Disclaimer: Nope, just a fanfiction writer. I would be a man, if I owned it, wouldn't I? So nope. 4/11
Story: "He's the enemy! You can't like him!" Her lip quivered, but she stared back in resolve. "I can and I will." And she silently said goodbye to the first boy she ever liked.
Set after S1.13 "Sectionals."
Spoilers: Definite spoilers for the back nine, and definitely for the first thirteen episodes.
Warnings:
Pairings: Rachel/Jesse, with Rachel/Finn tension, Puck/Quinn, Mercedes/Matt, Brittany/Santana, Kurt/OC, Tina/Artie; Puckleberry friendship, Quinn/Rachel friendship, and Kurt/Rachel friendship…
Meet Me on the Equinox
Chapter Four: Meet Me Halfway
It was the day of the competition, and she and Quinn were finally going to sing their duets. They sang the songs and they looked over to Puck, who rolled his eyes but gave them a smirk. They grinned back.
They got a loud positive response, and then Mr. Shuester had everyone vote on the winner. And when surprisingly Rachel and Quinn won, Mr. Shuester handed them coupons to get a pedicure. Outside of the room, after Glee club ended, the two girls gave each other high fives.
"Yes! Pedicure at 4, this Friday?" Quinn grinned at her.
"Sounds good," Rachel grinned back.
"Bring Jesse! I'll bring Puck," the blonde called out behind her as she hurried to find said football/basketball player.
The end of school had easily become her favorite part of the day. The reason standing right outside her school, coolly standing by his car and waiting for her. With her grin widening, Rachel half-ran to him.
"Hey, miss me?"
"Nope," Rachel snickered.
"Ouch, my ego," Jesse pouted.
"What are you planning? You have that glint in your eye," she accused.
Jesse whistled innocently, "You'll just have to see."
Now it was Rachel's turn to pout but she got into the car. Jesse smirked as he got in.
Then time was passing and her confusion grew. They were still driving and it was at least an hour, then she started seeing water. They were by the docks and then her confusion mounted when Jesse parked by a lone abandoned warehouse on a cliff, overlooking the water.
"Jesse…you didn't bring me here to horribly disfigure, rape, and murder me, did you? May I remind you that my daddy used to be a government agent?"
"…What kind of government agent…?"
"That's classified."
Jesse laughed nervously, "No, no, no. I brought you here for a reason. I like coming here. It's where I go to think, dance, and sing. Just perform and go all out just because. Just for me. I wanted to bring you here and share it with you."
Rachel beamed.
Inside, it was actually a bit fixed up. There were boxes everywhere, but it was obvious that Jesse had moved them around to make room and use of some of them as seating and tables. It was actually kind of a cool clubhouse.
"I like this place. It's really homey in a way," Rachel noted in awe.
Jesse smiled happily and led her to the middle of the room.
"Stay here."
He left for a second, reappearing with a boom box. She blinked and wondered, that is until Jesse pressed play and music started blaring out of the speakers. It was Frank Sinatra's version of Fred Astaire's Cheek to Cheek.
Jesse pulled her close and started to lead her into a waltz, that she started to lightly laugh in delight at.
"Heaven…I'm in heaven. And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak. And I seem to find, the happiness I seek, when we're dancing cheek to cheek," Jesse sung, suitably placing his cheek against hers.
She felt the warm skin of his cheek against hers, warming her up. Her cheeks lifted up, and she knew that he'd felt her smile.
At the end of the dance, he twirled her around once before pulling her in and she landed neatly in his arms and against his chest, one hand gently laid against it as the other grasped his shoulder.
Getting inspiration, Rachel pecked his lips and tugged a small box from the side closer to the middle and sat an amused Jesse on it.
"What are you doing, Rachel?"
"Surprise," she winked at him. Then she hurried to his iPod on top of the boom box, knowing the songs on it like he knew hers. Paula Abduls' Straight Up came on and his eyebrows shot up in surprise and curiosity.
Instead of singing during the first verse, Rachel began dancing, pirouetting like she'd been taught in ballet. And then improvising an entire sequence of dance moves in her head, she began an on the spot choreography for Jesse.
Hitting the chorus for the first time, Rachel finally began singing.
"Straight up, now tell me do you really wanna love me forever!" Rachel slid on her back heels closer to Jesse, before twirling around him hanging around his back, lazily putting her arms around his neck. "Oh, oh, oh! Or am I caught in a hit-and-run? Straight up, now tell me is it gonna be you and me together? Oh, oh, oh. Or are you just havin' fun?"
