Caught In Your Bad Romance


Rachel woke slowly, roused from the sweet bliss of her dreams into the gathering clarity of conscious thought. Her features scrunched slightly with effort as she defied her protesting body and finally pried her eyes open, squinting as she took in the creeping grey light of morning. The space beside her was empty once more, though his warmth and touch still lingered – in her bed, on her skin, an intimacy that was weaved into every part of her now. Her gaze lifted, moving beyond the tangled sheets, finding him easily where he stood even though he made no sound.

She was quietly surprised to find him already dressed but she said nothing, only watched in silence as he straightened up and let the shirt slip down over his back, hiding his body from her appreciating eyes. She smiled a little as she soaked in the comfort of his presence, surrounding her in memories that were confirmed by the sharp twinge in her muscles as she moved to prop herself up on her elbow. She knew he felt her gaze following his movements and the smile turned almost shy, the echo of last night passing over her like rays of dawn breaking through clouds.

He turned around caught her staring; something that she made no effort to conceal as she finally raised her eyes to meet his. "Hey," he said softly, a hint of that knowing smirk back on his lips.

"Hey," she murmured lazily, her voice thick with sleep. "What time is it?"

She didn't miss the amusement in his gaze at the reversal of lines from the previous night.

"About six."

She nodded absently, still drinking in the rare but deeply irresistible sight of a sleep-mussed, dishevelled, less than perfectly attired Jesse St. James. It was definitely something she could get used to. His clothes were crinkled and the unruly curls of his hair were rumpled in such a way that made her want to run her fingers through it all over again. His eyebrows arched a subtle inch, the corners of his mouth twitching, and Rachel found herself fighting back an absurd blush at the way he could so easily read her thoughts. She mentally rolled her eyes. As if his ego wasn't big enough already.

She watched as he turned away and crossed the floor to her desk, a gentle frown falling over her face at the realisation of his actions. "You have to go now?"

He shrugged his jacket on and looked back at her, a wry quirk in his smile. "Unless you want me to give you a ride to school?"

School. Finn.

Oh god.

Numbness closed in on her with frightening speed, blinding her to the surrounding world. It was as if a gaping void had opened up beneath her feet, an abyss rushing up to swallow her mind in the swirling black waters of dread and panic. She was barely aware of Jesse as he walked back to her side, closing the space between them with a quiet purpose. Her eyes were glazed and unfocused as he leaned down over the bed, bringing their faces level once more. She blinked slowly as he touched his hand to her cheek but couldn't force her eyes to meet his; trapped somewhere between a dream and a nightmare. She missed the tenderness that sobered his expression, the grim look that shadowed his features as he observed the effect of his words.

His lips met hers in a soft kiss, gripped by instinct and his own helpless sense of frustration. For the longest moment Rachel didn't respond, seemingly frozen and locked inside the walls of her own purgatory. Jesse was just about to pull away from the fleeting touch when she slowly curled an arm around his neck, pulling him closer and returning the embrace with a barely subdued edge of desperation that wrenched deep inside his gut.

Rachel clung to his warmth, to the comfort of his touch, like it was the key to her salvation instead of a curse of damnation. She wanted to disappear inside his kiss, hide within the darkness of their shared memories, drag him into the protection of her dreams where the outside world couldn't hurt them. She didn't want to wake up from this. She buried her face into his neck and breathed him in: the subtle smell of his hair and shirt; the memory of his arms wrapped around her and his heartbeat lulling her to sleep; the feel of him on her skin, everywhere…

She found his mouth again in a slow caress, her hands digging into his nape, unwilling to surrender the solid safety of his grounding presence. While he stayed, while they were here together, she could linger a little longer in the surrealism of limbo. Rachel was terrified of being alone with her thoughts right now.

But the world can not be kept at bay forever, and the march of time is indifferent to the pleas of parting lovers.

Jesse moved to pull back and Rachel mumbled a sound of dissent, tightening her hold on him. She felt him chuckle as he gently pried her grip loose against her silent protests. He brushed a light kiss over her lips, the smiling whisper warm against her cheek.

