Feeling the soft touch of Jesse's hands on her shoulders, Quinn closed her eyes and let just the slightest smile cross her face. She of course was still heartbroken from last year's Nationals, but it was nice to have someone to fall back on. Granted, she never thought she would end up in a relationship with Jesse St. James of all people, but somehow she did and he wasn't as bad as everyone called him out to be. Jesse's fingers slipped from her shoulders as one hand moved to place on her cheek, the other wrapping around her waist as the two sat on her bed. A small smile formed on his lips just before he pressed his to hers. Quinn could still see the pain in his eyes from having Rachel break his heart, but Quinn could only sympathize, having felt the same. It was sort of like being in a relationship with Finn in the matter that Jesse still loved Rachel and she knew it. But it was different in the way that Jesse never strayed from showing affection toward Quinn and it was relevant just how much he had grown to care for her.

Looking up into Jesse's eyes as their lips pulled apart from each other, Quinn let out a sad sigh. "You're not going back, are you? To California?"

The school season was just starting up again and Quinn didn't know if she could handle seeing Finn and Rachel together without the comfort of Jesse nearby.

A slight chuckle came from his lips and he shook his head ever so lightly, "No. There's nothing in California for me. Yes, I will leave for New York someday, but in the meantime I'm here. For you," he insisted.

It was obvious how strange it was for Jesse to say those words for anybody but Rachel, but in a way he knew he meant it. They both needed each other.

"Mind if I take this seat?" a voice chimed in, sweet and soft, yet the voice of one person that Quinn had no desire of seeing.

"Why?" she asked lightly, turning around to face Jesse through the night sky.

The red benches were lit with the glowing red that illuminated the rush of people as they passed by. Either in a rush to get home or no rush at all. Just wanting to sit and view Times Square as it glimmered in the night.

Jesse didn't speak, he simply took a spot next to her. The second she felt his body next to his, Quinn turned to face him. He was staring off at the sight before them. The bright red flooring made it hard for Quinn to tell whether or not he had been crying or if his eyes were red due to reflection.

"Times Square is truly magnificent, isn't it? I only wish my trip here had been better than it turned out to be," Jesse spoke out, still not facing Quinn but the big glowing ball.

The sound of his voice, so light and weak, made it obvious to Quinn that the red of his eyes weren't from reflection. She never understood how much Jesse loved Rachel, or how he could for that matter. Of course, no one understood how much Quinn could love Finn. It was now that Quinn saw the pure hurt and pain that ignited through him. He was as heartbroken as she was by the onstage kiss of their exes.

"I'm sorry," Quinn said lightly, watching Jesse as he didn't bother to move the slightest. She knew she didn't have to go on, it was painfully obvious what she was apologizing for.

That was the moment that Jesse couldn't help but turn and look at her. His eyes met with hers, the single tear on his right cheek, the one that Quinn couldn't see until now, glimmered against the red lights.

"Me too," he choked back. His comment both agreeing with hers and apologizing for her heartbreak with Finn.

They didn't say anything more, instead both turned to face the bright New York City lights. Hoping that the fresh air and movement around them would try and cure something that felt impossible to heal. The company, the understanding, however, did feel nice.

"Are you sure you want to do this? You could just as easily flunk out like I did. Granted, mine was a simple misfortune. Yours could feel good," Jesse asked, turning to face Quinn as they sat in the parking lot of McKinley High.

Glancing from the window to Jesse's face, she smiled lightly as she saw how worried he was. It was nice to know that someone actually worried about her. That someone didn't want to see her hurt all over again. That thought was what gave Quinn the strength to nod happily.

"I'll be fine. Meet me for lunch?" she asked, placing a kiss on his cheek before hoping out of his Range Rover without even giving him the chance to answer. They always had lunch together, nothing would make today of all days different.

It was the first day of senior year. The first day that Quinn walked into McKinley feeling happy since she and Finn were together the previous year. She didn't even bother to second glance the love gawking couple that caused so much pain to both Quinn and Jesse as they kissed in the hallway. Finn and Rachel wouldn't touch Quinn's radar this year. She had Jesse by her side and that was all she needed to get through another year of having to watch the two be disgustingly loveable.

Lunch came quicker than expected and Quinn hurriedly made her way out to Jesse's car. He had food in take-out bags waiting for her on the hood of the car, sitting next to her boyfriend as he watched her walk over with grace. A smile crossed his lips as Quinn quickly placed her lips to his before moving to look inside the bags.

