CHAPTER 12
As soon as the plane landed in London's Heathrow, Jesse felt better. He had called Sam and left a message letting him know he would join them in Stamford, but Sam hadn't called him back. Jesse didn't really care, he was in a good mood, and he had not felt like that in a while. He couldn't pinpoint what exactly had brightened his mood, he just felt good, alive.
The car that had been waiting for him at the airport took him straight to Stamford. He loved that place, his fondest childhood memories had taken place at Pemberley. He remembered cuddling with his mom by the fire while she told them a story, or the sweet smell surrounding his grandma after baking mince pies. He smiled at the happy memories, and asked the driver to leave him near the lake; he wanted to go for a swim before getting to the house. He hadn't taken a swim in the lake in a long time, and even though he didn't even have the proper attire for swimming, he didn't care; the water seemed irresistible that particular afternoon. Jesse took off his shoes, and his jacket and shirt. He debated whether he should keep his jeans on, but decided to take them off as well, since there was no one around. After swimming for a long while, he felt reinvigorated and just plain happy as he started to walk to the house, carrying his clothes and shoes. He had been admiring the trees and the grounds in general when he came face to face with the most beautiful creature he'd ever laid his eyes on that side of the woods: Rachel Berry. He saw her before she saw him, and like a fool, the clothes that he'd been carrying fell out of his hands as he said her name out loud.
"Rachel"...
When she heard Jesse's voice call out her name, Rachel thought she was going to die, all the relaxation and contentment she had been feeling vanishing instantaneously while her heart stopped beating, or so she thought. She felt mortified, beyond embarrassed, and she just wished the earth would open and swallow her whole right then and there. A thousand thoughts of regret raced through her brain in a split second.
"Hi" he said sheepishly, effectively interrupting her derailed train of thought.
Right before her stood a very wet Jesse St James, clad only in very wet gray boxer shorts that clung to him in all the wrong (or oh-so-right) places. Rachel had never seen Jesse like that, she knew that he was in good shape, but she never imagined he would be so well-toned. His arms were muscular and strong, his chest wide and defined, his abs perfect.
"I hope you're doing fine"
His words snapped her out her reverie; she tore her eyes from his wet body and looked up at his face.
"Hi" was all she managed to say back, as she felt a tsunami of mortification impeding her voice from coming out. She had to struggle to find her voice again.
"I'm fine. How are you?"
He nervously pushed his wet hair back; smiling at her while he picked the clothes he had just dropped.
"I just got back from…"
"I'm sorry Jesse, I'm so sorry!" she interrupted him, visibly affected. He frowned and looked at her confused.
"I didn't know you'd be here, they told me you were in New York. I wouldn't have dared come here if I knew you'd be back, I'm so sorry!"
Jesse didn't know what to tell her. He didn't know if she was embarrassed or just plain repulsed by his presence.
"I'm so sorry, I'll be leaving immediately." She said while turning around and sprinting away.
"Rachel!" Jesse started to run after her, but then he remembered he was almost naked. He took his wet boxer shorts off and put on his jeans and shirt, and ran towards the house, he knew a shortcut. He wasn't about to let her escape so easily.
She didn't know where to go, suddenly lost, her mind blank. What will he think of me? Oh God….
She looked up and saw the house at a distance, and had started walking towards it when she felt her cell phone vibrating. It was Quinn.
"Rachel? Can you come back here?"
"I know, Quinn, I just saw him."
"I didn't know he was coming back, we're as surprised as you are! Where did you see him?"
"By the lake, with no clothes."
"What? Rachel, you were naked?"
"No, he was! Well, he was wearing boxer shorts, but he might as well have been naked… Oh Quinn, I'm so embarrassed! I just stood there not knowing what to say, I feel so terrible! Please tell my mom to put everything back in the car, we have to leave at once, I'll be there shortly!" Rachel ended the call in haste, she had no time to waste, and the sooner she left that place, the better. She was expecting her mom to be waiting for her by the car, maybe with Quinn by her side, but she never expected to see her mom laughing wholeheartedly at something that Jesse was telling her.
"Hey honey, are you all right?" Shelby said while extending an arm to her daughter.
Rachel managed a little smile.
"Yes, are you ready?" was all that Rachel could muster.
"You want to leave now?" Shelby asked confused.
"Well, yes…"
Jesse interrupted her.
"No, you can't leave! There is plenty of room here for you, and your friends are here. Please stay, you're going to love it here, you will love Stamford!"
Rachel was caught in a conundrum, she really wanted to go, but she wasn't about to make a scene by storming off. And she would not let her inner turmoil get the best of her; she was an actress, for crying out loud.
Quinn went to her side, and took Rachel's hands in hers. "You're staying, right?"
