It's been a few weeks since Regionals and Jesse St. James was still in remorse. He was engulfed in melancholia. The illustration of Rachel's expression after he and his teammates egged her kept repeating on his mind. He meant what he said that day, he did love her. He still does actually. Yeah sure he was happy Rachel finally figured out who her mom was, yes he was happy winning regionals but all of that doesn't worth betraying the girl he loves.
It was a Saturday afternoon, Jesse drove to some local diner to do some contemplating on how miserable his life had been after he and Rachel broke up. He requested a booth to the waitress and ordered a burger, he looked out the window until he saw two familiar faces, one was an overly tall mediocre-looking (well at least that's what he thinks) dude who he recognized immediately, Finn Hudson. And his gigantic arm were wrapped around her shoulder, the girl who Jesse once loved, the girl who once was his, Rachel Berry.
She was wearing a sleeveless yellow sundress with a gray belt around her waist and topped with brown wedgies. Jesse couldn't stop thinking that she's really been hiding something under those argyle clothing all this time. He watched the sway of her hips as her dress fluttered around her exposing her mile-long tanned legs as she walked hand in hand with the overly huge adolescent. He'd never thought he would actually think of this let alone say it, but Rachel Berry is beautiful. Hell, Rachel freaking Berry is smoking hot.
When the couple entered the diner Jesse was pretty sure they were completely oblivious to his presence considering that they were still acting all lovey-dovey instead of bursting into flames. Jesse watched them carefully and ignore the waitress as she brought what he ordered earlier to his table. The couple were smiling at each other and it just drove Jesse insane. When he saw Finn leaned in to Rachel and pressed his lips against hers, it feels as though the universal clock has stopped ticking, but the time continued in a blinding pace. It took a while for Jesse to decipher what just happened but at that moment he was pretty certain that his world had erupted to an end.
He was quite sure that that liplock was illegal in at least three states. As tempted as he was to approach their table and punch the Neanderthal in the face himself, he then realized from the expression etched on the songstress' face, she was in love. She was happy. He could hear her laugh as she talked to Finn, and the sound of it was genuine. Jesse was happy that Rachel has finally found that one particular person who could love her, and slightly heart-brokened knowing that it could have been him beside her being the main reason of her happiness.
There's just something about the songstress that just triggered multiple responses, in his head, in his body, and in his heart. It felt like a tidal wave or a violent whirpool happening inside him, just a chaotic eruption of various emotions that was caused by the brunette.
When the couple were about to pay the bill, Jesse was consuming his burger. He honestly wondered how they were able to finish their meals so fast. As they walked out of the diner, Jesse could swear he saw Rachel glimpsed at him. He was pretty sure that Rachel's gaze at that moment could incinerate mere human beings. A blaze of fading anger and remorse in his blue eyes meets a storm of hatred, hurt, and a hint of sadness in her dark brown eyes.
It was nothing more than a five second stare but Jesse was certain it had meant something more. He snapped out of her thoughts as Rachel looked down and smiled at Finn when he called her name. She laced her fingers to her new boyfriend's and leaned in to press her lips upon his. Jesse managed to glare at their entwined hands. They got into what he pretty sure was Finn's car. He could feel the rage overflowing inside him but mostly, the sight of that just left Jesse even more devastated than he had already been.
Jesse finished his meal and walked out of the diner and approached his black Range Rover. He got into his car and kept driving, weaving though traffic and turning on streets, not exactly aware of his destination. He then realised he had ended up at the library. The place where he and Rachel had met. The place where he had fallen in love. The place where he started to prevaricate to the girl he loves.
He got out of his car and entered the place. He headed straight towards the grand piano that was located in the center of the room and started playing Lionel Richie's Hello as he tried to remember the first time he sang the song with the brunette. It amazes him what affect the songstress' voice has on him. One note from Rachel and he would be at peace. And he was even more amazed of the fact how she could actually alter him from a soulless automaton to an actual person who's indeed capable of feeling.
He kept playing the piano, pouring all of his feelings into the song until he realised tears welled up in his eyes. Jesse St. James was sulking over a girl, and that wasn't something you could see everyday. He couldn't stop thinking what would happen if he hadn't lied to Rachel from the first place, she'd probably be by his side right now belting out to her part.
As the song ended, Jesse stopped playing and drove himself home. When he arrived home he went straight to his bedroom and did more of his so-called contemplating slash sulking. He laid on his bed as he massaged the edge of his nose with his right hand, hoping doing so will soothe himself. He closed his eyes , wishing to somehow get Rachel to forgive all of his wrongdoings while thinking how he's going to get the brunette to do so.