"I must be gone and live or stay and die."

Rachel laughed despite herself, rolling her eyes affectionately at the aptly chosen (if typically over-dramatic) farewell quip. Jesse leant his forehead into hers, his thumb skimming over her jaw – and then all too soon, she found herself facing the lonely silence of her empty bedroom once more.

/o/

It had been forty minutes since Jesse had taken his leave and Rachel had spent the majority of the intervening time under the scalding jets of her shower. Her hair was washed and conditioned, her skin rich with the scent of exotic blossoms, yet she was operating entirely on auto-pilot and had no real memory of even stepping into the bathroom in the first place.

She didn't know how long she stood there, struggling to breathe through the thick steam, quietly drowning in the tears that stung her eyes and clouded her vision until she was all but blind. A hiccupping sob caught in her throat and she lurched forward, fingers fumbling and slipping against the wet tiles as she willed herself the strength not to crumple. No, she wouldn't. Her arms trembled with the effort, her head bowed low under the raging torrent, dragged down by the weight of her sodden hair and crying heart. Her body shivered as she fought to control the tears that poured down her cheeks, the salty tracks indistinguishable upon her drenched skin, yet burning her hotter than the scalding water ever could.

There were so many reasons behind those tortured tears, so much longing and confusion, but all centred around two impossible boys. What had she done? Everything was standing on a knife edge and what was even more frightening was that Rachel didn't know what she was supposed to do now. Her emotions were a mess, ripping through her body in raw waves of extremes, and the normally calming forces of focus and determination had only the most tenuous of grasps on her mind. The thought of facing the new day looming on the horizon made her feel sick with anxiety, clenching her stomach up in knots. The idea of walking back into her old life with that perfect smile masked over her face again – forced to act as if nothing had ever happened, to pretend that she was still the same girl she had always been – was painfully unbearable.

No, she didn't want that. Not anymore. Rachel let out a ragged breath and the misty, condensed air rushed into her lungs, making her cough. She noticed that her skin was turning an unhealthy shade of pink with the prolonged exposure to the boiling power jets, the tips of her fingers puckering slightly, and a grimace pinched her brow. She didn't want to step outside the walls of this cubicle and face what was out there, the crossroads and heartache that lay ahead of her. It was too daunting, too overwhelming, and it scared her in a way few things truly did. She closed her eyes and let the furious water pound out the noise of her chaotic thoughts. Inside the narrow, steamy shower – things were safe. Her world was small and simple and manageable.

But it couldn't last.

With a sigh, Rachel finally reached out and turned the dial around until the pressure eased to a trickle before stopping altogether. Her limbs moved automatically and she didn't bother to fight them as her feet stepped onto the bathroom mat and her hands moved to wrap the soft towel around herself, guiding her through the normal morning rituals with a numb mind.

She dressed carefully, mindful of the tenderness of her body, the new ache within her that still caused her to wince occasionally. Her fingers brushed tentatively over the marks on her skin, warm with the memory of his embrace, examining the small outward changes that betrayed the defining emotional one she felt inside. Yet she was grateful for them in her own way; the only physical reminders she had of everything they had been through together. The irreversible claim of his touch, the lingering echo of his mouth and hands and body over hers…the only proof she had that he had ever been there at all.

Maybe the daylight couldn't steal everything from them after all.

It was a lot to try and take in and it still didn't feel entirely real yet. A frown slowly crossed her face and Rachel stepped closer to the mirror. She lifted her hand to lightly finger the deep bruises that marred the slope of her neck, flinching in subdued pain even as a longing shiver coursed down her spine.

That might prove a little more troublesome. Shaking herself out of the temptation of her memories, she quickly retrieved a fine, shimmering purple scarf from her chest of drawers. Standing before the mirror again, she took one last look at the forbidden scars on her flesh, before steeling her nerve and firmly wrapping the fabric around her neck. She pulled the knot tight and adjusted her hair, letting the long locks fall over her shoulders to offer extra protection from prying eyes.