Shelby gave her the "we'll talk about this later" look that Rachel knew so well and nodded, so apparently she had no other option but to stay at Jesse's house.
As Quinn and Shelby got back into the house, Rachel took the opportunity to talk to Jesse.
"Jesse, do you have a minute?"
He smiled at her before replying:
"Sure, come on, let's take a walk".
Rachel felt odd walking by his side, yet it was strangely familiar. They walked for a while without talking. Rachel broke the ice.
"Jesse, I just need you to know that I didn't know you were coming here, I was assured that you were in New York, I would have never come if I knew, you know, after all that happened…"
Jesse could see that Rachel was struggling for words, and he did not want her to feel like that. They kept on walking.
"Rachel, no one knew I was coming, I didn't even know I was coming! It was a last minute decision. I knew that Sam and Quinn and the guys would be here, so I decided to join them. I hope my sudden appearance is not making you uncomfortable…"
Jesse was worried that she may be uncomfortable because he was back at his own house? She felt her embarrassment was getting out of hand and she needed to put an end to what could be catalogued as the most awkward conversation of her life.
"Of course not, Jesse, I was just worried that YOU might be uncomfortable coming to your country house to rest and relax only to find me here!"
He gave her a genuinely confused look.
"But I'm so glad that you're here! It was quite a surprise, but in a good sense. I know it's strange to tell you this now, but I honestly hope we can be friends."
She smiled at him as she stopped walking and held out her hand to him.
"Okay, of course we can be friends."
He shook her hand and smiled back at her, and they kept on walking, both feeling suddenly comfortable with each other for the first time.
Rachel never thought she would have a good time during her stay at Pemberley.
Having survived the awkwardness of the first few hours, she felt more and more at ease. They had all sat down for dinner at a big table in a deck overlooking the lake, and after sharing food and wine and stories, Puck went to get his guitar, and they all ended up singing. It was a perfect evening.
It was almost midnight when her mom asked her to walk with her to the room where they were staying. Once inside, Shelby sat on the bed and looking at Rachel, she just said: "Spill it."
Rachel loved how straight her mom could be, she knew she had inherited most of her drama queen traits from her dads. She explained everything to her mom, who listened to her daughter entranced, and when Rachel finished her account, Shelby wiped a tear from her cheek.
"Poor kid, Rachel! I think he really likes you."
"I think he thought he liked me, that is until I told him off in the worst possible way! I was so blind, so prejudiced!"
"No, Rachel, I can tell he's still interested. There's something in the way he looks at you…"
"Come on, mom, I think you might have had a little too much wine!"
"That I certainly did, and now I need to rest! Go ahead, have fun with your friends, the night is still young!" She kissed her daughter and practically pushed her out of the room.
When Rachel went back to the deck, she found that everyone had mellowed down. Quinn and Sam were almost asleep on one of the lounge chairs, and Jesse was looking at the lake.
"Where's everyone?" Rachel asked.
Jesse smiled at her before telling her that Puck and Mercedes were at the game room.
"Did you know that I have a collection of tapings of original Broadway plays?"
Now he had all of her attention.
"What do you mean by original tapings?"
"Come with me, I'll show you."
When they got to the home cinema, Jesse took Rachel to a small adjacent room, with shelves filled with boxes of 8 mm, beta and VHS cassettes.
He took out one of the older boxes and handed it to her.
"Funny Girl, 1964. Oh my God Jesse, is this the real thing?" She said while putting a hand to her chest, as if she had just found the Holy Grail.
"Yup. I had them all transferred to DVD's. Care to see one now?"
Rachel was giddy, like a kid in a candy store.
They shared a love seat in the middle of the room. At first they just watched the musical, and after a while Rachel started humming one of the songs. He couldn't keep her eyes off her, but she barely noticed, she was intently watching the big screen in front of her. Then she started singing, almost whispering, but when Jesse joined her she sang her heart out, their voices in perfect harmony over the original song. They sang together most of the songs. By the time it was over, it was very late, and Rachel couldn't stifle a yawn.
"That was so amazing. Could we watch another one tomorrow, please?" she asked him with sleepy eyes while he was walking her back to her room.
"Of course, anytime you want."
She gave him a wide smile before placing a quick kiss on his cheek.
"Thank you, Jesse, can't wait for tomorrow! Goodnight!" She gave him one last smile before going into her room.
As Jesse left to his own room, he placed a hand to his cheek, where Rachel's lips had been seconds ago. He couldn't wait for the next day either. He did not know what had changed between them, but things were definitely starting to look up!
Thanks to the amazing Original Groffette for betaing this chapter even though she's up to her neck with work and her own amazing story "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart".
And thanks to all of you for your reviews, story alerts and favorites. I do intend to change the original plot a little and include some St Berry love in the next chapter, so be nice and review and make me update faster! Reviews are love!