Slipping to in front of him, she kept facing the same direction he was, keeping her arms around his neck before she bent backwards and then arched her chest up, unknowingly causing a red flush to creep onto Jesse's face. The music kept going and she kept singing along, moving away from him and doing a high kick up. When the chorus came back on, she moved closer and sat on his lap, cheekily smirking at him as she sung and swayed to the music, leaning closer and moving her shoulders to the beat.
At the end of the song, Jesse's face broke out into a huge grin and he laughed, making her laugh too.
"We have the oddest sense of fun, don't we?" he shook his head.
"Oh, I wouldn't say the oddest…" Rachel's smirk widened.
Laughing again, they got up and started to head out.
"You planned this?"
"Did you like it?" Jesse asked earnestly, smiling softly.
"Loved it," Rachel nodded firmly. "We should do it again sometime."
They shared a smile and held hands as they walked back to the car.
The easiness they had with each other became a little apprehensive Friday.
"I don't know if this is such a good idea," Jesse said stiffly.
Rachel frowned at him, "Why? You got along with Quinn alright, remember?"
"But now this…Puck will be there as well. And didn't you say you used to date him?" Jesse frowned also.
She sighed in exasperation, "Yes, but I didn't really like him like that. Jesse…are you jealous?" The smirk growing on her face said nothing.
His face turned red and he cough anxiously.
"No," he muttered.
"…"
"Maybe a little bit," he confessed. "And I'm not so sure I'll get along with him. For various reasons, not just because he dated you," he added the last part.
Rachel nodded in understanding.
"But try?"
He sighed, "Okay. Fine."
Rachel rolled her eyes, but gave him a fond smile. "Do you have anything casual to wear?"
Jesse blinked, "I might. Why?"
She blushed, "I would just like to see you in something casual. You're always in suits, I was wondering if you had anything…else."
He looked at her in surprise, but smiled gently nonetheless.
"Yeah, sure. I got something for you."
And when he came back that day and appeared in a black t-shirt, a jean jacket, and slightly baggy dark jeans (though he still had his leather Italian shoes), she completed swooned, though she did her best to hide it. Jesse's smug smirk said she didn't do a very good job.
Still, when they headed over to meet Puck and Quinn, it was…er…awkward…
Both boys were stoic when they came face to face, though Jesse was even colder than usual. The girls ignored them, hooking their arms around each other's as they walked from their parked cars to the salon.
"You guys want to come in, or do you guys want to go look around?" Rachel turned halfway, facing them slightly.
The boys grimaced, not happy with being stuck with each other, but not really wanting to go into the salon either. Both girls made the choice for them and left them behind.
"Okay, those two seriously have issues," Quinn huffed.
"They'll get over it," Rachel dismissed, the two already being seated into chairs and having their jeans rolled up.
"It's a testosterone thing," the blonde drawled. "The Alpha male complex."
"And what do we have? The Bitch complex?"
They giggled and rolled their eyes.
"No, men are just complicated and blame the complexity on the female," Quinn teased. "Just joking. I'm not even going to start on that, because then we'd just have a ball railing on the guys."
"But it's girl time, so it's okay. And it's fun," they shared another laugh.
"So Jesse is a senior," Quinn started out. "He gonna ask you to his Prom?"
Rachel blanched, "It's a little early for that, isn't it?"
Quinn shrugged, "Early planning is always a good thing, and the two of you are into advanced preparation and all. Besides which, Jesse seems like the type to ask you months from the actual date."
Rachel fidgeted, "I didn't really think about it. Would he, though? I mean, I am still a sophomore. And who says he'd actually go to Prom. I don't know if he had plans or anything for it."
"Well, it is early so who knows."
Still, knowing Rachel and all, it got her thinking about the future already and she didn't want to freak out on this outing. She should ask Jesse about it later…
No! No, she should just try to stay calm and let him come to her first. Right…
She and Quinn finished up, and then the two of them went out and looked for their guys, finding them at the music store/library, actually getting along as they discussed the merits of Neil Diamond.
"Ohh, look, they're getting along," Quinn cooed.
Rachel snickered, "Finally."
"Let's look around," Quinn suggested, and they both split up to go look around for whatever caught their eye.
Rachel remembered their new assignment, going to look for a song with the word "Hello" in it. She laughed quietly to herself, remembering her first attempt at it. She'd grown frustrated and agitated with Finn, ending up blowing up at him yesterday and singing her version of the All American Reject's song Gives You Hell. She'd told Jesse about it afterwards, who uncharacteristically cracked up at that and had a slightly gleeful and sadistic gleam in his eyes hearing about Finn. She just rolled her eyes at him, but part of her agreed and thought it was almost worth the exasperation and frustration of Mr. Shuester.