Quinn jumped on the hood of the car, looking up at him happily as he pulled out some boxes. "My favourite," she said delightedly.

"Of course. I understand how tough this day must be for you. Therefore I decided to give you the most wonderful lunch to get you through the day."

"You know," Quinn said, leaning towards Jesse ever so slightly, "It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Whenever I saw Finn with Rachel, I thought about meeting you for lunch and felt better," she smiled at him.

"I have a surprise for you," Jesse said, letting his smile crack through as he saw the curiosity form over her face. "You'll have to wait until this evening however," he teased.

Quinn rolled her eyes as she watch Finn and Rachel read off of each other's sheet music during Glee practice. She did wish that Jesse was still in High School, but knew that she would simply have to deal with the thought of him to get over Finn. Most people would think she was absolutely crazy to still be in love with Finn or to be dating Jesse. Nobody truly understood how much Finn meant to her or how sweet Jesse was when it came to her emotional fits. She hadn't had one in forever, which was relaxing to realize, but that didn't mean that the pain vanished over the summer. She honestly thought that she had won at one point, only to lose yet again.

"Alright, I have a special announcement before we get started," Mr. Schuester said as he walked into the room. "I know we didn't win Nationals last year, but it doesn't mean we can't win this year. I think I've found the perfect way to make sure that we make it again."

Will turned toward the door just as Jesse entered, a stack of papers pressed against his chest. The entire club was silent and as Quinn stared at Jesse for a moment, she knew that this was the surprise he had been talking about.

"Now, before you say anything, I really think that we need Jesse's help. As badly as it was delievered last year, he gave us some good advice. So I'm thinking if we start now, we won't be so pressured when shows come up. Right Jesse?" Schuester asked as he turned to face the boy.

"Exactly," Jesse smiled, looking from Will to Quinn. "New Directions has the potiental to win all competitions, but only if you undergo some changes and actually follow through. For starters, no more Finn and Rachel duets."

Everyone turned to face the couple as Rachel watched Jesse in shock. Finn was obvious growing furious already. "Mr. Schue, are you seriously going to do this again? I mean, Rachel and I always sing duets!"

"And you always lose," Jesse promptly pointed out.

"But, I-I get to sing solos, right?" Rachel asked, pointing to herself as Finn turned to look at her in shock that she so easily gave up a duet with him.

"Actually, no. I was thinking we should stretch the talents of some of the other members. I've heard almost everyone in here sing a solo and everyone has a remarkable voice. However, it's always covered up by you, Rachel. Yes, you have a fantastic voice but I think you should put it to rest for a while. Give someone else a chance to sing. Like Quinn for example," Jesse looked at the blonde and nodded. "Quinn, you'd surely like some solos, wouldn't you?"

Quinn nodded as she watched Jesse, still slightly shocked at his appearance in the school.

Rachel's face twisted in confusion as she slowly moved her hand to point to where Quinn was sitting. "Q-Quinn? You want…. Quinnto sing my solos?"

Jesse laughed slightly and looked down at his feet, unable to watch her in determination, a quality that he loved about her. "They're hardly your solos, are they? Not anymore at least."

"This is stupid!" Finn yelled, leaning back in his chair. Rachel still staring at Jesse with shock. He had always been the one to understand her talent and determination. Why was he turning on her now? Because of last year? That was highly unprofessional, she thought.

From the corner of her eye, Rachel could see Santana staring at something with pure concentration. As Rachel followed her eyes, they led to Jesse then Quinn. The two were staring at each other with smiles on their faces and suddenly it had hit Rachel.

"You're dating Quinn?" Rachel shrieked in the empty auditorium, pacing around the piano that Jesse sat at.

"Yes. Does it matter?" he asked, looking from the keys to her.

"Why? She's… she's…"

"A decent person who deserves to be loved? Someone who got her heart broken on a trip that was supposed to be one of the happiest of her Glee club memories?" Jesse asked, standing to watch the pacing girl.

"She's Quinn!"

Jesse's brows furrowed in confusion as he listened to Rachel scream. It was a good thing it was after school hours, or else someone would've heard.

Rachel paused; crossing her arms as she noticed Jesse's taken aback stare.

"I thought…. I was the reason you came back to Ohio," Rachel asked, her voice getting soft.

