Prom was that magical high school moment girls dreamed about since they were 4. It was almost more important than their wedding days. For girls like Quinn, the dream included a tiara and an entire student body of adoring fans. For Rachel, the fans and applause would come later in life.

All she really wanted for prom was a boy to dance with and tell her she looked pretty and genuinely mean it.

Of course, finding a prom date was becoming increasingly difficult. Finn was still the object of her affection, and unfortunately Quinn was still the object of his. But that wasn't enough to deter Rachel of the ultimate high school dance. After all, they were only juniors. Quinn could take him to this prom, but Rachel had a feeling next year it would be her turn to be on Finn's arm, grinning as he tried horribly to dance. She would wait.

But it seemed like everyone else had a date-Brittany had Artie, Santana had whoever she was dating that week, Kurt had Blaine, Tina and Mike. Blaine had even been courteous enough to set Mercedes up with a boy from Dalton, apparently not thinking enough to get someone for Rachel.

"Blind dates are stupid anyways," she reminded herself as she crossed Puck's name off her list of eligible suitors. She briefly considered Sam, wondering if maybe they could start a whirl wind romance, but ended up crossing his name off too, deciding if Santana or Quinn wanted him back she wasn't going to stand in their way.

She scrolled through her phone, her entire list now crossed off. She paused around Jesse St. James, remembering briefly of an era where she thought he would come back from UCLA and take her to her prom, before continuing down the list.

"Maybe I should just stay home and practice for Nationals," she said quietly to herself, putting her phone down on the bed next to her and curling her arms around her legs. The only thing more depressing than skipping prom was going by herself. And even Rachel Berry wasn't about to stoop that low.

"So, I got this dress that's absolutely gorgeous," Mercedes prattled as they had their weekly coffee date with Kurt and Blaine.

"It is actually quite stunning," Kurt agreed, and Blaine just chortled in agreement.

"I'm sure it looks fabulous. William is quite excited about your date," he told her, glancing at Rachel while she stirred her tea with a straw for something to do.

"Well, he better be ready to handle all this," Mercedes joked, and the group laughed.

"I should get going," Rachel said, her voice monotonous as she stood, grabbing her backpack.

"Are you okay?" Kurt finally asked, and she just nodded.

"Of course, just have an early ballet practice today. Don't want to be late," she answered back, not meeting his eyes. "I'll see you guys later," she waved and headed towards the exit, holding her head high. She was sure she heard Blaine ask the other two what was going on with her, but she was out the door before she could overhear their response.

After this weekend, she thought bitterly as she crossed the parking lot to her car, all the talk of Prom will be over.

She sat through the days in almost a trance she had seemed to set up for herself. She was 10 times more obnoxious in Glee rehearsals, making sure everyone was learning the dance steps, getting the correct pitch for the songs. She finished two of her papers that weren't due until the end of the year. She declined Kurt's invitation to a dinner party at his house where Mercedes was going to officially meet William so they would have somewhat of a friendship before Saturday night.

Finn tried to cheer her up Friday afternoon, and she smiled for him just like always. But then Quinn swooped in and stole him away and she was left by herself while they made plans for their date the next night.

"Rachel," Kurt said through the phone later that night. "You should at least come help us get ready, have some fun."

"I am having fun! I have planned a very activity filled weekend," and she heard him snort in response.

"Studying for the SAT's for four hours and then spending the rest of your time in the ballet studio isn't activity filled, its avoidance."

Rachel fumed silently. "Well, avoidance or not, I am busy. Have a pleasant time with Blaine and everyone else. I will see you Monday," she retorted finally before hanging up.

"It's bad," Kurt said after Rachel hung up on him. "She's probably sitting in her room moping and feeling bad for herself." Blaine chewed on his lip guiltily. He had a weird-he wouldn't call it a thing because he was with Kurt and he loved him, but he wasn't sure what to call it. A soft spot, he supposed. He had a soft spot for Rachel. And he had originally offered to set her up too, Wes had broken up with his girlfriend and if anyone could handle Rachel Berry it was probably him.

"Are you sure you don't want me to call Wes?" Blaine offered again, and Kurt rolled his eyes.

"Dear god, no. Both of them at prom? Disaster would strike within minutes. If they even made it that far," Kurt replied, sitting down on the couch next to Blaine.

