Author's note: I think this is the longest chapter I've ever written. I'm pretty proud of myself haha. Anyway, I hope you guys like it, please review! That's all I have to say so, enjoy!
When Rachel woke up the next morning, there was no sign of Jesse. After eating breakfast with Shelby and Beth, she said goodbye to them both and drove home. Her dads were there to greet her. Her dad Richard gave her a hug.
"Sweetheart, we're so sorry we didn't tell you about Jesse," he said, hugging her tighter. "We just never dreamed that-"
"That I would have a conversation with a dead guy?" Rachel finished wryly. Her fathers exchanged a look.
"No, we never dreamed that you would ask about him, since you haven't mentioned him since high school," her other dad Charles said slowly.
"Rachel," Richard said, sitting her down on the loveseat while he and Charles sat on the couch. "You've been through a lot but," he cleared his throat, "seeing dead people just isn't normal."
"We think maybe you should… talk to someone about it," Charles jumped in.
"You want me to see a therapist," Rachel said flatly.
"Well… yes," Richard said uncomfortably.
"You think I'm crazy," Rachel said, feeling her eyes burn as tears threatened to come.
"No, of course not sweetie," Charles said. "We can come too, if you want." Rachel shook her head vehemently.
"I'm not a child that needs her parents to take her to the doctor. I'll go alone," she said.
"Hello Rachel," Dr. Madden said, giving Rachel a firm handshake.
"Hello," Rachel said softly. Suddenly she regretted being so stubborn and refusing her fathers' offer. She needed someone there to reassure her. Even Jesse was strangely absent. Rachel sat on the couch uneasily. A couch in a therapist's office? How cliché. What next, was he going to ask her to lie down on it and talk about her feelings? At that moment, Rachel wished she were anywhere else in the world.
"So Rachel, I hear you're somewhat of a Broadway phenomenon," Dr. Madden remarked as he took a seat. Rachel beamed. This guy definitely knew the way to her heart. "You got a lead role in a Wicked revival right out of college, then started traveling the world, doing musicals all across Europe?"
"And Australia," Rachel added quickly. "But yes, that's right," she said, looking down shyly so she didn't seem too smug. Dr. Madden folded his hands behind his head and leaned back in his chair.
"So what made you come back home?" he asked.
"Well the show I was in closed, and I hadn't visited in a long time so I figured now would be as good a time as any to spend a few months with my family," Rachel said with a smile. Despite all the weirdness, she truly was glad to see her fathers, along with Shelby and Beth. Dr. Madden nodded.
"So how would you classify your relationship with your fathers?" he asked. Rachel rolled her eyes.
"Look, we both know why I'm here, so enough of this beating around the bush. Just ask what you really want to ask me," she told him. Dr. Madden gave her a small smile.
"Fine," he said, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees. "Tell me about Jesse." Rachel closed her eyes and took a deep breath before beginning.
"Jesse and I met my sophomore year of high school," she said, recounting the facts in an even voice, not letting any emotion show. "He was a senior, the male lead of Vocal Adrenaline, my show choir's biggest rival. We hit it off immediately." Her voice softened as she remembered that day in the music store. "We're perfect for each other really. They say opposites attract, but I tried that with Finn and Puck and it didn't work out. Jesse and I are so… similar. We just fit together you know?" She laughed. "I guess he's my soul mate." She looked over at Dr. Madden. His expression was blank. "And, that's it," Rachel said. Dr. Madden raised an eyebrow, but didn't say anything, just continued watching her. Rachel shifted uncomfortably. "Would you stop staring at me and just say something already?" she cried in exasperation.
"I find it interesting, that when you were talking about Jesse just now, you spoke about him in the present tense," Dr. Madden remarked coolly. Rachel paled, unable to form a coherent comeback, excuse, remark anything. "Rachel," Dr. Madden continued, "Whether you want to believe it or not, Jesse is dead." Rachel stood abruptly.
"I have to go," she said shortly. As she was heading out the door, she caught Dr. Madden's last words.
"Instead of focusing on all the good things, maybe you should remember why you and Jesse broke up in high school. Your dad said he hurt you pretty badly." Rachel hesitated in the doorway, tears stinging her eyes, then ran out of the building.
Rachel came home to an empty house. It was the middle of the day and both her dads were at work. She headed up to her room and flopped onto her bed.
"What's wrong?" Rachel bolted up to see Jesse standing in her room.
"Where the heck have you been these past couple days?" she cried. Jesse looked shocked at her outburst.
"I figured you needed some space. To, you know, process everything," he explained. Rachel got up off the bed, angry.
"Well while you were giving me 'space' you want to know where I was? IN THERAPY!" she shouted.
"Rachel I'm sorry, I-"
"Oh you're sorry," Rachel said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "My whole world is falling apart, but as long as you're sorry…"
"Rach, what is the matter?" Jesse asked, confused and a bit concerned.
"How could you do that to me, Jesse?" Rachel asked as if Jesse hadn't spoken. "I trusted you. I loved you! And not only did you betray me, you broke my heart." Tears were forming in Rachel's eyes.
"You-you're mad about the egging?" he asked in disbelief. Rachel didn't say anything. He ran a hand through his hair. "Jesus, Rachel, that was twelve years ago! I was just a kid, I didn't know what I was doing!" he shouted. Jesse sat down on her bed. "I thought winning another National championship was the most important thing, and the only way Vocal Adrenaline would take me back is if I egged you." Rachel winced at the memory. Jesse sighed. "But after we won, I realized how stupid I had been. The only thing I wanted was you." Rachel looked at him and bit her lip. "I'm sorry Rachel. I love you." Rachel sighed. Her dead ex boyfriend just told her he loved her. She was definitely going crazy. But that didn't stop her from saying,
"I love you, too."