She lined her lashes and swiped on some mascara to conceal the red rims of her tears, even though she was almost sure they would have faded by the time she reached school anyway. Rachel glanced over her reflection one last time, scanning intently for any missed detail that could potentially give her away. She didn't dare catch her own gaze for too long: fearful of what she would find looking back at her; worried that she wouldn't even recognise those soulful eyes anymore.

The blare of a horn on the street outside snapped her to attention once more. With a deep breath, she snatched up her bag and made her way downstairs at a quick pace. She had let the morning run away with her – she was going to end up late at this rate.

/o/

Rachel made it in time for school as it turned out, though only barely. Despite the objection of her body, she all but sprinted across the parking lot before flinging back the doors as she rushed through the corridors, slipping into her class just as the bell rang. Ignoring the disapproving glance of their teacher, she found her seat and sank down with a quiet sigh of relief. Detention would be the last thing she needed right now.

She was more than half tempted to try and claim a sick day, but the prospect of being left alone in that empty house for hours, deafened by the accusing silence, was agonizing. She would go out of her mind. She needed the distraction; she needed to cling to what little normalcy remained in her life. Rachel organised her thoughts best with the adrenaline of activity, and predictable routine was the only thing keeping her sane right now.

The burden of guilt was something she had become intimately acquainted with in recent days, but never had it been quite so acute, quite so suffocating. She needed to talk to Finn. The thought alone was enough to propel her heart into palpitations, but she refused to let her resolve be shaken by selfish cowardice anymore. It was the only possible course of action left for her now; the only way she could see out of their twisted web. It was the only thing that could bring all this to an end – one way or another. She was so tired of running. From him; from Jesse; from her own fears and feelings. She wanted her world to halt spinning; she wanted to remember how it felt to stand on solid ground again. She just wanted it to stop.

Though what she was going to say to him – she had no damn clue. Rachel slumped lower over her textbook, hoping it would be enough to conceal the fact that she hadn't written a single line in the past fifteen minutes of her history lecture. How could she even begin…how was she supposed to fix this? Everything was up in the air, just waiting to crash and shatter around them, to break their lives into pieces that couldn't be put back together. For god's sake, she didn't even know where things stood between her and Jesse. Not really. He'd left this morning before they'd had a real chance to talk, to deal with the aftermath of their choices. Maybe he didn't want to even try. Jesse would always be a closed book, always protect himself first. Had she been kidding herself all along? Had she already thrown everything away? Rachel ground her teeth together, biting her tongue to hold back the prickle of tears that threatened to blur her vision. What was she meant to think?

Finn would never forgive her. The thought of the betrayal in his eyes, the resentment and hurt, all caused by her… everything she had sworn to spare him. Rachel winced as a spasm shot through her chest, knotting around her heart, and quickly drew in a steady breath to try and relieve the pressure. Could she really do that to him? But she couldn't say nothing, couldn't keep silent and hope it all would just go away or go back to normal. She could never return to the way things were, the girl she was just last month, even if she truly wanted to. There was no simple solution, no easy way out – events had gone too far already. Things had gotten too deep, too involved. There was no walking away from this intact anymore. Rachel knew she couldn't change what had happened, how she had chosen to handle the whole heartbreaking dilemma, as much as she wished it otherwise. She suppressed an ironic laugh as she reflected on how hard she had fought to keep her life together only for it all to be in vain, undone by her own hand. Nor could she control what was to come next – where the debris would fall in the wake of the storm. All she knew for sure was that it was too late. It was too late to save any of them.

Her mask was finally cracking, the weary will to maintain it fast deserting her and surrendering to the inevitable.

She navigated the crowded hallways between her classes with her head bent; doing everything in her power to keep a reign on her heartbeat that was hammering out an unhealthy rhythm in her ribcage, seized up tight with panic. She could still feel the ghost of his touch on her body, his breath over her lips; every throb in her muscles an intimate reminder of the bitter paradise they had shared. She could feel it burning through her skin, ingraining deep into every nerve, changing her all over again in the most fundamental of ways.

