Disclaimer: I don't own Glee. I don't own Definitely, Maybe.

Author's Note: Review? Who do you think Ava's dad is? I'd like to know! ~Jackie

"I don't like Rebecca," Ava stated. "She sounds like a goody two shoes, just like Kathy Reynolds from my math class. She always raises her hand for every question and gives our teachers lots of compliments and corrects everyone else whenever they do something wrong."

I cracked a smile. "Don't worry baby, I didn't like her either."

The rest of the night flew by. Ava and I went home and had a small dinner, neither one of us were terribly hungry, and then we watched a few Disney reruns before it was time for Ava to go to bed. I tucked her in and she was asleep before I could even turn off the light. I returned to the family room, plopping down on the couch and channel surfing. I stopped at a local news station, disgusted to find they were doing a piece on Phantom.

"And now, here he is, the star of the Broadway revival of Phantom of the Opera, Mr. Jesse St. James!" chorused the reporter, and I turned the TV off quickly.

"I wish I didn't ever have to see that ass's face again," I said to myself, deciding to go to bed too. I figured I wouldn't be getting much sleep anyway, I'd been thinking of my four past flames every night since I'd begun telling the story.

I honked the car horn and Ava came running from her school, waving happily as she climbed in. "Tell me more!" She chorused immediately from shotgun as she buckled her seatbelt. I laughed.

"Can't you tell me about your day first?"

Ava sighed, but obliged. She did like to talk, after all. "Well, Kathy Reynolds, the annoying girl from my math class, was being a braggart like she always is because she got a one hundred on our pop quiz, but I got a one hundred too and I didn't brag!"

"Well that's good, anything else?"

"I couldn't focus in social studies because I was thinking about the story, and when my teacher called on me I didn't know the answer, so she made me stay after class. And the lunch today was disgusting, I had to share half a PB&J with my friends,"

"Well," I said, "It seems like you need some story to cheer you up!"

Ava clapped her hands in excitement.

I spotted Jesse and made my way over to him. He'd already ordered me something from the vegan menu, I was surprised by his courtesy, and I sat down.

"Hello," I said professionally.

"Hey," He replied. "I'm glad you could make it,"

"You're just hoping to get laid after," I interjected bluntly.

Jesse laughed loudly, playing with the food on his plate. "I'm not going to lie Rachel, I'm still insanely attracted to you,"

"I suppose I would be lying if I said I was totally over you, either," I confessed, making Jesse grin. "But I just got out of two relationships right after each other, I'm not ready to enter another one so soon,"

He nodded, frowning. "I get it," He muttered. "It's okay,"

I was only partially listening though, because I was amazed at the words that came out of my mouth. Was I actually referring to my fling with Puck as a real relationship now?

"Uh, Rachel?"

"Hmm?"

Apparently I'd spaced out longer than I'd thought.

"I was asking you about when you could leave for New York,"

The next words came out of my mouth before I could think. "How about next week?"

Across from me, Jesse smiled.

"Next week?" Ava gasped as we pulled into the parking lot outside the apartment complex. I opened her door for her and she bounded out eagerly. "Mom, how could you say that?"

I shrugged. "I just wanted to get out of there,"

"Can you keep going, please?" Ava asked. "This story is really good,"

"I'm glad you like it, and of course. Just promise to start on your homework as soon as we're done."

"I can multi-task!" I laughed and Ava's eyebrows knitted together. "That wasn't supposed to be funny!"

The next Glee meeting, I ask Mr. Schue if I can make an announcement and tell everyone that I'm leaving.

"What?" Finn, Puck and Sam all say at the same time, making them scowl at each other before turning back to me.

"I'm sorry," I said. "But this is a once in the lifetime opportunity for me, I can't turn it down,"

"That's a bunch of bull-" Puck began, but Mr. Schue cleared his throat, signaling him to stop. He sat back, his arms crossed across his chest and gave our teacher a small huff. His hand shook, like he was tempted to give him the finger but I shook my head.

