Title: Know This, Before I Go
Author: msathenaxf
Summary: Jesse needs to tell Rachel something before he leaves for UCLA.
Author's Note: This was just a quick—and short—little thing that popped into my head. Hope you enjoy!
Know This, Before I Go
She wouldn't lie and say she expected to see him again so soon. But there he was, a week into the new school year, standing at the door to the choir room, interrupting rehearsal. Rachel more or less just stared dumbly at her ex-boyfriend. Finn, Puck, Mike, Matt, and even Mercedes had all stood up, prepared to…well, she didn't really know what, but it probably wouldn't be pleasant.
Mr. Schuester glanced between Jesse and Rachel then stepped forward. "I don't think you should be here, Jesse. This is a private rehearsal."
Without even looking at him, Jesse said, "Don't worry, I'm actually on my way to the airport. I just need to talk to Rachel for a minute."
Rachel blinked and took a deep breath. She could remember the taste of his kiss, combined with the disgusting feeling of egg yolk on her lips. Rachel felt her temper rise to the surface, and snapped, "So talk."
"Can you at least come out to the hallway?" he asked annoyed. 'Please' was added as an afterthought.
Kurt bit out, "Last time you said that, you threw eggs all over her."
Jesse shrugged. It was true. "Fine." He turned back to face Rachel. "I just want you to know I meant what I said." He would have continued but Santana interrupted.
"Which of your lies are you referring to?"
Jesse gave Rachel a soft smile. "It wasn't a lie. It is inevitable, Rachel. Believe that."
Rachel's temper faded, turning into a warm glow in her cheeks. She looked at the floor briefly, before raising her head to meet his gaze steadily.
"I know."
Jesse's smile grew to a full-fledged grin. That was the girl he knew, the girl he understood. This was the girl he had helped break, and before he left for Los Angeles, he had to know if she could be brought back. Because she was actually pretty great, that determined, crazy, drama-queen of a girl.
Jesse nodded once and then turned to leave. He said what he came to say. Her voice called him back. Meeting her eyes, she flashed him a shy smile.
"I'll see you there."
"I know," he responded with a smirk. Rachel laughed, ignoring the confused looks from her teammates.
"Break a leg in Los Angeles, Jesse."
"I'll break it now, " Puck muttered under his breath.
Jesse opened his mouth to respond; to Puck or Rachel he wasn't sure. In the end he chose to ignore Puck, but his next words got stuck in his throat.
So instead of good-bye, what came out was, "Until we meet again, Rachel."
Her answering laughter followed him all the way to Los Angeles.
~fin