The new world they had opened up together was entrancing and almost daunting, and yet she somehow felt as if she had been waiting for it forever. She couldn't define or explain the exact feeling, but there was no denying the irrevocable step they had taken or the effects it had wreaked on her, inside and out. She just felt… different. Rachel kept her gaze cast down, avoiding the eyes of her classmates, as if afraid that people would be able to tell just by looking at her. She flinched at every corner, terrified her guilty body would let her secrets slip to any passing onlooker she ran into.

The raging rollercoaster of emotion coursing through her was beginning to make her dizzy. Never in her whole life had she felt so wretched and so elated at the same time. She wanted to smile until her face hurt; she wanted to scream until her legs buckled. It wasn't fair! It wasn't meant to be like this. This was supposed to be one of the best days of her life. How could something feel so right and still be so wrong? It was like being stuck half-way between heaven and hell, driven mad by your own mind.

Rachel managed to dodge her teammates for most of the morning, easier in some cases than others, and was immensely thankful that she didn't share a class with Finn today. She needed more time before tonight to form a plan, to prepare her words and get her head together. She succeeded with this course of action until early afternoon, when she was cornered by Kurt on her way to French class.

"Why, if it isn't our elusive leader," he drawled sarcastically. She narrowed her eyes and Kurt smiled to show there was friendly humour within the mockery. "Where have you been anyway? We missed you at lunch."

She raised a sceptical eyebrow. "You did?"

"Well yeah, it was hard not to notice. People actually managed to get a word in edgeways with the conversation. It was eerie."

"I went out," she explained, shrugging her shoulders in a perfect imitation of nonchalance. "I didn't have time to make something before I left the house this morning and I wasn't in the mood for cafeteria food."

In truth she had not eaten a thing all day, her appetite all but gone in the nest of nerves that tied up her gut. Kurt inclined his head in dismissive acknowledgment.

"Can't blame you for that, I suppose. Sometimes I think Hannibal Lecter would struggle to keep our school meals down." He frowned and picked an invisible thread off his jacket cuff. "Oh, Finn was looking for you by the way."

"Okay, thanks," she replied noncommittally, grateful Kurt's attention was less than fully focused on her currently. She made a show of looking at her watch, doing her best to ignore the waves of anxious nausea that rolled through her stomach. "Probably just wants me to check over his English essay before Monday."

"Probably," he agreed with a suffering sigh. "Maybe it would be easier if you just did his homework for him."

She laughed. "Yeah, because I'm really that much of a pushover."

He caught her eye and the two shared a knowing grin of genuine warmth – and for a brief moment, Rachel felt minutely better. True, she and Kurt may be mutually accepted diva rivals, and their relationship had been strained at the best at times, but they still had their moments. In a strange way, Rachel actually trusted him the most out of her fellow Glee clubbers. Maybe because he was the one most like her. He knew how it felt to be a lonely outsider, condemned for just being you, for daring to be different. Perhaps there was an understanding and grudging affection buried deep down between them, beneath all the friction and aloof distain. Maybe they would even dig it up and bring it out into the open one day. Maybe.

Rachel fingered her bag strap and glanced over his shoulder distractedly. "If that's all you wanted to stop me for, then I'd better get to class. I'll see you guys in rehearsal."

"Yeah, sure."

She glimpsed the frown that crossed his face as he cast an appraising eye down her attire. His brows creased in confusion or possibly distaste.

"What?" she snapped impatiently, knowing it was best to get his fashion critiques out the way as early in the day as possible. He always had something to say. It was a compulsion of his that she had grown to accept.

He waved a hand towards her throat. "What's with the cowgirl neckerchief look?"

She touched the knot at her neck self consciously, before quickly yanking her hand away again. "Just felt like trying something different," she said with a shrug.

Kurt made a face. "You can't pull off scarves."

Rachel rolled her eyes.

/o/

Looking up, she stole another glance at the clock behind Mrs Peterson's desk and instantly fought the urge to groan. The end of school and subsequent Glee practice was approaching with far more speed than she would have liked. It was her second last class of the day and she had finally given up trying to absorb any new information during the previous period. Her mind was crammed full to bursting as it was and as such, algebraic equations seemed a rather low priority at the moment.

