"What happened to your 'I'm never going to an off Broadway show again' mantra?

"I made an exception."

"Jesse, spill."

"There's nothing to spill, I was impressed with the concept."

"You're not in it, so I find that rather hard to believe."

"Exactly."

"I'm not following you."

"I'm better than off Broadway."

"Then why are you bringing me here? Besides, you never know when a show will be pulled onto Broadway. It could end up a phenomenon, and you would have had the opportunity to experience it before it's creatively altered."

"You're always right on target, aren't you Rachel Berry?"

CHAPTER 1

Rachel sighed and stared at Jesse exhaustedly, "And you're always terse, aren't you Jesse St. James."

"Hey, hey, hey", Jesse began to retort but was cut off.

"Save it Jesse, explain now or prepare for reputation annihilation. I suppose you haven't told anybody else where you are." Rachel smirked as Jesse blanched. He gathered himself together effectively and glanced around. When he brought his gaze back to Rachel he whispered, "Word going around, this IS it. This is said phenomenon."

Rachel waited for Jess to continue. She had an idea of where he was going with this, but before she jumped to conclusions she wanted to be sure.

"I have expectations for this show. If this exceeds them, I want to be apart of bringing it to Broadway, you know offer my services, they immediately accommodate me and drop their male lead. I become even more admirable then I already am now." Jesse sighed dreamily, smiling dumbly at nothing in particular.

Ok, yeah, suspicion confirmed.

"St. James!" Rachel huffed. Jesse wasn't fazed in the least. Or maybe he just didn't notice.

He was still in his star induced haze.

Rachel pinched him and he shot back to life with a "Hey!"

"Don't hey me! Do you ever do anything that doesn't require self gain? I'm sure if this play is half as good as 'St. James standards' that these actors are more than deserving. You're an actor for god's sake Jesse! You should respect the art of everything that goes into on and OFF Broadway shows!"

Jesse remained neutral and just shrugged off everything that Rachel chastised him for. His only response was, "You're Jewish."

Rachel was completely baffled. "What? I can't prove a point because I'm Jewish? What does my religion have to do with your self centered, conceited ass- Oh," Realization hit Rachel and she sarcastically remarked, "Ha. Ha. Very funny."

"Was, wasn't it?" Jesse smiled smugly staring at the stage, away from Rachel. She just bit her tongue and shook her head.

The show was due to start in ten minutes and nearly every seat in the theatre was filled. In an effort to kill time, and ignore Jesse, Rachel began to scan the playbill. She familiarized herself with the leads, of course, and some of crew. The crew. Wait. There's a pattern here… Rachel thought. The same name appeared under producer, director, and music producer. Rachel was impressed to say the least. Her attention was brought back to the stage when the audience was informed to turn off all electronics. A few moments later, Act 1 began and Rachel was brought into a whole other reality. By the end of the first act she was beyond fixated. By the end of the entire show she had cried, laughed, and been affected on a personal level.

In her wondrous, she forgot all about her fit with Jesse and completely, well, fangirled to say the least. "Jesse! That was amazing! Absolutely wonderful! I need these songs on my iPod. Now it has to go on Broadway, I already decided I'm downloading the soundtrack. Even if a soundtrack won't exist, I'll still do it. The male lead has an angelic voice, but I do agree some of the actors are a little amateur. But, but…. The plot was so, unique and personal. It so made up for the acting. I couldn't even bring myself to notice. I really wish I could tell the writer that, you know she produced and directed this from the script to the music?"

"You really are cute when you're excited." Jesse interrupted. A mischievous smirk took over as he tugged on Rachel's hand, "C'mon."

"Wha-Where are you taking me?"

"You said you wanted to meet the creative genius behind all this." Jesse sing-songed, leading her to a guarded door.

"What? We can't just go back there." Rachel stated, but continued being pulled.

"You're Rachel Berry, Broadway star, and I'm me, Broadway star. I'm sure having us visit wouldn't be the worst day they've had at work." Jesse added before approaching the security man.

"You don't even know that she is here!"

Ignored by St. James again.

"Excuse me sir, I'm Jesse St. James, and this is Rachel Berry. We just saw this spectacular performance and were wondering where we could speak to the talented producer behind it all."

