He tried to kiss me. That was the first thought that greeted her when she woke up. She smiled at the memory, remembering how it felt to have him so close to her. It made her feel giddy, knowing that Jesse found her attractive. If he was anyone else, she might have been a little creeped out. But Jesse seemed to really understand her. He was as self-obsessed and unironically passionate about musical theater as she was. And even though he didn't really seem like the type to be sexually inhibited, she felt like he didn't kiss her because he wanted a casual lay. He was attracted to her, and it was probably because of all the things that other people didn't like about her.

She would be lying if she said that she wasn't attracted to him as well. But she was with Finn, and she didn't want to leave him, especially for someone she had just met. Maybe in another universe, she met Jesse at a time when she and Finn weren't together, and she let him kiss her when he tried and let things develop from there. But that universe wasn't this one. She didn't know how to handle Jesse - but, then again, that was probably true in other universes as well.

I have to tell Finn.

She groaned and turned over in her bed. She had no idea how Finn would react, but based on his experiences with Quinn and Puck, his reaction would probably be overwhelmingly negative. He was probably still traumatized. But on the flip-side, maybe he'd trust her enough to know that she wouldn't cheat on him, ever. She just proved that to herself, didn't she? And she and Jesse hadn't done anything (too) wrong, anyway. She had nothing to hide.

She had to let Finn know about Jesse. She was sure about that. What she was going to tell him and how she was going to tell him were a bit more unclear, though.

"I made friends with Jesse St. James, the lead performer of Vocal Adrenaline." That was to the point, but it also put emphasis on something that Finn didn't really need to know, like a smoke screen to what was actually relevant to their relationship. Jesse may have bragged about Carmel High and Vocal Adrenaline's competitive culture, but he never brought up the fact that they were each other's main competition. He couldn't have befriended her to steal any of New Directions secrets; they weren't any secrets to steal. Not that New Directions would agree. She was pretty sure that they'd think that Jesse would only approach someone like her with some ulterior motive.

I'll say that when I'm a little less sane. She didn't want to create any more drama with the glee club. They were still recovering from everything that happened during sectionals. She needed a different approach.

"Hey, Finn. I befriended this guy named Jesse. He's a fellow performer and we have a lot in common." That covered the basics, at least, and described what she thought was the ground of their friendship: they were both performers. Finn surely wouldn't keep her from pursuing a friendship with someone like Jesse; after all, he had shown little interest in musical theater. He might even be relieved to know that there was someone else she could talk to.

But that still left out an important detail. He tried to kiss me. Jesse wasn't just a friend, the way she liked to think that Kurt was her friend. He liked her. They clicked right away. She felt really, really comfortable around him, enough to let him carry her bridal style around her living room. They hadn't done anything too wrong, yes, but didn't Finn deserve to know that Jesse had tried to kiss her?

Well, maybe he didn't. It's not like Jesse would try again, right? And even if he did, Rachel wouldn't let him do anything inappropriate. He hadn't even tried to make plans with her again since they last met.

It was Monday, which meant that New Directions wouldn't be meeting after class for rehearsals. Mr. Schuester was giving way for the cheerleaders and athletes in glee club, who had to practice three times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. If she wasn't with Finn, she would probably have been rehearsing for her presentation to the glee club, trying to recreate what she and Jesse had done. But there were other things for her to do, and her rehearsal with Jesse was perfect, anyway. You can't improve on perfection.

She sighed, and rolled out of bed. She'd figure things out eventually. She had other things to worry about right now, like her morning routine and what she'd bring Finn. It was his first day of training for the coming football season, and she wanted to be there to support him. It was something she'd dreamed about doing ever since she was a freshman. She'd watch from the sidelines and steal him away for a picnic after he showered and changed, helping him destress after his practice. She was his girlfriend and she had responsibilities to meet.

She felt a fluttering in her chest in as she wondered if Finn would appreciate her company. Maybe he would be embarrassed to be seen with her. Most of the football players had girlfriends that were athletic and pretty. Of course he'd be happy to see me.

She tried not to think about how she wouldn't have to worry about feeling out of place if Jesse was her boyfriend and she was meeting him after a rehearsal.


It was a little weird, going to the football field for no clear reason. Everyone around her was in McKinley High red. She held her head high and kept walking. She was Finn's girlfriend and had a right to be there. She hurried to the bleachers, making her way towards the middle of the stands so Finn would be able to spot her easily.