Usually Rachel performed her best under pressure, worked hardest when faced with a deadline, but right now she felt completely lost and unprepared. It was a feeling she was unfamiliar with and one she was definitely not enjoying. She was running out of time.

In her highly wired state, the silent buzz of her cell phone made her jump far more acutely than usual. Wincing, Rachel had to bite into her lip to keep from cursing out loud as she quickly pressed a hand to her leg, rubbing at the fresh bruise where she had inadvertently knocked into the desk. After checking to ensure her clumsy reaction had gone unnoticed, she cautiously dropped her head and slipped her phone into view, frowning as the single word blinked onto her screen.

Auditorium.

Rachel only stared at the text for a long moment, refusing to acknowledge the impossible implications that shot through her mind. He can't be serious. No, he wouldn't be that fucking stupid. Surely? She clenched a fist in her hair until it was painful. Oh, who the hell was she kidding? It was exactly the kind of brazen, arrogant risk Jesse would happily pull off in a heartbeat. He got a twisted kick out of their dangerous liaisons after all. He'd already proven that more than once. Smug bastard. He could certainly pick his moments.

Rachel continued to fume silently for a few more minutes, until the urgency of the situation forced her to focus on the immediate problem at hand. She glanced surreptitiously at the students around her, heads bent over their own work, before turning her attention to the woman at the front of the classroom. Making up her mind, she stood up as quietly as she could and slipped up to her teacher's desk. Mrs Peterson looked up from her papers and sighed.

"Yes, Rachel?"

Despite her sometimes brusque manner, Rachel knew that her math teacher could be a soft touch if played right. As far as students went, she was one of Mrs Peterson's favourites. She did her homework assignments on time, never caused trouble in class and her academic record was beyond reproach. Well, now it was time to cash in some of those hard earned Brownie points.

She put on her best contrite expression, subtly placing her hand over her stomach and pinching her brow. "I'm-I'm sorry, but I'm really not feeling good. Could I please be excused to the Nurse's office?"

Rachel watched the shrewd concern flicker across her teacher's face as she assessed the student before her. She could almost see the normal questions and suspicions mentally laid aside in her mind as Mrs Peterson opted to take her at her word, having been given no previous cause to doubt her honesty.

"Of course."

Rachel felt a stab of guilty pride as she watched her write out a permission note, slightly amazed at the ease with which she could get away with it. She gave a polite smile as she accepted the pass that was held out to her, taking care to keep up appearances until she was safely out into the deserted hallways of McKinley.

/o/

She found him quickly enough. He was waiting for her exactly where she knew he would be, hands stuck in his pockets and stance just as casual as if he were merely standing at a bus stop instead of in the heart of hostile territory.

"Jesse," she hissed in irritation, scanning the shadows nervously as she hurried up to join him in the stage wings. "You can't be here!"

"Hey, you're not the only one who can break into a rival school you know," he retorted in a low voice, the amusement of his tone echoed in his eyes as they found hers.

Rachel shot him an indignant glare. "I never did it in the middle of the day! Are you trying to get yourself beaten up again?" She saw him open his mouth to correct her assessment of his last physical confrontation, but she ignored him and rushed on before he could get a word in. "If anyone had seen you–"

"They didn't," he interrupted calmly. Before she could even register the movement he had closed the distance between them, stepping closer until her body was tingling with the warmth emanating from his. He brushed his lips over her ear, the rich notes of his voice smooth and teasing. "I can be very sneaky when I want to be."

"Is that so," she murmured dryly. She was trying hard to retain her sense of caution but she was finding herself increasing distracted by the scent of him so close next to her. He smelled of soap and delicious shower gel, aftershave and the expensive leather of his car. It was a heavenly aroma and it wasn't doing wonders for her concentration. An indulgent smile crept across her lips. "I'd have never guessed."

His arms slid around her waist and her fingers found their way into his shirt. She could feel him smirk against her skin. "Besides, it's nothing we haven't done before. All this illicit drama, forbidden meetings behind enemy lines…kinda reminds you of the beginning, doesn't it?"