Rachel watched as the husky security man nodded in acknowledgement and opened the door, directing them down a small hallway. Even after all this time, it still hasn't registered to her that she has this kind of power. Of course she knows she's a star, always has, but to be respected is still new to her. It was a big adjustment but definitely one she is grateful for. Being all too aware what it felt like to be contempt, she vowed never to take advantage of the respect given.

"She usually does her critiques and pep talks with the crew after a show, but if you wait in the room to the left there she should be in any minute." The man said nonchalantly, and stalked back to his post.

"You should always listen to me." Jesse grinned as his opened the directed door.

Rachel rolled her eyes and followed Jesse into the room. It was just like any cast dressing room; only slightly less glorified and lacking clothes. Jesse took a seat on red love seat against the wall. Rachel decided to stay in place; she didn't want to seem impolite by lounging in someone's space.

"Maybe I can charm my way into lead? What are a few rounds with a probably old or unattractive yet undeniably talented lady for a spot at the top? That's show biz right?" Jesse joked, but Rachel wasn't having it.

"That's incredibly rude and quite disturbing. You'll be doing no such thing!"

Jesse chuckled and then the door opened… and in walked… well there was not an old or unattractive lady…

There was the incredibly gorgeous, talented, and very young Quinn Fabray.

She had to be in her twenties, nope not old. Perfect features, short messy blonde hair, lean body… is this Quinn Fabray? The person behind a production should definitely not be more attractive then all the actors… combined.

Rachel was momentarily shocked but recovered to speak up before Jesse's leering does.

"Miss Fabray, hello, I'm Rachel Berry."

Quinn smiled politely as she greeted Rachel in return, "Hello, Ms. Berry, to what do I owe this pleasure?"

Quinn spoke so gracefully, this was not what she expected. Don't judge a book by its cover? No. Don't judge a cover by the book in this case.

"Well, Jesse and I just seen tonight's performance and I wanted to let you know that it was truly spectacular. You're show blew us away."

Quinn smiled shyly, "Thank you, that's very kind. It means a lot coming from you, the both of you."

Oh yeah, Jesse is here. Awkwardly leering in the corner. Still.

"I do look forward to seeing it again, on Broadway." Rachel further complimented feeling Quinn has no reason to be so, well, humble!

"If only it makes it, I'd be glad to give you tickets."

"I wouldn't doubt it Miss Fabray, I have a lot of confidence in what I just seen."

"Please, call me Quinn," she beamed at Rachel, "and while that is assuring and flattering, I am producing this on my own. I'm not sure I have the experience to bring it to the big leagues."

Rachel immediately shook her head, "I'm sure you could figure it out once it's in demand. This isn't a production that will just blow over Quinn."

"Perhaps you are right, but it's a lot to figure out."

Before Rachel could think about it she was suggesting something she wasn't sure where it came from, "If you're interested I may be of service? I've been acting on Broadway for almost 5 years; I know a thing or two." Rachel smiled before adding, "And a person or two."

"Not that I doubt your skills, but you're an actress, how could you assist me in producing a Broadway production?"

"You do learn the process from being surrounded by it. I guess it does seem silly." Rachel sighed.

Quinn frowned at Rachel's slight disappointment. She walked over to a vanity to the left and scribbled on a paper.

"If you'd like we could get together and discuss this in depth some time. I know you're probably busy most of the time so you can decide when, if at all."

Rachel grinned as Quinn approached her with a paper in hand. "Of course I'd like to! I look forward to seeing what possibilities we can approach."

"Thank you Rachel, for showing such interest in my work."

"It's my pleasure, you're talented Quinn. I should, we should probably get out of your hair. I'll be in touch soon." Rachel practically had to pull Jesse along like he originally did for her.

"Goodbye."

Both girls exchanged small smiles before Rachel… and Jesse… walked out the door.

How it went from being Jesse's self centered scheme to Rachel assisting a talented young producer, she had no clue.

Before she entered a cab outside of the theatre, Jesse mumbled "Lead or not, I'm sleeping with her."

Then Rachel punched him in the arm furious.

Jeez, he doesn't listen.