Someone to Love You – Chapter 37
Steering the Volvo onto the Berry driveway, Jesse cut the engine and pocketed the keys before removing his seat belt. Rachel mirrored his action, then clasped his hand and brought it to her lips, dropping a soft kiss on his palm. He responded by running his fingers gently along the side of her cheek, sending a tremor shooting through her. Glancing out the vehicle's windows, she couldn't suppress a grin.
"What's got you smiling?"
"I was just thinking of how open this car is. Not nearly as much privacy as your Rover."
"Guess that means the heavy-duty make-out session I had planned is out, huh?"
"Depends on how much of a show you want to give the neighbours," she tossed back, her eyes dancing.
"There's a challenge I might just take you up on," he warned quietly. "After all, I doubt they've ever seen the real you."
She giggled as her gaze swivelled to the house next door.
"Mrs. Macpherson firmly believes I'm going to grow up to become a nun."
"Uh, doesn't she realize you're Jewish?"
"Yes, but she's told me over and over again what a good girl I am. Says I'd be a perfect addition to the church, and she'd be happy to help me convert."
"Nuns don't ever have sex."
"I know."
"But I can vouch for one thing. You certainly are… good…"
He drew out the last word in such a way that goose bumps rose along her skin. His meaning was unmistakeable. Leaning towards her, his lips brushed her ear.
"Do you think she's home?" he whispered.
"It's early evening. As a creature of habit, I imagine she's doing her dishes right about now. Standing at that window," she indicated helpfully.
Jesse surprised her by suddenly pulling away. Before she could divine his plans, he'd walked around the car, coming to a stop beside her door. Opening it, he offered her his hand as she stepped onto the pavement. Lacing their fingers together, he drew her forward, until they were directly within sight of the window she'd just pointed to.
"It sounds like she leads a sheltered life. Let's add some excitement to it by giving her a glimpse of how this particular good girl is behaving these days," he murmured.
He had already wrapped his arms around her, pinning her against his muscular chest. His warm breath tickled her ear and his scent intoxicated her, rendering her absolutely powerless to resist his charms. Not that she wanted to. Gazing into his eyes, she immediately lost herself in the lust she saw reflected there. Her hands snaked up into his curls, cupping the back of his neck and bringing his head closer. Their lips hovered inches apart, until her tongue flicked out and grazed the side of his mouth, a small action that sent desire coursing through both of their bodies. Quickly closing the tiny gap between them, they kissed with abandon, oblivious to anything but the taste and feel of each other. His hand skimmed her side, coming to rest on her thigh, and he was about to hook her leg over his hip when the sound of a car horn blaring pierced their consciousness. Loosening his hold ever so slightly, he rested his forehead against hers as they gulped air into their oxygen-deprived lungs. Once their heartbeats had slowed and their breathing returned to normal, he arched a brow and gave her a cocky grin.
"I believe we've safely put that nun thing to rest."
"Either that, or she'll decide my soul needs saving and work twice as hard," Rachel quipped.
Jesse threw his head back and laughed, then draped his arm around his girlfriend's shoulders and guided her to her front door. Once she unlocked it and opened it wide, the two of them stepped quietly into the foyer. When neither of her dads called out in greeting, she grinned at the boy beside her.
"Wanna sneak up to my room?"
"Don't tempt me," he growled.
"Never?" she teased, as she winked at him.
"Oh, as often as possible. Just not now," he clarified. "Gotta stay on your dads' good sides."
Placing a soft kiss on the top of her head, he allowed her to lead him into the kitchen. They were surprised to find it empty.
"Dad? Daddy? I'm home," Rachel's voice rang out.
Hiram padded down the hall and into view, looking decidedly haggard, but his eyes lit up as he spotted his unexpected visitor.
"Jesse! It's good to see you again," Hiram exclaimed, reaching out and pulling the startled teen into a brief hug.
As the elder man stepped back, it took Jesse a moment to wipe the bemused expression off his face. Giving his hand a gentle squeeze, Rachel moved to the fridge, pulling out a bottle of sparkling mineral water and a fresh lemon, then busying herself putting drinks together. Hiram, meanwhile, turned to his daughter with a sigh.
"I'm sorry, sweetie. Work's been crazy today, and your dad texted me to say he'd be late, so I don't have anything ready for dinner. Plus, I had no idea you'd be bringing a guest home."
"I didn't know either. He just showed up in the auditorium this afternoon," Rachel admitted.
"Where I was treated to an absolutely awesome rendition of Don't Cry for Me, Argentina," Jesse revealed, his pride in his girlfriend's talent written all over his expressive features.
Hiram's brow creased in confusion.
"I thought you said you didn't have any solos for Sectionals."
"I don't, Daddy. Kurt came to ask for my help in choosing an audition piece, and it's what I suggested he sing. His range is a lot like mine, so I knew it would suit him."
"That was nice of you. I know you're rather possessive about that particular song."
"I am. But Kurt and I aren't competing on a daily basis anymore. It's changed my perspective."
Hiram smiled approvingly at his daughter, before turning back to Jesse, his curiosity unabated.