Rachel sighed and shook her head, unconsciously winding her fingers in tighter to the warm fabric, unable to keep the reprimand from her voice. "If they find you here…"

Jesse's eyes glinted playfully, his fingers slipping under the hem of her blouse to skim the hollow of her back. "Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye than twenty of their swords." His breath sent a shiver up her spine as he recited the poetic verse in a velvet whisper against her ear. "Look thou but sweet, and I am proof against their enmity."

Rachel, for her part, was having a hard time drawing a deep breath. As counter arguments went, she didn't really have a comeback. She almost wanted to laugh at the pure theatricality of the moment they found themselves in. Only Jesse. She wondered how long he had been waiting for an excuse to bring direct quotations into their own star-crossed love story. Well, two could play at that game. She smiled into his neck, the bittersweet lines falling from her lips without hesitation, both word perfect in their scripts as ever. "I would not for the world they saw thee here."

"Hmm," he murmured thoughtfully, pulling back just enough to catch her gaze but not releasing her from his arms. His eyes sparkled with ironic humour. "Maybe we're closer to our literary alter egos than we like to think."

Rachel pursed her lips and quirked a cynical eyebrow. "Except our Romeo never forsook his name and loyalty until it was too late."

Jesse flashed her a roguish grin. "It's never too late."

"Spoken by a true playboy," she reproached with a teasing smile.

He tilted his head back with a laugh and Rachel revelled in the beautiful sound, mumbling only the mildest objection as he pulled them closer together. Her hands slid up to his neck and she struggled to curb the desire to bury her fingers deep in those messy curls and surrender to the darkness of their stolen rendezvous. A frown touched her face as she forced her fluttering eyes open once more, holding his gaze with fresh determination.

"Why are you here, Jesse?" she asked quietly. "It was a stupid risk to take. And you know that."

He shrugged. "Those are always the best kind."

She sighed, glancing away in weary disapproval. She felt his fingers reach out to touch her chin, gently guiding her head up to meet his face. He studied her eyes for a long moment and Rachel got the feeling he was searching for some unspoken reassurance, the answer to a question he hadn't asked yet. When he spoke again, the flippant humour had left his voice and his gaze was soft.

"I wanted to see you." His thumb grazed over her cheek, his eyes never leaving hers. "I wanted to make sure you were okay."

Rachel blinked, taken slightly aback by the honest sincerity in his words. She was still getting used to this side of Jesse. She reflected over her own thoughts for a quiet moment. "Yeah," she said slowly. "I'm okay."

He looked unconvinced, and the pained doubt in his expression tugged at something raw inside her. "Really?"

"Yes," she assured him, more firmly this time. A warm and tender smile graced her lips. "I mean…sore," she added a little shyly. "But good."

It felt like a massive understatement for the compound of exultation and turmoil inside her, but he seemed to understand, tilting his head in a small nod. Rachel glimpsed the relief that passed through his eyes, could feel the subtle wave of tension that left his body at her confirmation. She felt the familiar burn of tears in the back of her throat and quickly dropped her gaze with a heavy sigh, hating herself for the things she had to say next.

"But we shouldn't have… Not like this. Not when things are so…confused."

There was silence for a moment, during which time Rachel didn't dare raise her head to catch his eyes. At last, she felt him touch a hand to her hair, his voice a silky caress over her skin.

"Are they so confused though?"

Rachel looked up as he ran his hand through her dark locks, gently clasping a soft wave and winding it around his fingers. She shook her head sadly.

"You can't help me with this, Jesse. This is something I have to figure out by myself."

She had to sort out everything that had happened and make her peace with it. What she wanted from him; what she felt for Finn; what she was going to do now and how she would handle it. These were questions that would affect them all, but she needed to do it her own way.

Jesse eyed the tightly wrapped scarf at her neck with a smirk. "Cute," he commented, speaking in a tone that was too amused to be innocent.

"I just need some space…some time to work things out…"

"Well, if you're really sure I can't help…" he ventured slyly. Rachel's breath hitched in her chest as his fingers slid under the knot in her scarf, smoothly pulling it loose to reveal the bruises underneath. Neither spoke in the electric pause that followed. Rachel found herself unable to move as he swept his gaze along her throat, something dark and conflicted stirring in those depths as he silently examined the possessive marks upon her flesh.