"We could always find someone else for her?" Blaine suggested. He felt horrible that Rachel would be sitting at home miserable instead of enjoying her own prom. He would have even suggested taking her himself if he didn't think Kurt would murder them both in their sleep, especially after their kiss. He wondered, once again, if that was really the reason Kurt didn't want Blaine setting her up. He didn't like to talk about Blaine's brief stint with Rachel, but Blaine knew Kurt well enough to know that it displeased him a lot to see Rachel once again get the boy of Kurt's affections.

"No, if she wants to sit at home and mope because Finn-" Kurt glanced towards the stairs where his step brother was hiding out, playing xbox until Quinn would storm in and demand some other ridiculous thing of him, "realizes that Quinn is a bitch, then let her."

Blaine sat in silence, not wanting to get into a fight with Kurt about this. "But," he argued softly, trying to keep his voice steady," how would you feel if it was you sitting at home for prom instead of her?'

Kurt opened his mouth and closed it. There were few times he was speechless, and Blaine knew he was one of a select few who carried the ability. "Touché ," he finally answered, standing up. "Fine, I have a solution. But I'm pretty sure this won't end well, so don't say I didn't warn you." Blaine raised an eyebrow, skeptical but quiet once more. "Can you go finish setting the table before Mercedes and William get here? The nice plates are in the top cabinet. I have to go make a phone call I was really hoping to avoid," he sighed, picking up his phone from where he had placed it on the arm of the couch.

Blaine smiled, "Thank you," he mouthed before heading to the kitchen. He wasn't sure why it was so important to him that Rachel was there, but he knew that the night wouldn't be the same without her.

Rachel was sitting at her kitchen table sulking at 10am the next morning. She had already had breakfast and worked out and was debating going to ballet just to practice a new routine. She was on the verge of heading over to Mercedes to help her get ready just for something to do when her phone rang. She picked it up, her heart racing when the name Jesse flashed on the screen.

"Hello?" she answered, her voice a much higher pitch than she would have liked.

"Rachel," came the reply of a voice she hated to admit still haunted her from time to time. "How are you?"

"Fine, not that you really care," she snapped, the memory of what had transpired still on her mind from the previous year.

"Of course I care," Jesse said. "I'm sorry for what happened last year. I know it was a dick move on my part. And I should have stood up to my team, because contrary to what you've probably been thinking, I did care about you. I do." The words were just what she had been hoping to hear from him, but she wasn't sure if she could believe him.

It took her a moment but eventually the words came out, soft and quiet. "How am I supposed to believe you?"

"I guess there's no real way to," he answered honestly. "But I know today is McKinley's prom and if you'd let me, I'd love to fly in and take you. Make it up to you for all the things I should have done a year ago." She bit her lip-it was 10:08 according to the clock on the stove, and if she called her hairdresser she was sure they would squeeze her in for an appointment. Dress shopping would be disastrous, but there were always tons of dresses she already owned. And it wasn't like he was asking her to get back together, he just wanted to fly across the country from UCLA to take her to prom.

No one would be a better dancer than him, that was certain.

"Really?" she finally asked, because she was aware-in the back of her mind at least-that this could all be a set up. That she could spend all day getting ready only to spend all night waiting for him to arrive while he was in California, laughing at how he could still get Rachel Berry, future star in the making, to do whatever he wanted.

"I promise," he told her, and she felt the squirm in her stomach she often associated with Jesse. The one that told her how wrong he was for her, the one she ignored every time he was even brought up.

"You better not break my heart again Jesse St. James," she agreed, and he laughed.

"I promise I won't. I'll be at your house to pick you up at 7pm. Be ready gorgeous," he told her before hanging up. She stood there, pausing for a minute to soak in what had just happened before realizing just how much she had to do.

"Fuck," she whispered, surprised at her own vulgarity, but Jesse was always one to make her do the unexpected. She shot off a text to Kurt and Mercedes that she was attending prom before calling her hairdresser.

She had a busy day ahead of her.

After managing to find the perfect dress-one of a few left at a boutique at a mall an hour away, a short yellow one with a satin bow and ribbon-she practically flew to her hair dressers. The atmosphere was bubbly and happy, girls from all around the area getting ready for prom. She supposed she didn't really need to go to a salon to get pampered, but it was nice to have someone else curling her hair perfectly and make sure her nails were the perfect length. It was one less thing to stress out about, and she was stressing to the max about Jesse coming back to Ohio just for her.