"I'm still uncertain as to how you fit into this picture, Jesse. Rachel told us you'd be here for Sectionals, but that's not for a few days yet."
Jesse was about to explain when the sound of a door clicking open interrupted the conversation. Leroy's voice boomed from the mud room.
"Who do we know that drives a Volvo?"
Rachel's taller father strode into the room, stopping short at the sight of Jesse.
"That's not your Rover in the driveway," he remarked casually.
"Left that at home. Didn't want to be too conspicuous when I picked Rachel up at school. It's my aunt's car," Jesse disclosed.
Leroy extended his hand, and Jesse shook it warmly.
"Welcome back. Rachel's missed you."
"I missed her."
"Is that why you're here early?" Hiram queried.
"She needed me," Jesse replied simply.
Hiram's heart swelled at the look of absolute devotion that passed between the two teens. Leroy, on the other hand, appeared sceptical.
"You mean to tell me that you flew across the country in the middle of a school week because you thought Rachel needed you?"
Jesse nodded, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"You strike me as a closet romantic, Mr. Berry. I'm pretty sure you'd have done the same."
"He's got you there, Leroy," Hiram chuckled. "You've always been master of the grand gesture."
Leroy offered Jesse a mock scowl, but his eyes twinkled.
"Enough with the flattery, young man. You're already on my good side."
"Duly noted. And at the risk of overstepping, you both seem kind of preoccupied. Rachel and I could handle supper, if that would help."
"Are you seriously this perfect?" Hiram mused aloud, only half-jokingly.
"Only for her," Jesse affirmed, his tone light.
Needing no further encouragement, the Berry men conveyed their gratitude, then made a swift exit, leaving Rachel and Jesse alone. As the twosome scanned the shelves and the fridge for suitable dinner fixings, Rachel aimed a curious glance in Jesse's direction.
"You never did tell me how it is you were able to just pick up and ditch classes."
"Can't you guess?"
After considering for a moment, understanding dawned for Rachel.
"Nate."
"Yep. Since we share all but one class, he agreed to e-mail me his notes and any assignments I'm missing, and he'll either attend that one other class for me or find someone in it willing to contribute their notes to the cause."
"You're incredibly lucky to have found such a good friend."
"That I am."
"Okay, so that covers your courses, but what about the play? Don't you have rehearsals scheduled this week?"
"I do. But given the way things have been between Sarah and myself lately, I think she was actually relieved when I told her I'd be away for five days. She plans on working through the numbers that don't involve me – which, let's face it, is most of them."
"Just a glimpse of your devious side was enough to intimidate her, huh?" she couldn't help but tease.
"That's all it took. I am supremely talented, you know," he shot back, his tone laced with amusement.
"I know," she murmured, and it was instantly clear to both of them that they were no longer talking about his actions with Sarah.
"Don't start," he warned her, his eyes already darkening with want.
"I thought you liked to take risks," she taunted him.
"Within reason. I assume you want me to stay healthy, so that I can continue to give you the kind of pleasure you only dreamt of before you met me," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Heat flared within her at his words, and her cheeks reddened noticeably, but she couldn't resist aiming a snappy comeback his way.
"Afraid of losing a few vital body parts?"
"There are some I'm pretty sure you'd miss," he retorted, his expression smug.
"Agreed," she responded simply.
Gazing at each other across the island, their matching smiles conveyed unspoken promises for the night ahead. Suddenly aware that they'd totally abandoned their dinner preparations, they returned their focus to the task at hand.
Half an hour later, Jesse, Rachel and her dads were seated around the kitchen table, conversation flowing freely between them. As had become his custom, Leroy was expounding once more on his new boss' flaws, bemoaning her unreasonable demands and lamenting the departure of his previous manager. Jesse's lips twitched into a smirk, which didn't escape Leroy's notice.
"Does my predicament strike you as funny?"
While his deep bass voice had intimidated many a man, Jesse merely chuckled.
"I simply believe you have more power in this situation than you seem to think you do."
"How so?"
As Jesse outlined several ingenious coping strategies, Leroy became increasingly animated. Rachel and Hiram watched, fascinated, as the younger man drew the elder Berry completely under his spell. Nodding and grinning widely, Leroy looked as if a tremendous weight had been lifted from his shoulders. From his side of the table, Hiram finally gave voice to the question uppermost on his mind.
"No offense, Jesse, but you're still so young. Where did you learn such sophisticated techniques?"
"Four years with Vocal Adrenaline provided an education like no other," he remarked, without a trace of irony. "It was the perfect environment for observing human behaviour and for devising solutions to deal with… uh… interpersonal issues."
"Well, I must admit that you appear to have thrown my husband a lifeline tonight. Thank you."
"Yes, thanks, Jesse."
"You're more than welcome."
"Now, not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but how is it that you happen to be here already? Don't you still have classes to attend?" Leroy wondered.
"I do, but Nate's going to send me all the notes and assignments I need to stay caught up."
"That's mighty generous of him."