Eagerly looking through music books, her eyes lit up when she found Lionel Richie's Hello.
Someone smoothly plucked it out of her hands and she was greeted by a smirking Jesse.
"Good choice. You like Lionel Richel? So do I. Great man, he is. Good song too –Hello."
Rachel narrowed her eyes, wondering what was he up to. But he just kept smirking at her with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, so she sighed to herself even with her lips tugging upwards. If he wanted to play that game…
"Oh! You're Jesse St. James, male lead of Vocal Adrenaline and helped them win three years straight!" she widened her eyes and smiled adoringly, but a bit of that might actually be sincere.
"And you're Rachel Berry. I saw you in your Sectionals. Your rendition of Don't Rain on My Parade was flawed. It lacked Barbara's emotional depth. But you have talent."
Oh, that was just like him! Complimenting her backhandedly…well, he didn't really do it with her, but it was something he did…usually for his own amusement to get a reaction out of someone. Still, she wasn't understanding where he was going with all this.
Then he was moving away, enticing her after him to the piano, and then telling her that she should sing the Lionel Richie song with him.
She froze. That was what he wanted. He felt like singing with her.
Rachel grew nervous at the thought of singing in front of all these people, but she locked eyes with him and then she heard his voice. Her voice began to just join with his instinctively and she joined him at the piano.
Hello was definitely their song, hands down.
They finished, completely focused on each other and lost in their own world together, when they heard applause all around them and she blushed while he ducked his head a little. He gave her a small little smile. They caught sight of Puck and Quinn watching at the edge, smirking and raising their eyebrows at them, though they were clapping as well.
"You hear that? That's the sound of the chimes of a clock signaling Eros struck again with one of his arrows," Jesse murmured to her.
A small smile played across her lips.
"Cheesy, Romeo. Wanna tell me what that was all about?"
"I felt like singing with you."
"This was just an elaborate scheme to get me to sing a duet with you?"
"You hate impromptu concerts because you're not able to get prepared for them, and informal settings make you nervous. So maybe I did feel like singing with you, but I also wanted to get you a little more experience singing in front of others, especially in varied settings. And to help you get over that nervousness."
"Oh," she blushed. "Is that all?" she huffed in embarrassment.
"…I was spontaneously feeling like having fun and decided that it would amuse us both by pretending that we just met now."
"…And how did you come to the conclusion that I would be amuse with that?"
"You're like me?"
"I concede. I was amused by it."
"Damn, you two are classic," Puck laughed. "Quinn was right."
Quinn giggled, "I told you. Anyways, let's get going before the two of you decide to have a full-fledged concert for everyone. I'm assuming you found your song, Rachel?"
Rachel shrugged unapologetically, grinning impishly.
What came after came as a downward domino effect. Sue Slyvester found out the star and backbone of McKinley's glee club was dating. And apparently not just anyone, but Jesse St. James of big time rival Vocal Adrenaline. With her plan involving Finn gone down the hill, she immediately had a new one to replace it.
She immediately contacted Shelby Corcoran and told her about the new power couple. The director told her she had it taken cared of, so she smiled satisfactorily to herself.
And then Will ended up being worried about Rachel, after numerous pleads from several Glee members and his own growing worry on her behalf, he decided to approach Vocal Adrenaline's coach to make sure and ease his fears.
That went…semi-well…
Which all led to this moment.
"My coach told me she wanted me to befriend you. And stay close to you. She didn't say why, but it sounded like she wanted me to…spy on you?" Jesse sighed, rubbing his temples. "Mentioned your glee club director coming in to see us while we were performing Highway to Hell, and wanted to make sure I wasn't out to break your heart…"
Rachel frowned, "My glee club just confronted me today. All of them are certain you're a spy. It seems that the more time has passed, the more their doubts about you seemed to have festered until it flew into this horrible confrontation today. Half want to support me, the other half is split between focused that you're a spy and I'm jeopardizing them or that they want me to break up with you because they're worried you're a spy and out to take advantage of me and break my heart."
"This creates quite the dilemma for us," but he'd threaded his fingers through hers comfortingly.
Rachel started nibbling her lower lip in worry.
"I think…we should break up," he said suddenly.
Her heart stopped.
Jesse shook his head, and looked conflicted.
"What I mean is, maybe you should tell them we broke up. I don't want you to lose something so important to you…but I don't think I can stay away from you either," he murmured. "Glee makes you happy. But you make me happy."
Rachel grimaced, "But I think you might make me happier."
