A/N: This chapter has Jesse in it more! Hope you enjoy reading it! XD

Number two, going to UCLA.

I had origionally planned for New York to be the place I escaped to after high school. New York was where Broadway was, so why not? It would only make my career that much easier. I could start earlier.

It wouldn't matter that no one I knew was going there. I had no boyfriend, since after a messy break up with Finn Huson, and then an even messier one with Noah Puckerman, I had given up on boys altogether. What was the point, when the only boy I had ever really wanted was miles away?

My Glee club had all gone off to do different things, not bothering to keep in touch with me after High school was out. There wasn't a reason for them to at all, since Glee was over, and I couldn't help them win anything anymore.

We had taken Nationals my Senior year. I privately thought it to be down to my powerful reindition of 'Hallelujah', but I couldn't be sure.

Anyway, after a whole year of being nice to me, the bonds were cut once they didn't have to watch what they said to me, their leader. Because I was no longer their leader, and I wasn't liked by any of them.

My dads, they wanted me to follow my dreams. I guess they had done what they wanted. They had raised a baby, no it was grown up, they were no longer obliged to care for it.

But they were wrong. Because raising a baby doesn't stop when your child leaves home. It continues for their whole life.

I had dealt with their abandonment just like I had with Shelby's. I hadn't said anything, I had kept my head up high and my showface brighter than ever.

But inside, I was dying.

So, off I was to sunny L.A, leaving behind the town I had been waiting to leave from for sixteen years. Leaving behind everyone I knew and loved.

I did enjoy my college years. It was great, and I actually made real friends, ones that loved me for who I was, not my talent. Anyway, I was no longer the most talented singer. There were heaps of people better than me, but I think it was a good life lesson for me. I needed to stop being a cow.

I changed so much at UCLA. I started partying, and sometimes drinking, just having a bit of fun, not going overboard.

It was the first time in my life I had truely know what it felt like to have fun. I loved it.

During my college years, I re-met Jesse St James. Maybe, deep down, that was one of the reasons I had come to L.A instead of New York.

It was a scorching hot Summer the year of 2015. I was enjoying a day at the beach with my friends. And then, after a swim, we had paper scissors rock to see to would shout everyone ice-creams. I lost, of course. I was unlucky that way.

But I didn't mind, because it was Summer, and I loved Summer.

I had made my way to the ic-cream stall on the beach, buying six ice-creams, two with strawberry, two chocolate, and two berry sorbet. I was just thinking how I was going to carry these when I heard a voice.

"Three goody goody gumdrops, please."

I started to panic, because I knew that voice all to well.

It was the voice of Jesse St James, who I had not seen for five years, ever since that fateful day we lost Regionals.

It wasn't exactly a pleasant memory, seeing the boy I loved on stage singing with Vocal Adrenaline. Because that had meant it was them, always them, who he would choose.

I had made myself believe that the music store meeting was all Jesse, no Shelby involved. And I hoped it was, because I had really believed he loved me that day.

Five years later, Jesse St James hadn't changed much. His hair was still the same curly brown, but his eyes were covered by dark sunglasses. I felt a pang of sadness. I had really wanted to get a glimpse of his eyes, for one last time before I might lose him forever.

Jesse was wearing board shorts that were slightly wet, having obviously been in the water. He was wearing no top, and I was amazed at how hot his body was.

I suddenly felt my cheeks glowing at that thought.

Jesse thanked the man for the ice-creams, and turned to walk off. He stopped short when he saw me, and almost dropped the cones he was amazingly carrying without dropping.

"Rachel?" He said softly. He passed another boy the ice-creams, who I assumed must be one of his friends.

Then Jesse took off his glasses to get a better look at me, and his face spread slowly into a wide grin. "Wow. It really is you."

"Its been a while, hasn't it?" I was surprised at how calm my voice was. He caught the meaning in my words fairly quickly.

"Um," he replied, clearly uncomfortable, "Sorry about that. I would have rung, but I don't know your number..."

"Yeah. Thats alright. So, what have you been up to?"

"Me? Well, L.A is amazing..."

I interrupted. "It is, isn't it?"

"I have to say I'm surprised you didn't go to New York. Its closer to Broadway."

"Well, I wanted a change." I said sadly. He realised not to press it any further, and nodded.

"I got the lead in a show put on by UCLA, and a few other local ones... trying to make a name for myself, its been great."

"Wow. I'm not surprised. Singing is the most important thing to you, right?"

"Hey." He said softly. "You know that wasn't true."

"All I know is you left me for your club, leaving me with a broken heart... and bad dreams of little chicks and their mommys coming for revenge..."

"I thought those would have stopped ages ago."

"I still have nightmares. About other things."

"Me?"

"Not just you. Shelby."

Jesse winced. "Rach, I never meant for it to happen. That meeting in the music store, it really was just me hitting on you..."

I snickered. It sounded funny when Jesse said he was hitting on me. He was so much more mature than other teenagers, to mature for words like that.

And in a way, he was so much less mature.

I replied. "Positive."

"Yep. And then Shelby approached me when she found out later that day..."

"How did she find out?"

"Oh, she has spies everywhere. Anyway, she said I could help her find her daughter, or lose the full ride to UCLA. And Rach, I was going to lead you to your mother, and then continue dating after I was finished with High School. I really cared about you."

"Why didn't that work?"

"Well, I could see Finn Hudson was still so obviously in love with you, and the Run Joey Run fiasco hurt me."

"I know Jesse, and I'm sorry about that."

"I forgave you anyway, Rachel. You know that. Also, Shelby wasn't happy with me dating her daughter after she realised you weren't a little kid anymore, and didn't need her."

I wanted to scream. "She was wrong. I did need her, more than ever."

"I know. I tried to tell her that, I did, but it didn't work. She told me I still couldn't date you. I said it was none of her buisness, since she had chosen to leave you broken-hearted after getting your hopes up."

I nodded, waiting for the rest of it. Jesse continued.

"Then, Shelby got angry. Like, really angry. She was probably even jealous that I was closer to you then she ever could be, so she made me do 'Another One Bites The Dust" to you."

I gasped. Shelby had made them do that? It wasn't Jesse?

"So, the egging wasn't part of the actual plan. I only found out when my teammates brought out egg cartons, and I had no choice but to go along with it. I didn't want to, you know I didn't."

"I believe you." I told him, and he smiled.

"So," he said, "friends?"

"Friends," I told him, and we hugged.

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