Friday, Dec 18. 3:15 p.m. Choir room.
Jesse walks in while Rachel is looking over some sheet music and taking notes in her seat. He manages to make it almost to her chair before she notices. Jesse is a few inches taller than Rachel. He has very curly wild brown hair. He wears a plain white t-shirt, blue jeans and tennis shoes. Jesse glances at Rachel with much fondness. She returns his shy grin. Jesse motions to her notes.
"There's the hardest working girl in show biz. Also my ex-leading lady, but I don't blame you. Mr. Ryerson was such a jerk treating you so bad. He wanted your part for himself. So I decided to do some community theater for awhile."
Rachel stands up and they embrace briefly. He kisses her forehead tenderly. She pulls apart and motions Jesse to a chair then sits down beside him.
"Thanks for stopping by. Believe me; the only tolerable part of that experience was learning that you were so passionate about my newest fave Broadway musical. We sang the songs together in the auditorium after rehearsal. So, would you like to perform some of them in front of an audience?"
"It makes me happy to sing with you, Rachel. I'm honored, but what's this about?"
"The glee club is putting on a show. Anyone going to McKinley can join in and contribute. I just recruited you. So, you in? It's next Thursday night."
"That works for me, Rachel. We know all the songs so we don't need to practice. Which ones were you thinking of?"
Rachel gives Jesse a coy smile and reaches over to put her hand on his knee.
"Can't you guess? Our two favorites. Singing those lyrics bring me joy and pain at the same time. Riding that bus to see the touring production when it passed thru the area was how we became friends so fast."
Jesse places his hand over Rachel's. His intense eyes bore into hers.
"Oh, those two. I ache inside when singing them with you, but that's part of the performance. I get too much into our role of tragic lovers. I wish we could have done this musical here at McKinley instead of Cabaret."
Rachel playfully punches Jesse on his arm and cracks up laughing. He joins in with their inside joke. She waits for her breathing to even out.
"Here in Bean town? Certain scenes would cause scandal and outrage. This community is way too conservative. That's why we're only doing the songs."
"But, I was there in the student assembly when your glee club did 'Push It'. Your performance was pretty risqué. Want to reconsider?"
Rachel starts blushing intensely. Her heart is doing a few barrel rolls.
Is he flirting with me? I didn't know he thought about me like that.
As Jesse resumes talking, she detects someone heading thru the choir room door from the corner of her vision.
"Okay, Miss Prissy. Just singing. None of the naughty stuff."
As Finn walks in, he overhears his last sentence. He feels an intense emotion welling up within him.
Who's this wanting to get naughty with Rachel? If you even think about her that way, don't push me.
He breaks out of his train of thought when he sees Rachel's bright red face. She and Jesse hurriedly get to their feet and collect themselves while Finn fumes inside. Rachel's insides are threatening to break down.
Snap out of it. Am I having a heat flash? I asked Finn to stop by, but what bad timing it had to be this second when my defenses are down. Get it together, girl. He looks so lost. Just be there for him, okay?
"Hi, Finn. This is the guy I was talking about yesterday at the meeting. Jesse is going to help the glee club out at the show. We're going over our two songs. Jesse, Finn Hudson."
Finn relaxes as he takes Jesse's outstretched hand and gives it a firm grip.
"Hey Dude, glad to meet you. Were you talking about that weird play you were both in a few months ago? I was helping Rachel one day read your lines so she could practice."
Jesse nods his head in agreement while Finn walks over to Rachel and grins at her.
"I'll always be happy that you came back to me, uh, I mean the glee club and chose us over that crazy musical. We were all together again, like it was in the beginning."
Rachel has to turn away and do some cover coughs while trying to hide her joyful but cautious feelings. She looks back at Finn and gives him her best radiant smile.
"Look where we all made it to? We have a nice big trophy in the display case but it's the memories that I'll treasure the most."
As Rachel gushes with excitement, Jesse manages to catch her attention.
"I have to go now, Rachel. Thanks again for asking me. I'll see you both later. Get a hold of me if you have any questions. Later."
Rachel remembers something.
"The walk thru is next Wednesday afternoon at 3 p.m."
"I'll be there."
Jesse waves at them both and leaves. Finn and Rachel share an awkward silence for a few seconds.
