Disclaimer: I don't own Glee, or any of the characters or songs included in this fanfiction at all.
A/N: Thank you so much for your reviews! What did you think of this chapter? I was trying to get some character development between everyone this time. More reviews are always accepted (: Suggestions for future chapters too!
"Rachel? Rachel Berry?" She turned to see who was talking to her, and was surprised at the sight of Jesse St James greeting her. "You look fantastic," he noted, eyeing her up and down.
She shuffled uncomfortably. "Jesse, you should be aware that-"
"HEY!" a voice came from beside them. They both turned to see Sam there. Relief swept over Rachel's face, whereas Jesse looked confused. Sam squared him off. "What…Do you think…You're doing…With my girlfriend?" he growled.
"Chill the fuck out, man!" Jesse put his hands up. "I was just catching up with her, that's all."
"When you're catching up with somebody, you tend to talk to that person, not stare at their body. Now I'm going to say this once, and once only. You're going to leave Rachel alone."
"What are you going to do about it, Fish-Lips?" Jesse smirked.
"Actually, I believe it's Trouty Mouth," an amused Kurt walked up to them, Mercedes by his side. "Jesse," he acknowledged, then did a double take. "Wait, what are you doing back at McKinley?"
"I just came to see Rachel. I know that prom's coming up and I was wondering if-"
"Oh hell to the no," Mercedes interjected. "You are not going anywhere near her. Not unless you want to answer to me, that is. And no, you don't want to answer to me. Unlike Rachel here, I am one to hold a grudge, and we still need to repay you for what you did to her. So I suggest you back off."
"Besides, she's going with me," Sam glared at Jesse.
"Really?" He raised his eyebrows. "We'll see. Catch you later, Berry," he winked as he walked off. Sam began to march towards him, but Puck saw and ran to hold him off.
"Dude, what's wrong?" he asked.
"I don't even know. Some smart-ass Broadway kid just tried it on with Rachel. Who even is that guy?" he asked Mercedes.
"Jesse St. James was a part of Vocal Adrenaline. He transferred to McKinley, telling us it was because he loved Rachel and his parents were moving and he didn't want to lose her, when actually, he was just spying on us to give Vocal Adrenaline advantages, telling them our weakest spots."
"Is that why you didn't want that Sunshine girl performing at our benefit?" he asked, and the four of them nodded, Puck slower than the others.
"Wait, are you trying to tell me that Jesse hit on Rachel?" Albeit the fact that the two had long since broken up, Puck had always felt a sense of protection for Rachel. He nodded at Sam, who took it as a sign that they were going to find Jesse and confront him.
Sam looked at Kurt and Mercedes. "Take care of her for me for a bit, will you?" he asked, and they nodded.
"Sam, where are you-?" Rachel couldn't finish her sentence because Kurt and Mercedes had each of her arms in theirs.
"Come on, Rach. We're taking you prom shopping," Kurt smiled.
"Wait, but I don't have any-"
"Blaine's coming, and we've already spoken to your dads. Blaine will pay for now, and then your dads will pay him," Kurt beamed. He knew the prospect of seeing Blaine would make Rachel feel more comfortable. Yes, Rachel did have that slight crush moment with Blaine, but now that everything had settled, he was a good friend to her.
"See? Everything's sorted. Now just chill, Rachel! Let your best friends take you out shopping," Mercedes smiled, and Rachel grinned. She'd never had anyone as a 'best friend' now she had two?
"So what are you doing for prom, Mercedes?" Rachel asked, a spring in her step.
"I'm going with Jeff," she blushed.
"Jeff as in Warbler Jeff?" Kurt asked, surprised. She nodded. "Well, that's fantastic! I'm sure Blaine would have heard and he can help you out finding the outfit. And as one of Sam's closest friends too, Rachel, I can assure you we will find something to suit both of you perfectly."
"I'm not sure if we can go to prom, what with Sam's problem and everything…" Rachel mumbled.
