Singerella
Disclaimer: If I owned it, I'd be writing for FOX, not FANFIC...I'd also be writing from somewhere on a warm sunny island...ideally my OWN island...which would have it's own smaller island within it. An island within an island people...imagine the luxury.
Chapter 11
Jessie's POV
He'd been finding excuses to spend more and more time with Rachel. It had been nearly a month since the 'kitchen incident' and he often found himself willingly helping her with chores (his mother would never believe him) just for a chance to talk to her (Rachel didn't have much 'free time' to chat). They talked about everything from baseball to Broadway. Jesse told her of his life in New York, the plays he'd been in, the people he'd met and his plans for the future. Rachel seemed to hang on his every word, but revealed very little about herself. Occasionally she would tell him things (favourite team – Yankees, favourite colour – yellow) but nothing too personal. She did tell him once that she too hoped to move to New York one day, but immediately after she seemed to believe she had said too much and made an excuse to leave his company. Still, progress was progress, and with this mystery girl, he would take what he could get.
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Spending such a large amount of time with Rachel had given Jesse an idea. He had never really thought of his childhood as 'privileged'. All of his friends had had the same opportunities, or more, than he had. However, meeting Rachel had opened his eyes. He'd been speaking to Shelby about an idea he'd had to help girls (and boys) like Rachel to be exposed to Broadway. To dreams that were bigger than small towns and dead-end jobs. Shelby was right on board with his idea and they were going to do some brainstorming while she was in town later in the summer. They would start fund-raising in the fall. He'd told Shelby all about Rachel and her amazing raw talent and they'd excitedly discussed how much untapped brilliance may never know the heat of the floodlights. Shelby couldn't wait to meet Rachel, and Jesse couldn't wait to introduce them.
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One day Rachel and Jesse were in the kitchen while she was making cookies for Mrs. Fabray to take to the church bazaar (the minister's wife had specifically requested her 'special' chocolate chip ginger cookies, as they were the highlight of the Easter bake sale). Jesse and Rachel had been laughing and joking when Rachel had disagreed with something he'd said (that Phantom's main solos were more powerful than those in Les Mis). To his surprised to counteract his argument she began singing 'on my own'. He began singing 'music of the night' in retaliation. They playfully tried to drown each other out, secure in the knowledge that no one else was home. Unable to best her, he had picked up a fistful of flour and poured it onto her head. What followed was an epic food fight, interrupted only by an angry voice bellowing 'What in God's name is going on in here!'.
Instantly Rachel turned white as the flour that surrounded her and stood ramrod straight. Jesse was disappointed, it was the first time she'd really ever seemed to let her guard down with him. They'd begun to sing together softly at some points, but he noticed that she only seemed to do so when they were far from the house. He found this odd, but hadn't said anything to her about his observation yet. Looking from her frozen features, to the angry bulbous face of Russel Fabray, he began to have an inkling as to why.
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Before Jesse knew what had happened Russel had crossed the room and grabbed hold of Rachel's upper arm. Jesse though he saw Rachel wince, but decided he must be mistaken. Perhaps Russel had initially misjudged his grasp, but he must have adjusted it as the girl did not seem to be in pain any longer...well physically anyway, the poor thing looked scared out of her mind. 'Rachel' Russel said in a cold voice, 'would you care to explain to me why you have deliberately made a mess in my wife's kitchen? Why you have wilfully disobeyed her request to prepare some cookies? Tell me, did you find the task beneath you? Did you decide that you were too good to help Mrs. Fabray with her charity endeavours? Even though we have taken you in, treated you as a member of this family, kept a roof over your head. Is this how you show your gratitude?'
Rachel was trembling now, a long tear tracking through the powdery mess on her cheek. Jesse really felt that Russel was overreacting...and from what he'd seen, Rachel hadn't exactly been treated as a cherished family member in the Fabray house for quite some time. However, his parent's had known the Fabray's forever. Russel was a good man, Rachel had no reason to be afraid...did she?
He looked at her again. Her gaze had dropped to the floor and she seemed to shrink even smaller under the barrage of words. He watched wordlessly as Russel grasped her chin and forced her to look up at him. He heard her draw a sharp breath and hoped it was from shock instead of from pain. He watched transfixed as Russel let go of Rachel and took a step back with his hand raised. With a start, Jesse realized what was going to happen and blurted out 'it was my fault!'. Russel spun around hand still upraised before he attempted to surreptitiously lower it. 'What do you mean, son?'. He said, with an even voice. The Russel he knew, the calm collected community pillar, had returned. "Well you see, I, I had a duet I was hoping to practice with Quinn...buuut I wanted to make sure it was worthy of her voice. I asked your maid here to help me out, and she was gracious enough to agree. She said that it was her duty to assist a guest of Mr. Fabray's in any way she could, actually...I was very impressed with the calibre of your staff, it reflects well on you sir...' Jesse realized he was rambling when he saw Russel's lip begin to twitch into a sneer. 'Anyway, sir, I'm not very used to being in the kitchen as you can imagine, hahaha... and I'm afraid I may have made a bit of a mess. You see...Rachel was concerned that assisting me would not allow her to finish her baking in time so I offered to help, but I must confess I feel I was perhaps more of a hindrance.'.
Russel turned to face Rachel, but not before Jesse caught the steely glint that had returned to his eyes. 'Is this true?' he barked? 'Y-yes sir...that's what happened. I-I hope you don't m-mind s-sir. I was only trying to help. I know about your, ah, rules sir. B-but Master Jesse asked so nicely, and you k-know I'd do anything to h-help Quinn to reach her dreams'. Jesse was surprised, Rachel was almost sobbing but seemed to be desperately clinging to her composure. He couldn't understand why she was so frightened of Russel. Surely the action he had stopped had been a one-time occurrence?
Russel took a large step closer toward Rachel and leaned in, he appeared to be saying something to her which Jesse, even with his pitch-perfect hearing, could not make out. He saw Rachel blanch before nodding. 'Jesse, why don't I help you find Quinn so you can practice that song?' Russel said with a cheery smile replacing his scowl as he turned and walked out of the room. Jesse had no choice but to follow, with the sounds of Rachel beginning to tidy their mess growing fainter until he couldn't hear them at all.
The sound faded, but he knew the memory would not. Jesse St. James had a lot to think about. He just hoped that he wasn't a step closer to figuring out the puzzle that was Rachel Berry.
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That night Rachel lay unmoving in her makeshift bed, waiting for the tell-tale creak of the steep attic stairs. She didn't have long to wait.
It was nearly an hour before the steps creaked again. Rachel waited until she was sure he was long gone before picking herself off the floor and crawling towards the basin at the far end of the room to sponge off the blood with a cool cloth. Russel was smart, he knew just where to hit so that she'd be in the most pain, but so that the marks would be easy to cover. She couldn't believe she'd been so careless as to bring this on herself. She limped back to 'bed', collapsing on the pile of unseasonal clothing and hugged her scabbing knees to her bruised chest. Closing her eyes tightly, she waited for the escape that sleep promised. She didn't know how she'd be able to hide this from Puck and Jesse, but she would deal with that in the morning.
A/N: So sorry for the long delay. Had a bit of writer's block as well as have been quite ill (rare blood disease apparently...not fun). Anyhow, feeling a bit stronger now so I felt re-inspired. Sorry for the shortish chapter and thanks for the reviews while I was on 'hiatus'. Also...wtf no Lea in 2012? Send me a review if you can, so that I know I haven't lost readers by being gone so long.