"We're happy for you Rachel," Finn interjected and I turned my attention from a pissed off Puck to the other boy. "Broadway's always been your dream and we all think you'll do awesome, right guys?" The rest of the glee club nodded and mumbled words of encouragement.

"Just don't forget all of us back home in Lima, Ohio, okay?" Quinn teased and I nodded.

Then Mr. Schue starts a group hug and we all crowd together, the warmth from everyone else's bodies surrounded me and I suddenly felt like such an awful person for leaving them all behind. I looked up to Finn's smiling face, that dopey grin made my heart sink, and then to Puck's fading glare, he was still in love with me, I knew it, and then I turned to glance at Sam. His face was stone cold and I couldn't read it, but I could tell he was sorry to see me go too. And at that moment, I knew I'd miss these three most of all.

"Oh my God! How pretty!" I gasped, looking at the bouquet of red roses the glee club had brought me. It was Saturday, the day of my flight to New York, and they'd come to say goodbye to me in the parking lot, Jesse standing moodily nearby and saying how we needed to get moving before security got too crowded.

"We figured since we couldn't be there for your opening night, we should give you the flowers now," Kurt explained as he placed them in my arms, winking. Both of us were trying not to cry. "I'll see you soon, right?"

"Right," I confirmed and we did the gay high five for old time's sake.

"We should go," Jesse interrupted and Kurt gave him the 'bitch face'. I laughed before moving to hug every single one of my teammates. I heard Jesse's annoyed sighs when I was at Finn, Puck and Sam, whose hugs were a little longer than the others. It was just so hard for me to let go of them, when I had spent so many times in those arms, when I had felt that embrace before and known their scents like the back of my hand. It seemed so long ago.

"Goodbye guys," I said finally as I walked away, the first tear falling down my face. "I'll never forget any of you,"

Jesse put an arm around my shoulder as we entered the airport, and I didn't reject. I needed some comfort, and he was the only one there to offer any. Right now, he was all I had.

Ava was blinking rapidly, as if she herself felt like she might cry. "I could never do that, leaving all my friends behind. Especially if all I had was someone like Jesse,"

"Yeah," I laughed. "That wasn't the smartest thing I ever did,"

"What was?" She asked.

I smiled and kissed her temple. "Having you,"

Jesse and I sat awkwardly at the gate as we waited for our flight to start boarding. Neither one of us spoke or broke the tension, we didn't even look at each other as I skimmed a copy of Vogue, a gift from Kurt since he wouldn't be around to help with my clothes, and he texted on his phone.

"Flight 214 to New York City, New York is now boarding," said the voice on the intercom.

"Come on," Jesse said, standing up and taking both of our carry-on's. "Let's go. New York City waits,"

I smiled, this was what I always wanted after all, and followed Jesse towards the entrance. The flight attendant scanned our boarding passes and beamed. "Have a wonderful trip!" She chirped and Jesse took my hand.

As we walked into the aircraft, I swore I heard my name. "Rachel, Rachel, Rachel," At first I thought I was imagining things, but it just got louder and more persistent. Pulling from Jesse's grasp as he went down the aisle, I spun around and saw him running towards the terminal. "Rachel!" He called, his voice just able to make out in the chaos.

"Finn?" I screamed back. "Finn?"

He stopped and smiled, taking a step forward before the attendant who had been nice to me five seconds earlier pushed him back.

"No, I have to get on that plane! You don't understand-" I heard him attempt to explain. Sadly, Finn was right, she didn't understand.

I started to run back, but I felt Jesse's hand grab my arm, his nails slowly digging into my flesh. I cringed.

"Rachel, come on," He said. "I found our seats,"

I started to pull away, but when I looked back at the door it was closing. The plane began to shake as it started up. I sprung forward, but it was too late. The door was shut and Jesse was pulling me towards our spots as the plane went down the runway. Finn was gone.

Hope that wasn't too much of a downer for you. I couldn't resist the old 'run after the girl of your dreams who is about to take a flight far, far away' concept. Please review! I'd love to make it to 100 soon! Thanks for reading guys!