She stopped in her tracks when she saw a familiar figure, one she never thought she'd see at the top of the bleachers.

"Quinn?" she said, trying to sound as friendly as she could. She made her way up the stairs to where Quinn was to sit next to her. "Hi, what are you doing here?"

Quinn kept her eyes on the field, her voice impassive. "I could ask you the same thing."

Rachel sat next to her anyway. She set her bag down at her feet gently. She didn't want to spill the food she had gotten for her and Finn.

"I think you know why I'm here," she answered shyly. She looked out at the field, looking for Finn.

"Of course." Quinn still hadn't looked at her.

"So, what brings you here? I mean, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Finn."

"I'm just thinking on my sins," Quinn replied, a bitter smile on her face. It was then that Rachel found where the Cheerios were rehearsing. There were a lot of unfamiliar faces on the field - Coach Sylvester must have started her recruitment campaign already. Rachel frowned. Quinn must have been there to watch the Cheerios practice their new stunts.

"Never in a million years would I have thought that I'd ever be sitting here with you instead of being down there with them," Quinn continued, "No offense to you, of course."

"None taken. If it helps, I never thought this would be possible, either."

"That you'd be the one waiting on Finn? This must be a dream come true for you."

Rachel felt some anger stir in her, but she decided to shrug it off. "It sort of is. I don't want to be here for all of his practices, of course, but it's for their first game of the season and I want to show my support."

A short silence fell upon them. All Rachel could hear were grunts and yells from the students practicing on the field, with the occasional whistle blow. She sighed, dreading having to stay in the bleachers for longer than she absolutely had to. She heard Quinn chuckle.

"Do you even know anything about football?" Quinn asked. There was a hint of condescension in her voice, but also playfulness.

"Well, no, not really..."

"I suggest you read up a bit on football, just so you know enough to be able to follow a game. Finn will really appreciate it. Football is a big part of his life. And never insult whatever team he's rooting for, he'll try not to get mad at you, but it will sting. He's so passionate about the game, it's ridiculous."

A sudden sadness fell on Rachel. "You've known him for a long time, right?"

"Yeah. Look, Rachel, I just want you two to be happy. It would be great if something would go right for me once. And, yes, seeing Finn happy qualify as 'something going right for me.'"

Rachel didn't know what to say. She looked at Quinn, but Quinn still wasn't looking back at her. She wondered if one of the reasons Quinn was there was the same as hers, if Quinn was there to see Finn. She didn't know what she felt about that.

"Quinn," Rachel began, uncertain about what to say. She trailed off. Quinn laughed.

"I'm sorry. But, I did mean what I say."

"I'm sorry," Rachel said suddenly.

"I thought we already established that none of this is your fault."

"That's not what I meant. I meant that I'm sorry that this is happening to you, but you're a good person, Quinn, and I think that things are going to look up for you."

Quinn finally averted her gaze from the football field to look at Rachel. Rachel looked flustered and agitated. Quinn laughed softly again and smiled.

"I'm glad someone thinks so."

"I mean it! You're not evil, Quinn, even though you might think so."

"Do you know how weird this is, hearing this from you?"

"It's not obvious soemtimes, but I know that you care about other people."

Quinn got up, smoothening her skirt. "Thank you, Rachel. I better go now."

Rachel felt her phone vibrate in her pocket, but decided against looking at her phone. It would have been inappropriate. She felt a light fluttering in her chest anyway. It might have been Jesse.

"Okay. I'll just... wait here for Finn."

Quinn sighed. "You know what? Forget what I just said. I'll keep you company until he gets here."

She wondered why she said nothing about Puck, who was also practicing on the field, but decided that it would have been wrong to bring it up.


"Where are we going?" Finn asked, as he followed Rachel down the empty corridors. His hand was loosely in hers.

"Do you remember, when we first kissed?" Rachel asked shyly.

He gulped, recalling what had happened then. "How could I forget?"

She opened the doors to the auditorium with her free hand. "I just thought that maybe we could have a little picnic here. You know, now that we're actually together."

She let go of his hand and hurried down the aisles. She took out a blanket from her bag and laid it down gently on the floor, along with a few packed meals and pillows.

"Can we do this?" he asked, walking towards the stage after her.

"Well, we already have," she said with a smile. She motioned for him to sit next to her. "Come on, sit next to me."

