Author note: This is how I picture Jesse's return to the show, which I am anticipating greatly! This will eventually become St Berry, and possibly some Quick on the side. Anyway, tell me what you think!
P.S. I saw Deathtrap and met Groff! It was so, so good, I'd definitely recommend it!
Rachel was pumped for this year's regionals. They'd flown through sectionals, easily winning first place. Now they only had to beat one of the other teams to make it through to nationals in New York, the city that never sleeps.
She walked along the corridor, having just visited her dad's in their seats. Although she wasn't really stressing out, considering Vocal Adrenaline were at their weakest since before Shelby and Jesse, and Aural Intensity had never deserved to beat them, she still ran over the choreography in her head. That was why she wasn't looking and bumped into someone.
"Oh, sorry!" Rachel began to gush, but stopped when she saw who it was.
"Don't worry." Jesse said, in his usual, calm manner. "My fault."
Rachel just looked up at him, dumbstruck, so many memories rushing back to her. He just raised his eyebrows at her, waiting for her to speak.
"Je- Jesse." Rachel managed to stutter out. "What are you doing here?" She asked him in hushed tones, almost conspiratorial.
Jesse smirked. "Didn't you hear? I'm a judge. They thought that with my four consecutive titles I would be skilled enough to know winners from losers."
Rachel stared at him in shock and disbelief, and struggled to remain composed.
"They're letting you judge? Wouldn't you be a tiny bit biased considering the fact that your old team are competing?" She asked incredulously, still struggling to keep her emotions in check.
"I've sworn a sacred oath as a judge to judge the competition fairly- even if I did want Vocal Adrenaline to win, they'll probably be so awful that it would be really stupid to vote for them." Jesse told her.
"What, because they haven't got you or my wonderful mother anymore?" Rachel said sarcastically. "I bet this is just another plot to destroy New Directions. It's not like you haven't lied before." She fumed.
"Why would I want to destroy New Directions? I've done enough damage, why would I ruin my chances with you even more?" Jesse pointed out.
"Chances? You have no more chances Jesse- you had yours and you blew it. Why would you bother anyway? It was all just acting, wasn't it? It wasn't like it was ever real." Rachel tried to move on but Jesse reached out an arm to stop her.
"I admit, part of it was acting. But you give me more credit than is due, Rachel. Even I'm not that good an actor." He told her, and Rachel found herself frozen once again.
"That- that doesn't change anything Jesse." She said, once she had recovered her ability to speak. She tried to move again, but Jesse still held her back. "What do you think you're doing!" Rachel asked him furiously, still trying to escape.
"Trying to make you realise the truth." Jesse informed her calmly, knowing that he was getting to her.
"The truth?" Rachel was nearly shouting now. "I'll tell you what the truth is Jesse! You played me, you lied to me, you hurt me! You humiliated me and covered me with egg! That's the truth Jesse!" She took a breath, calming herself. "Acting or not, those things can't be undone. Even if you did love me, which I highly doubt, those things overrode every other feeling I have for you Jesse."
It was Jesse's turn to freeze as the real truth hit him. The real truth of how much he'd actually done to her. Rachel took Jesse's hesitation to squirm away and start off down the corridor. Jesse spun round.
"Rachel, wait!" He called after her.
Rachel turned, but carried on moving, walking backwards slowly in her heels.
"No, Jesse. You had your chance, and I don't know why you've chosen to bring this up now. Whatever we had, or what we might have had, it's gone now. It's your own fault Jesse." She told him, still walking backwards.
"Please Rachel." Jesse sighed, still calling down the corridor. "Can't we at least talk about this?"
"In case you've forgotten, I've got a competition to win." Rachel reminded him. She turned around and made her way back faster, only pausing to yell spitefully over her shoulder. "And you've got a competition to sabotage."
Rachel made her way back to her dressing room, thinking about her previous exchange with Jesse.
"Those feelings overrode every other feeling I have for you Jesse."
"Whatever we had, or what we might have had, it's gone now."
If she was honest to herself, she had been lying saying those things. But right now, when she had to win regionals, honesty wasn't necessary. So she blinked back the tears and pushed the door to the New Direction's dressing room open, and was immediately pounced upon by Finn.
"Rachel! Where were you?" He asked her, frowning slightly.
"I was talking to my dad's, like I told you." She brushed off his question.
"Oh, okay." Finn smiled and bent down to kiss her.
Rachel didn't resist, but pulled back after a moment.
"What?" Finn asked her, frowning again. "Does my breath stink or something?" He breathed into his palm, and sniffed, his frown deepening in confusion.
"No Finn, your breath smells fine." Rachel told him, putting on a smile, despite how she was really feeling, and trying to go sit down next to Tina.
"What then?" He asked her, not getting the hint to give up.
"Nothing. It's just I'm worried about the competition, that's all." Rachel lied, giving a small shrug to enhance her 'performance.'
Finn pulled her into a crushing hug, squeezing Rachel to his chest. She inwardly sighed and waited for him to release her, but he didn't.
"We're gunna win this year, I just know it." She heard Finn say, before he finally let go of her. "Don't you worry about a thing."
Rachel nodded and smiled, before going to sit down. She knew she was being unfair to Finn, but he just couldn't understand her silent prayer of 'leave me alone!' Yes, she loved him, and yes she liked being with him, but she wanted a moment to herself. But then again, he was just trying to be supportive, just trying to ease her 'nerves'. Rachel sighed as the thoughts swirled around her head, getting a strange look from Tina. Luckily, Mr Schue saved her from answering.
"Okay guys, we're going first, so we need to make our way to the stage!" He called to his group. "Lets get going- and good luck!"
I'll probably carry this on for a bit, see where it takes me. Sorry this is kinda short… Feel free to review, your feedback is always welcome. :)