"We'll let your dads talk to you about that," Kurt mused.
When they arrived at the mall, Blaine was already waiting with two coffees in his hands. Kurt jumped a little and squealed in delight. He went to rush toward his boyfriend when Rachel pulled him back. "Hot. Coffee." She reminded him. Kurt nodded at her in thanks for pointing it out and merely thanked Blaine for the coffee.
"Rachel. Mercedes." Blaine nodded at each of them respectively. "May I say you both look lovely. And also congratulations to you both on your new relationships. Jeff hasn't stopped talking about it all day," he chuckled. "So where first?" he asked Kurt.
"Oh, I know this great place not too far from here! Blaine, could you hold this, please?" he asked, and Blaine complied. "Tahnk you." He took Mercedes' and Rachel's hands and led them to the dress store on the other side of the mall.
"Kurt! How lovely to see you in here again!"
"Hello, Susan!" he waved. "This is Mercedes, and this is Rachel. They're both going to be your clients today."
"Lovely! And are you two their dates?" she asked. Susan knew about Kurt's sexuality, naturally, he would come into her shop all the time and help her out, but she wasn't sure what kids do nowadays.
"No, we're each other's. Blaine, this is Susan. I used to come in here and help her when Dad has his football buddies around. Susan, this is Blaine, my boyfriend."
"A pleasure to meet you, Susan," Blaine greeted politely, holding his hand out to shake hers.
She took it, giggling. "Kurt, I appreciate your taste in men," she smirked. "Now, let's get going with you two, shall we?"
She took the two girls into a room at the back, and all Kurt and Blaine could hear were "Uh-uh" and "I don't think that style will truly flatter me" and eventually, "That is perfect!"
"Come out! We want to see what you look like!" Kurt called to the dressing rooms.
"Okay, calm down!" Rachel laughed. She came out wearing a baby pink dress, with thin shoulder straps and a skirt that ended just over her knees. Blaine whistled lowly, and Kurt shoved him.
Blaine chuckled. "Calm down, Kurt. Rachel, you look absolutely radiant," he smiled, and Rachel grinned.
"Come on Mercedes, you can't hide in there forever!" Kurt called.
"Watch me," she said through the curtain. Rachel could tell her voice was thick with sadness, and she looked through the curtain slightly. Mercedes was wearing a dark green strapless dress with an ankle-length skirt and embroidery on the top half.
"'Cedes, you look stunning. Why do you want to hide?" she asked.
"This dress looked so much better on the rack than it does on me. I just wanted to have a nice dress that I could wear so that Jeff would be the sort of date that couldn't take his eyes off of me. Now he definitely won't because he'll be staring at how oddly this dress fits me!"
Rachel came in to the cubicle. "Do you not think I feel the same way? This is the most flesh I've ever bared, and there's a reason I cover up my body. As talented as I may be, even I have my flaws. My elbows jut out, I have broad shoulders and my legs are all knobbly. Now you, Mercedes. You don't give a crap what others think of you. You take everything in your stride, and you inspire me. You'll be letting us both down if you don't get out there and flaunt everything you've got to those two."
Mercedes smiled at her best girlfriend, and opened the curtain. "So what do you think?"
"Perfection. Absolute perfection. Susan, if I may say so, these two have been your best work." Susan grinned, and nodded in agreement. "You'll take care of these for them, won't you?" he asked.
"Of course!" Susan smiled.
"Good, because we have dinner reservations in less than half an hour, so come on, guys!"
Everyone laughed and Rachel and Mercedes went back into their cubicles. Rachel took one last look at her in her dress and sighed happily. Prom was really going to be amazing.
So that's chapter two! Next chapter: What did happen when Puck and Sam met Jesse? Who is Rachel going to meet at her dinner date that gives her an ultimatum? (Also I know I said updates weekly, but this story is taking over, I keep wanting to write more!)