Woooot. Two updates in two days? I am on fia! Yeah, I know. So, guys, seriously. Review for me. Or I'll cry, and never update ever ever ever again! You don't want that, do you? D: No. So review.

Disclaimer: Don't own. Damn.

The period of time between Jesse's encounter with Rachel and lunch, his day passed in a blur of lectures and excited texts from the other 'Vocal Adrenalites', as Rachel liked to call them.

Dude, u got berry? howd u manage that?

Thank god you got rachel. Melisa scked!

Jess, u work miracles.

The rest had the same essential context.

When lunch finally rolled around, Jesse sent Rachel a text to meet him the choir room as he cut to the front of the lunch line, grabbing only a Gatorade, then quickly making his way to the other side of the school. He opened the door to see Rachel pacing furiously across the floor, muttering under her breath as she kept her clenched fists firmly at her sides. When she saw Jesse she stormed over to him, getting in his face as she opened her mouth to speak, but he raised a hand and smiled.

"Rachel, sit. Relax. What I'm asking you… It's not that big of a deal, really. I mean, you'll think it is, and you'll probably hate me for forever, but it's… It's for the greater good." He paused dramatically and sat on the piano bench, gently patting the place beside him. Rachel crossed her arms over her chest and stood stiffly, refusing to move. Jesse pinched the bridge of his nose. "Rachel, I don't bite. Please sit down."

"No."

"Rachel, you're being a diva. But fine, whatever. Want to know the favor?"

Rachel took a deep breath and nodded, her face set in anger. "Fine. Tell me."

"You're joining Vocal Adrenaline."

"WHAT?" Rachel yelped, her heart pounding as she placed her hands on the piano, trying to keep from either crying or punching the living holy hell out of Jesse's arm. "I… No! Tell my mom, whatever! I don't care! I'm not joining Vocal Adrenaline!"

"Rachel, don't make me guilt you into it…." Jesse warned, tinkering with the piano as he stared at her reaction, making sure she didn't lunge at him.

"Like you could. Nothing will get me to join you, absolutely nothing could ever—"

"Think of how your mother will feel! I know she keeps pictures of Hiram around the house, I know she puts up this whole façade to keep her secret! How embarrassed do you think she'll be if she finds out that her secret is spilled? She'll be mortified!" he said, standing up and walking over to Rachel, grabbing her hands in his and staring into her eyes pleadingly. "Please, Rach. This would mean the world to me. When I heard your voice, I…." His voice faded and his eyes seemed to glaze over, as if he were reminiscing about a fond memory. "Rachel, your voice… It was beautiful. It made my heart race, and I never wanted it to end. And think of the opportunities it would bring! You would be a star, you could go to Nationals for New York, people would respect you and your talent, and there's always college scouts. You would get such great offers… It'll be amazing." He gave her hands a squeeze and pulled them toward his chest, his green-blue eyes pleading with her. "Please. If you don't help, and I don't get my fourth win… I lose my scholarship. Please."

Rachel's eyes softened and she entwined her fingers with his, though she still looked hesitant. "Jesse, I just… I can't…. I mean, you have to understand, it goes against everything I believe in… And I could never go against my beliefs. Without them, I'm nothing but a pretty face and a pretty voice." Sure, she was having a bit of a moment with him, but that wasn't going to stop her from giving herself a little ego boost.

Jesse smiled softly. "Rachel, I understand that… But come on, do it for me, please? For your best friend?" He pouted adorably, refusing to break his stare as she giggled.

"What does my best friend Kurt have to do with this?" she asked with a smirk, her giggles growing as he looked mortally offended. "Oh, come on, Jesse. We've hung out for one day. You expect me to just instantly consider you my best friend?"

In all honestly, Rachel could see herself being best friends with Jesse. He was talented, smart, gorgeous, funny, he liked musical theater and Queen. He could dance in an advanced class and almost pull it off on his first day ever, and he didn't judge her or mock her for being a vegan like Noah did. He was like her male counterpart, and she already considered him one of her closest friends.

"Rachel…. I am so hurt I might cry."

"Do you consider me your best friend?" she asked dubiously. He shrugged.

"Well… You're a close second," he admitted, trying not to chuckle as she nodded in a business-like manner.

"Exactly. We each have our own respective best friends."

Jesse nodded slightly before realizing he was trying to make a point. "So, as one of your closest friends, I beg of you. Join. Please. I will give you a ride to school all year if you want, and you won't have to pay a cent for gas. I will do anything. Just… Please. Don't make me sing Justin Bieber with wannabe Hannah Montana."

"Jesse…," she started, though one look into his eyes wavered her resolve. "I will think about it and get back to you tomorrow. Okay? And if I say no, you can't tell my mom. Becaus you care about me, and I'm your second closest friend, and you would never do that to me."

Jesse ran a hand through his hair and sighed dramatically. "Fine, but know this! I will not sleep a blink tonight, and then tomorrow, I will not be able to focus in class. And then I'll fail my tests, which will depress me, and then my grades will drop even more drastically. I'll flunk out, be forced to work at the Burger King down the street, and everyone will refer to me as the guy who cries into the french fry oil. Do you want me to be known as the crier-fryer?"

"Well, it would be kind of funny," Rachel admitted. Jesse started to protest, but she cut him off. "I will think about it, and don't try to pressure me. Because I do not succumb to peer pressure. You think people haven't given me grief for my animal sweaters?" she asked, gesturing to the owl on her navy sweater. Jesse raised an eyebrow and pinched the fabric with his fingertips, staring into the owl's wide eyes.

"Well, its certainly unique. It fits you." Rachel smiled and nodded her thanks before grabbing her bag off the floor and making her leave. She hesitated in the doorway and turned to Jesse, her lips pursed skeptically. "I'll think about it, Jesse…. See you later."

"I'll text you," he replied, watching her as she left. He pulled out his phone and sent out another text to Giselle, a slight smile on his lips.

Pop the bubbly, Gissy. I think I got her.

So, review or I die a little inside.