They stayed quiet for awhile before Rachel sighed.
"Jesse, I think you should spy on us," she reluctantly muttered. He looked at her in surprise. "You can just tell me what you're telling her, leave some stuff out, but mostly watch her reactions and everything. Maybe we can figure out what she wants, or if she does want you to use me to bring down New Directions then we can stay a step ahead."
Jesse leaned against her tiredly, nodding wearily against her shoulder.
They stayed practically glued to each other until Hiram interrupted and told them dinner was ready.
Rachel didn't expect to be accosted by Sue Slyvester next in the chain of chaos.
The woman forcibly dragged her to a room full of females, told her it was the "Old Maids Club" and successfully horrified her. Rachel did not want to be an old maid, and she really did care a lot about Jesse. Never mind that regardless, she still knew Sue was up to something and she probably had a hand in this whole chaotic effect going on.
Repeatedly, the other Glee members kept coming to her, saying the same things again and again. She was getting fed up with them and hearing the same stuff so many times. The only ones not with the others were Puck and Quinn, and sort of Matt and Mike. The two were still hesitant about Jesse, but they didn't badger her about him like the others. Thankfully, Mr. Shuester voiced his support again, this time in front of the others, and especially after admitting he'd gone to see Vocal Adrenaline's coach.
But it had all gotten to her, so she did what Jesse suggested and told everyone they'd broken up until they could be able to be together after Regionals. She hadn't been willing to say they would never get back together…
It was mostly good enough for the others, but Rachel didn't care.
However, the comments had started wearing down on her and a part of her began to doubt her and Jesse. So that's why she'd headed to see Jesse during Lunch, creeping anxiously into the auditorium.
"Hello? Jesse?" she was completely freaked out and maybe should've text him she was coming, but she figured if he was like her then he would spend his free time at school in the auditorium.
"J-Jesse?" her voice trembled.
Then the lights came up and she averted her eyes. She threatened about having a rape whistle, when Jesse came forward, chuckling and smirking at her. She pouted, but after they exchanged common banter between the two of them she started to relax a little more.
But then she was reminded of why she'd come there for, and she was back to ground zero.
She wasn't sure exactly what she said, but she remembered saying something about them being Romeo and Juliet (they really needed to get away from that scenario, else she was going to be terrified that they really would turn out like them), something about heartbreak and dying if he broke her heart. She did remember clearly feeling tears eagerly running down her face and feeling exhausted, but it all flew away from her when he gently pulled her into his arms and she practically melted into them.
He called her a worse drama queen than he was, smiling teasingly at her. Then he promised and proclaimed all the stuff she wanted to hear, needed to hear, and she thought of how quickly she'd jumped to conclusions on him –after everything.
"Hey, remember what we talked about?" and she finally remembered that Jesse had told her about what his coach wanted and that he wasn't keeping things from her.
And he wasn't going to, she was sure of that.
He kissed her cheek and then her forehead and then her lips.
"I want you to trust me," he murmured. "Would it help if I told you things that I don't normally tell people? Things that one doesn't tell anyone else unless they really trusted and cared about that person?"
Rachel didn't want to force him to tell her things because she was feeling insecure, but he shook his head and smiled softly at her.
"I know you noticed I don't like talking about my family. And you've probably come to the conclusion that I don't get along with them. That's true. I don't get along with my parents, most specifically my mom. My dad's a big business man, but my mom used to be a famous Broadway actress. I get along okay with my dad, it's my mom that's the main problem. You wouldn't think that since you know I hate my dad's surname, but that's mostly because I'm a little famous from our last name."
Rachel's eyes widened, "Oh…and, uh, about that…"
"I'll tell you about being a child star when we get home," he said gently.
She smiled tentatively at him, "Okay…wait, home?"
He laughed, "I consider your home more of a home to myself, Rachel. I love it there, and I love your dads. Plus, we're still in school and time's running out."
All the tension eased out of her, especially when he kissed her delightfully.
Started 4/11/10 –Completed 5/23/10
A/n: Not edited, 'cause I really wanted to get this out quickly. I didn't reply to people either, but I'll try to a little bit later as I'm going somewhere right now and I figure you all would prefer an update instead. But I'll try to reply to you all later, and I'll harder to do so in the future!
EDIT: I just got back, looked over this, and okayed everything. Anyways, I'm so sorry this took so long to get out! It was being extroardinarily difficult to write and finish, but here it is! I'm kind of glad though, it took so long. I watched more of the episodes and have a better grasp of where to go on certain things, dealing with canon plot and all. Like last episode (which I'm really glad I waited to write this after watching that).
