripted, had made him realise he couldn't go back. Not with the knowledge that he would always be second best to someone who was so far below him it was almost funny. He needed to prove himself, to show everyone that he was the best, and there was no way in Hell Ohio would allow him to do that.

The one thing Jesse never wanted to be was a failure. Someone who wasn't good enough to reach his dreams, to get to the top, to do what was expected of him as soon as he'd opened his mouth aged six and performed a flawless version of Bohemian Rhapsody, like the one that would eventually push him towards a fourth National title. He'd always been musical but it was then that he discovered his voice. And it was then he made the choice to use it to show everyone just how good he was.

As he waited for the door to open, he leant casually against the frame, trying to look as if he didn't have a care in the world. Not that it would work. She was one of the few people who could see through his act, her and her stupid daughter, knocking down his defences like a bulldozer would a building. He'd tried to rid them both of his life but they just wouldn't go away.

What was it about their family that got past him? Why did he let them in when he'd blocked everyone else out? He knew Shelby probably had a better reason for him to care. She'd been his mentor; the only adult in his life who'd ever cared about him. She'd taken his talent and nursed it into what it was today. She was as open with him as he was her.

Shelby was the first one to tell him he was the best. He'd never received any praise from his parents- the three St. James' hatred of each other was mutual; his parents were vocal in their disappointment and disapproval of his career choice. He smirked slightly, remembering telling Mr. Schuester that he was his parents' favourite of three children. Complete bullshit. He was an only child, always had been, always will be. Even if his parents were still having sex he doubted it was with each other. His coach, however, had pushed him and pushed him to constantly do better, because she believed he could. She pushed him harder than she did anyone because she knew he was destined to do well and she was sure as Hell going to prove it. Though Jesse's attitude had always been a superior one, due to his snobbish yet extremely lonely upbringing, it wasn't until then that he'd had confirmed what he'd always assumed; he was talented and he was going to prove he was the best.

But Rachel's ability to get past his barriers he couldn't explain. She wasn't meant to mean anything to him. She was a challenge, a conquest, an acting exercise. But somewhere in that he'd turned into the character he was playing and he'd fallen. Hard. And it had damned hurt.

He wasn't supposed to care about her. She was an innocent, naïve teenage girl. She was a child. Yet somehow, she managed to make him, the boy who hid behind so many defences, who put on an uncaring act and occasionally got lost said act, fall in love with her in a way that both exhilarated and terrified him. He'd never had feelings that strong and it scared him the effect she had on him, the control she had. All his life he'd been an island and for some reason she could change that.

The sound of a lock being undone shook him out of his thoughts. And then another lock. And another. Jesse frowned. Shelby had never seemed to be security obsessed, and considering how nice the area of New York she lived in was, he didn't think she had a reason to worry. Still, he supposed with a one year old, she was always going to be protective. Shame she hadn't extended the same courtesy to her real daughter.

"Jesse?" Shelby asked once she finally got the door open, looking at the teenager in shock. "What are you doing here?"

To say she was surprised would be an understatement. She and Jesse had said their goodbyes at Nationals a year ago. She'd told him she was moving to New York and he'd nodded, almost as if he'd been expecting it. They wished each other luck in life, thanked each other for being there before turning and walking in opposite directions. Quite a simple goodbye for two people who thrived on drama. But there was something extremely theatrical about it.

Jesse looked at his former coach for a moment before sighing. "I'll be honest. I need a place to live that isn't in Ohio." Shelby raised her eyebrows.

"And you want to live with me?" she asked, shaking her head slightly. "You realise I have a one year old daughter. And that this could be considered a little creepy. You used to be my student." She pointed out.

"Hear me out," Jesse said. "It's my understanding that you're directing a show. And Beth's age means that you have to take her to work with you. If you let me live with you, I'd have a place to stay and you'd have a full time babysitter. I'm going to apply for Juilliard, as I flunked UCLA, and if I get in I'll move into the dorms after. It'll just be for the summer. And I know you like me."

"Why did you fail? You're the most intelligent boy I know." Shelby frowned.

"I was arrogant. I thought others would do my work like at Carmel," Jesse shrugged. He didn't want to have this conversation right now.

Shelby nodded. "I suppose that didn't really prepare you for the real world," she muttered, more to herself than Jesse. "You can trial living here. Two-week trial, then we'll review the situation. Do you have any things?" she asked, a smile breaking out on Jesse's face. He hadn't really expected her to agree, especially not that easily.

"Just this suitcase," he told her, nodding to a black suitcase on the ground. Shelby didn't know how she hadn't noticed it before. With a sigh, she stepped back.

"Welcome home then."

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