He sat down and immediately pulled her face towards his in a kiss. She made a sound in surprise. He pulled away from her slightly to look at her face. "Thank you, Rachel." He pressed his lips against hers again, and this time he felt her relax into him. He gently laid her down on the pillow behind her, so that they were in the same position they were in all those months ago. Her lips felt so soft against his. She put a hand on the back of his neck lightly, kissing him back a little awkwardly.

He put one of his hands next to her head to rest his weight and another hand on her stomach, just under her breasts. He felt her tense underneath him, but he kept his hand there anyway. She had to warm up to the idea some time. "It's okay," he breathed. He placed a kiss on her neck.

She pulled away suddenly and sat up.

"No," she pushed him away gently and put some distance between them. "I'm not ready."

He furrowed his eyebrows and frowned, confused at Rachel's actions.

"I just... I'm not ready."

"For second base?"

She nodded and moved closer to the meals she had brought. She took a fork and one of the containers with vegetarian lasagna and handed them to him with a small smile. "I hope you understand."

"Yeah," he answered weakly. An awkward silence fell on them, neither unsure quite what to say.

He heard her phone vibrate in her bag. She quickly pulled out her phone and smiled, as if she forgot that he was there. His eyebrows furrowed.

"Who's that?" he asked, moving closer to her to look at her phone. She looked embarrassed, as if she had done something she shouldn't have.

"Just a friend I made," she said quickly, typing on her phone. She stashed her phone in her bag before he could see what the text said. "Another performer."

"What's her name?" he asked casually, his hands fiddling with the blanket underneath them. His mood plummeted. Rachel was being a tease. Didn't she bring him there to make out?

"His name's Jesse," she answered. She sounded nervous. He quirked an eyebrow. Did she like this guy or something?

"Jesse who?"

She held her head a little higher. She's definitely nervous. "Jesse St. James. I... met him a few days ago."

"Why's he texting you?"

"Oh." Was she blushing? "He's just making plans."

"This sounds pretty fishy, Rachel."

"I'm sorry," she said. Her eyebrows furrowed and she frowned. She sounded annoyed. "He's just a friend, Finn. I can have friends that are guys."

"Are you hiding something from me, Rachel?"

She looked like she was in pain just then. She didn't answer. He felt anger start to bubble up in his chest. How unlucky could he get? Quinn had been watching him practice all afternoon. He could feel her eyes on him; he wasn't just imagining it. It made him feel so agitated, so confused, so angry that he wasn't thinking straight. There was something in his relationship with Quinn that he couldn't feel with Rachel and it was driving him crazy. And now Rachel had a crush on some guy she just met?

Nothing was going right for him, and he was sick of it.

"Rachel, what are you hiding from me?"

"He tried to kiss me," she said quickly, averting his gaze. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, but failed.

"Rachel, this Jesse guy - how long have you guys known each other?"

"A few days."

"And he tried to... kiss you?"

She pursed her lips and looked away from him, towards the back of the stage. "He did."

"But you didn't let him, right?"

She bit her lip and looked down at her feet. "I didn't."

He cradled his head in his hands. "Rachel..."

"Finn, I'm sorry." She sounded like she wanted to cry.

"Do you like him?" He heard her inhale sharply. He brought his hands down and looked up at her. "Do you like him? I don't think you'd be acting this way if you didn't like him."

"Don't you trust me?"

He got up and took his bag from the floor. "Do you like him, Rachel?"

"Okay!" She got up from the floor and closed the distance between them quickly. "I find him fascinating, yes, but - "

"But? But what?"

She looked up at him pleadingly, unsure what to say.

"I know being my boyfriend is a challenge. I'm not Quinn, I don't look like her, I'm not popular, and my personality, though exciting and full of surprises isn't exactly low maintenance. But I'll always be honest with you, painfully so."

She paused, as if weighing what she was about to say. He felt his heart beat in ancitiparion, but also in fear.

"It's you I want to be with, Finn." She said softly.

She didn't sound too sure for him.

He bowed his head. "I think this was a mistake."


AN: Finn's not in a good place after Hell-O. I wish the writers of the show actually gave him time to heal from all the betrayal he had to go through. I think he genuinely cares about Rachel, he's just not that emotionally stable right now. He dumped her immediately after Brittany and Santana asked him out, after all.