She was slipping into her heels that perfectly matched her dress when her phone went off. It was a single text, can't wait to see you tonight, glad you decided to come :) from Blaine, and she smiled at the thought. Her and Blaine had become relatively good friends, even after their kisses. She was glad Kurt had found someone as wonderful as Blaine, feeling only a little envious that Blaine had decided he was in fact gay. She put her phone in her tiny clutch with her credit card and lip stick, picking it up and glancing at the clock. It glared at her, 5:48, and her stomach did a flip flop before she headed down the stairs.

"You look marvelous Bear," one of her dads said, the other taking her in a deep hug. They had moved their reservations to an hour later to see her off, promising to take lots of pictures to both humiliate her and build up her confidence. She glanced at herself in the mirror they had in their front hall, she did look great-even she had to admit it. She only hoped that Jesse would arrive and think the same.

"This is the boy you dated last spring, right?" her other dad asked, and she nodded, biting her lip. She knew she shouldn't, and that it was a bad habit she desperately needed to break, but she was nervous. "Is he in college now?"

"Yes," she answered, staring out the peep hole to stare into her driveway, waiting to see Jesse's familiar black Range Rover. "He goes to UCLA. For acting I believe."

Her fathers continued talking, veering into where they thought their darling daughter would end up when she finally went to college while Rachel continued waiting.

When his car pulled up, she visibly let out a deep breathe. "He's here," she exclaimed, backing away from the door and making sure her dress and hair fell perfectly. The doorbell rang, and she nodded towards one of her dads who quickly ran to answer it.

"Mr. Berry!" Jesse greeted with a grin, shaking his hand. "How nice to see you again," he charmed, her other dad moving closer to the door to shake Jesse's hand.

"Welcome, come in, come in," they said as they ushered him into the house. Rachel practically stopped breathing for a moment-college had certainly done Jesse well. His hair was a little lighter, his shoulders a little broader. He was wearing a grey tux and a green tie. He winked at her, walking over to kiss her on the cheek.

"I brought extra's in the car," he told her. "I wasn't sure what color your dress would be."

She grinned, almost shy. "You look great," she told him, slightly embarrassed as her father took a snapshot of their reunion.

"Not half as wonderful as you," he promised, wrapping an arm around her hip and pulling her close, smiling as her dad took another pictures. She blushed, looking up at him. He was back, and he was hers. At least for the night.

And if he wanted to be hers longer than that, she decided she wouldn't mind.

They went to a small place just outside of town for dinner-Breadstix was packed, and Rachel quickly discovered she didn't really want to share Jesse with anyone. He told her all about college-performing for bigger crowds, beating seniors to parts they had waited years for-"Well, you're incredibly talented," she reasoned and he agreed. He asked her about New Directions, how they had beat the Warbler's and Aurel Intensity at regionals, what their plans were for Nationals. It was almost like last year, the easy talk of their talents and abilities, and Rachel found herself completely smitten once more before he even asked for the check.

They headed out to the car, her hand captured in his, when he stopped and pulled her to him. "I've missed you Rachel," he murmured, kissing her quickly and softly.

"I've missed you too," she breathed once they parted, her eyes now smiling as large as her mouth was, blushing slightly again as he opened her car door, letting her inside.

As they drove back to Lima for the dance, Jesse's hand rested on her knee, and they sat in comfortable silence. She had been waiting for Finn, waiting for him to come back to her and she would finally lose her virginity to him, but when Jesse turned his head to check oncoming traffic from the right, he grinned at Rachel and she knew that she was going to have a magical, and quite traditional, prom night. Dancing, laughing, and her official transformation from girl to woman. And Jesse would be the one to do it.

She grinned at him even more now, comfortable with her decision. She might not have been ready before, but a lot had changed in a year.

And, after all, if her and Finn ever did get back together-though the desire for that was draining the longer she was with Jesse-it would just mean she had evened the playing field.

The prom committee had tried their best, but even with decorations and a DJ Rachel still crinkled her nose in disgust as they walked into the gym. Jesse squeezed her hand as she scanned the crowd-no one was really dancing yet, and she was sure Kurt wanted to make a fashionably late entrance, but she was hoping she could find anyone she knew.

"Is that Tina with Mike?" Jesse said, pointing to a relatively empty table where the couple was sitting. Rachel was so used to them dating that she forgot Jesse didn't know about that.