Her eyes slipped closed with a soft breath as she felt him touch his lips to her skin, tenderly kissing the wounds of passion he had inflicted just the night before. "Jesse…" she moaned in admonishment. She put her hand to his chest to gently push him away, only to fist her fingers in his shirt and pull him closer into her. The frown deepened. "Please…don't…"

His mouth didn't leave her neck, nor did her grip loosen on his clothes. All she could feel was him, the demand of his body strong and familiar around her – and the beckoning memory was almost overwhelming. His fingers moved to trace the line of her jaw, stroking her cheek and holding her captive to his wandering touch. Rachel ran her hand along his arm, well aware the intimacy of their embrace was getting out of control, but suddenly lacking the will to care.

He brought his face up to hers and their eyes met for the space of a heartbeat. Rachel dug her fingers into his back as his mouth found hers in a lingering kiss that caused her toes to curl and the last of her reservations to melt away in the heat of his touch. Jesse caught her lower lip between his teeth, tugging teasingly, demanding entrance which she eagerly granted. The kiss quickly escalated, deepening into dangerous waters, the temptation driven all the harder and hotter now that they knew what it felt like to be that profoundly lost in each other. Jesse backed her further into the enveloping curtains that surrounded them, the shadow of last night moving over them both with a frightening intensity.

"I have…to go," she mumbled breathlessly, finally forcing herself to break from him long enough to speak. She could feel him breathing hard against her as he slowly pulled back to meet her gaze, could just detect the familiar edge of control battling over the desire in his eyes, and she fought back a smile. Self control was winning out, but very reluctantly. She brushed her thumb over his temple, her fingers toying through his hair. "I should probably make an appearance at the nurse's office. Establish alibis and all that," she sighed.

Jesse raised an eyebrow, unable to hide his amusement. "You pulled that old trick?"

"How else did you think I could just walk out of class like that?" she challenged defensively, rolling her eyes. "Believe me, I was tempted to just leave you hanging. It would serve you right."

"Perhaps," he agreed with a smug grin, before tugging her closer and lowering his voice. "But you still wouldn't."

Rachel maintained a dignified silence, refusing to concede the truth in his statement, but her eyes betrayed her smile. She would always come, just like he would, and they both knew it. They might try and fight it, despair and resent the inexplicable draw that bound them together, but it would always ultimately rule them. One way or another, they would always find a way back to each other.

"I'd better get back though before they start to suspect something," she went on, determinedly ignoring the maddening smirk on his lips. Though at this point, Rachel was fairly certain she would have no need to fake a high temperature or light-headedness for the benefit of the school nurse.

"I'm just surprised they actually fell for it."

"I'll have you know that my teachers like me. I've always been a good student and they know that I wouldn't abuse their trust like that." She hesitated before quickly amending, "Well, under normal circumstances anyway."

Jesse smiled. "Sneaking out of class, lying to your trusting teachers – I have to say I'm impressed." He leaned in, his voice soft and enticing. "Why Miss Berry, you little rule-breaking rebel."

His lips were distractingly close, his breath warm on her skin. "Yeah well," she shrugged ruefully, twining her fingers around the back of his neck. "In for a penny…"

The rest of the sentence was lost in the burn of his mouth on hers, hard and intense, as they sank into the taste of each other once again. His hands pulled the curves of her body tight against him, her fingers tangling painfully in his hair as they dragged out their heated farewell for a few more precious moments.

Both missed the faint and fleeting ripple through the black drapes, stirred so gently by a foreign hand. Absorbed and blinded as they were, the lovers remained blissfully unaware of the unwanted eyes that intruded upon their secret embrace; the turn of events that were to soon twist out of their control.

~o~


AN Thanks so much to everyone who has supported this story so far, all the amazing people who have left such kind reviews throughout and especially for the previous chapter. You guys keep me going. Oh yeah, and have I mentioned how much I love a cliffhanger? ;)