*I know making Jesse and Rachel romantic leads on Broadway is horribly cliché for St Berry future fics. And I tried to resist, really I did. But oh the temptation! I just had to give in. Please don't hate me for it. Even if you do, review anyway!*
Rachel knocked on the door to Jesse's apartment. When he didn't answer immediately, she knocked again. And again, making a rhythm out of her knocking.
"What?" Jesse said in an exasperated tone as he opened the door. A look of sheer confusion crossed his face. "Um, Rach, why are you green?" he asked. His eyes widened as the realization hit him. "You didn't," he said. Rachel nodded.
"I did," she squeaked.
"Oh my gosh!" Jesse cried, picking Rachel up and spinning her around in his hallway, not caring if the green face paint smeared onto him. "My best friend is the new Elphaba!" he yelled. Rachel threw her head back, laughing at the top of her lungs.
"I still can't believe it," she said, grinning so hard she felt like her face was going to split open.
"Did you get a lot of weird looks coming here painted green?" Jesse asked, letting her in.
"Not as many as I expected," Rachel said with a shrug. "We live in a strange city."
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Jesse said, pouring two glasses of champagne. He handed Rachel a glass and raised his own. "To Rachel Berry," he toasted, "Broadway star." Rachel giggled, unable to stop smiling. They both took a sip, never breaking eye contact. "You know, I think green's your color," Jesse said.
"Oh gosh, I can't believe you actually said that." Rachel groaned. "You are so cheesy." Jesse just shrugged. Rachel set down her champagne glass. "I wish I could stay, but I have to get back. They want me to be there when they audition the four guys that got a call-back for Fiyero and I have to get this make-up off before those start." While she was talking, she noticed an odd look on Jesse's face. "What?" she asked. He just shook his head.
"Nothing. You're right, you should go. See you later," he said, practically pushing her out the door. Something was definitely up, but Rachel had no time to think about it. She'd just have to find out later.
"Jesse?" she cried when he walked into the room. He smiled.
"Hey Rach," he said innocently. Hey Rach? she thought furiously. She was livid. How dare he audition behind her back? And he was going to get it, too. He was the last of the four, and Rachel knew Jesse was better than the three that had already auditioned.
"You know each other?" the director asked. Rachel nodded, her mouth pressed into a thin line. "Interesting," he said. He looked at Jesse and nodded. "Go ahead."
The trouble with schools is, they always try to teach the wrong lesson…
He nailed it, of course. Rachel clenched her fists. I'm gonna kill him, she thought. She stood from her seat and walked over to where Jesse was to do a scene together.
"What are you doing here?" Rachel hissed. "Do you know how awkward it's going to be having my best friend play my love interest?" Jesse just smiled slyly.
"Just think of it as the ultimate acting exercise," he said.
They rocked the scene of course. No one could deny their chemistry. The production crew basically told Jesse he had the part.
"See you at rehearsals," Jesse said, giving Rachel a hug before they went their separate ways. Rachel watched Jesse go. She sighed. This was going to be interesting.