Jesse swallowed hard before answering, "You were the reason I came back. Quinn is the reason I'm staying."

"But why? She hates you! You hate her!"

"I never said I hated her, Rachel. I simply never noticed her because I was too busy giving you my attention. My heart."

Rachel looked down, not able to stare at Jesse any longer. Having him around would just make it more difficult on her. She hated the way that he always stuck by her even when she was chasing after Finn. She hated that he had to see them kissing on stage. She hated how much she screwed up.

"Rachel," Jesse said, making his way out from behind the piano. As he stood only inches from her, he placed his hand under her chin to lift her eyes up and look in this. "Quinn needs me. Do you know how hard it is for her to walk into this school and see Finn with someone else? You for the matter? Do you know how upset and heartbroken she was when she saw you two kiss on stage? She told me I make her feel better and honestly, she makes me feel better too. I had to witness losing you and everyone else witnessed it too."

Dropping his hand from under her chin, Jesse took a step back and let out a heavy sigh. "I let you go. I let you have what you have always wanted when with me and that was Finn. You shouldn't be worrying about my relationship with Quinn. We're simply a broken record trying to mend each other's pieces."

Jesse took a step back and turned around, leaving the auditorium at the quickest of all paces. Rachel was left standing in the auditorium, a small tear falling down her cheek. She didn't understand why seeing Jesse still in Lima had hurt so much, how his relationship with Quinn made her so upset. Most of all, she didn't understand why Finn had slipped her mind completely. She had to take a moment to try and remember that she wasn't dating the man that walked out of the auditorium. She was dating Finn. Why couldn't she remember that for the few brief seconds when Jesse was around? All that she noticed in Jesse's presence… was Jesse.

"Why the hell are you dating Jesse St. Jerk?" Finn yelled as he rampaged over to Quinn's locker the next day, not minding the people staring at them in the hallway.

"Because, Finn," Quinn slammed her locker before turning to face him, "You broke up with me! You kissed Rachel on stage. I'm allowed to have some happiness and believe it or not, Jesse makes me feel better. Maybe if you weren't so obsessed with your precious duets with Rachel, you'd be able to see that he's actually a nice guy and I've been smiling this whole time! Oh wait, I'm sorry, I forgot you only pray on the needy and depressed."

Quinn turned around quick enough to only see a few seconds of confusion wash over Finn's face.

"What's the supposed to mean?" he asked as he followed after her down the hallway.

"Never mind. Forget I said anything," Quinn turned into the empty choir room, figuring that Finn would follow after her and the only way she would be having this fight was in private. Away from the people staring in the hallway. She didn't turn around to face Finn as she heard him enter the room like she guessed.

Finn stopped as he saw Quinn bent over the piano, her breathing was off and he was curious as to what she was doing. Shaking his head lightly, Finn looked down, "But what about him makes you happy? I mean, why Jesse?"

"Because he understands."

"Understands? Understands what?"

"What it's like to be heartbroken!" Quinn screamed, turning around to face Finn. Tears were rushing down her face, her makeup was smeared and it was then that Finn realized she had been crying over the piano.

He watched her for a second, noticing she was trying to catch a breath between sobs.

"He doesn't think of me as a heartless cheerleader bitch."

"What? I-I never sa-"

"'Don't you ever feel anything?' Remember? Remember when you broke up with me after a funeral and said that to me? I haven't been happy since the day that I thought I won you. All throughout Nationals, I was depressed because you broke up with me for Rachel! Then when you kissed on stage, I was so close to transferring schools. To maybe staying in New York, but it was Jesse that brought me back. He made me feel like losing you wasn't the end of the world, because I'll tell you it sure as hell felt like it…" Quinn pushed passed Finn and stormed out of the room, wiping the tears as she left.

Finn went after her, only to stop in the doorway as he watched her go into the girls' bathroom. Everyone in the hallway was looking at Finn as he stared at the bathroom door. His head lowered slightly when it came to him just how much pain he had caused her. How badly he treated her. The worst part was how upset he was over her crying. Why did he want to run into the bathroom and wrap his arms around her and comfort her until she felt better?

He noticed Rachel start to walk towards him as he stood in the doorway. Her head was lowered slightly too, but Finn didn't even look at her. His eyes were fixated on the bathroom door.

"Hey," she said, her voice weak and light.

"Hey."