"Oh, yeah, let's go say hi," she suggested and he nodded.

"I thought she was dating-what's his name, Artie?" Jesse inquired, and Rachel chuckled a little.

"It's been a very long year St. James," she said, passing by a large group of Cheerio's and football players. "Artie is now dating Brittany, Mike and Tina got together over last summer, Finn and Quinn are back together, Santana was dating-"

"Dating?"

"-this new kid Sam, though I think that's over. And Puck has been dating Lauren Zizes-The one who helped me bug the choir room last year? She joined Glee because we needed another person once Kurt transfered to Dalton-" Jesse looked even more confused now, trying to interject a question about that, but Rachel kept prattling on, even though they had now reached Mike and Tina's table. They were listening in, nodding as she talked. "-Mercedes has a date tonight with some boy from Dalton that Kurt's boyfriend set her up with, and I think that's it," she finished. Jesse sat in a stunned silence for a minute.

"Sounds like I missed a lot," he finally said, and Tina laughed. Jesse shook Mike's hand after Rachel gave a quick re-introduction, affirming that everything was okay now.

"Is anyone else here?" she asked, glancing around for Kurt and Blaine. She was in a fantastic mood now, and wanted to apologize for her rudeness the previous night to Kurt. Plus, she had been slightly distant to Blaine and felt bad about it. Tonight's about Jesse though, she reminded herself, snapping back to him.

"Not that we've seen. Quinn and Finn are in the mix of Cheerio's and football players, but that's about it," Mike offered, and Rachel chewed the inside of her mouth.

"Do you want to dance?" Jesse asked softly, and she nodded, letting herself be whisked away to the dance floor.

Blaine had spotted her the minute they entered, Kurt adjusting his tie as they walked in. She was dancing and laughing with someone Blaine vaguely remembered from previous competitions against the Warbler's, and assumed this must be the infamous Jesse St. James that Kurt had spent the better part of an hour explaining after he hung up the phone the previous night. He felt a twinge of jealousy before Kurt grabbed his hand, bringing him back to the present-back to reality. It doesn't do well to dwell on those we can't have, Blaine reminded himself, walking over to where most of the New Directions were now sitting.

Mercedes and William had hit it off well enough that Blaine wasn't worried about awkwardness between the four of them, and the car ride over from the Hummel-Hudson house was relatively pain free. But for some reason he couldn't keep his mind on Kurt, it kept wandering to a certain brunette in a short yellow dress. He supposed this was because he hadn't really ever seen her this happy-aside from their one true date, and when they won Regionals. Or maybe it was because he had been trying to avoid her as much as he could since he started dating Kurt. They were moving relatively slow, Blaine knew Kurt didn't want things to get too intense, and he didn't blame him. And while Blaine would have liked to drag him to a coat closet and ravish him, he settled for drawing circles on Kurt's thumb, eliciting a small smile from his boyfriend.

"You look great!" Brittany gawked, looking insanely attractive herself in a light blue dress that was probably showing more skin than the school would really prefer, much to the delight of Artie and most of the student population. Santana looked like she was about to rip Artie's hands from his body from her spot with Karofsky-a person Blaine would really like to see less of.

"Why don't we go dance?" Blaine asked, antsy to get closer to Rachel, to move his legs, to do anything but stand around the table with people he felt were sure could see right through him. Santana especially-she made Blaine nervous when he had a secret. Kurt dragged Blaine to the dance floor though, some loud rap song now playing as the rest of the students were starting to pile on, everyone's body's dancing to the music-some in time, some not. (Finn was a large portion of the not.)

Blaine started to let loose, dancing along to the music with Kurt, swaying their hips together with a quick wink before he was pushed out of the way by a small hand. "I need to dance with Kurt for a minute," Rachel's voice yelled, and Blaine nodded, the scent of her perfume lingering in the air.

"I'll, um, go get drinks," he offered, and Kurt and Rachel nodded as they danced. He watched them for a minute, her leaning up to whisper something in his ear, him nodding. He felt weirdly emotional, like he had such a strong tie to both that he didn't know what to do. "Drinks," he reminded as he headed towards the punch, trying to ignore the weird tingly feeling he still felt on his arm where Rachel had touched him. No Blaine, he thought to himself as his mind started to wander. You love Kurt.

You love Kurt and only Kurt.

He would just have to repeat it until it was the truth.