"It is, and I plan to find some suitable way to repay him. But he knows how important Rachel is to me, and he understood what drove me to fly out as soon as I could."
"And how do you intend to spend your time while Rachel's in school? Surely you don't expect us to allow her to skip the rest of the week."
"I wouldn't dream of it," Jesse responded, the corner of his mouth twitching upwards as he fought to keep from smirking.
Rachel interjected before anything further could be said.
"And you know I would never do that, Dad. I need to keep my grades up if I hope to get a scholarship to Tisch or Juilliard."
Leroy let out a relieved sigh.
"I just thought Jesse might prove too much of a distraction for you."
The two teens struggled mightily to keep their expressions neutral in the face of Leroy's all-too-accurate assessment.
"I'll be doing my own homework during the day, Mr. Berry," Jesse assured the older man. "I'm hardly welcome at McKinley anyway, so I won't be disrupting classes or challenging anyone there to a sing-off in the parking lot."
Rachel made a choking noise that caught her fathers' attention.
"Are you okay, sweetie? Should I get you some water?" Hiram asked solicitously.
She shook her head, and aimed a playful glare in Jesse's direction, which did not go unnoticed.
"His comment obviously has some significance known only to them," Hiram deduced.
"Care to share?" Leroy queried.
"When I transferred last year, I wanted to make it clear to Finn, in no uncertain terms, that Rachel was my girl. I challenged him to a sing-off."
Hiram and Leroy were now both attempting to keep a straight face, and failing miserably.
"I'm assuming it was no contest," Leroy stated drily.
"There actually was no contest, Dad," Rachel corrected. "Finn welcomed Jesse rather than agreeing to the challenge."
"Because he knew he would lose," Jesse reminded her.
"It would not have been a fair fight," she agreed. "But can we stop talking about Finn, please? He's a part of my past. My future's with Jesse."
Rachel's dads exchanged a meaningful glance, but otherwise kept their feelings to themselves. Hiram was about to get up to clear the table when Leroy put a hand out to stop him. Jesse and Rachel eyed the latter with curiosity as he cleared his throat.
"I'm sure Rachel told you that we'd agreed to waive her curfew when you came back to Lima," Leroy began, looking surprisingly uncomfortable.
"Yes," Jesse responded, his tone non-committal.
"Well, here's the thing. It's not that I want to go back on my word, but we expected you for two nights and now you'll be staying… how many, exactly?"
"Five."
"Right. And three of those will be school nights."
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm guessing you'd prefer Rachel stick to her curfew, except for the weekend."
"That would be accurate, yes. But we're willing to offer a compromise of sorts."
"I'm listening."
"You could stay here, in the guest room."
"While I appreciate the offer, Mr. Berry, I'm afraid I'll have to decline."
Rachel had to stifle the whine of protest that rose to her throat at Jesse's response.
"And why is that?"
"I've got to be honest with you. My sleeping in your guest bedroom will result in one of two things – either Rachel will sneak into my room, or I'll sneak into hers."
"You couldn't at least have tried to sugar coat it?" Leroy protested.
"There's no point. The two of you trust me. The fastest way to break that trust is for me to lie to you. I won't do it, even if it means I have to head back to my aunt and uncle's in a few hours."
Leroy glanced at Hiram, who met his husband's unspoken question with a shrug.
"Will you at least promise not to do anything we wouldn't want to know about?" Leroy eventually requested, following several minutes of silence.
"I can do that," Jesse assured his girlfriend's parents.
"Then we'll give it a trial run tonight. If it doesn't end up being awkward or embarrassing, we'll consider letting the arrangement stand."
Rachel jumped up and threw her arms around her dad. Behind her, Jesse smiled broadly, his delight evident.
"Do you mind if we go upstairs now? There are some things I want to talk to Jesse about, and I've got some homework to finish."
"Go ahead, sweetie. You and Jesse were kind enough to fix supper, so we'll deal with the clean-up," Hiram offered.
The teens raced each other up the stairs, laughing as they jockeyed for position. As Hiram watched their retreating figures, he turned to his husband and placed a gentle hand on the latter's shoulder.
"Are you really okay with this? It's one thing to suspect what they're doing when they're not here, but quite another to have it take place under our roof, with us down the hall."
"More so than I expected. Did you see those looks? I swear he thinks she's the most perfect person on the planet. And she stares at him as if he hung the moon. How can I possibly stand in the way of that?"
"So you don't mind losing our plausible deniability?"
"I'm pretty sure we already did that when we agreed to his request to surprise her for her birthday. They'll be alone in a hotel room in New York City. You can't possibly think they'll be able to resist temptation."
"You're right. We did take a huge leap of faith with him there. And, while I hated seeing her upset at the thought of spending her birthday alone, I don't imagine she'll be disappointed when she ultimately discovers what he's set in motion for her."
"You have to admit, she's very lucky to have found someone who loves her so much. And we're lucky, too."
"To which of our many blessings are you referring?" Hiram asked, his brow raised questioningly.
"The one where we actually like the boy who will probably become our son-in-law some day."
Jesse plopped himself down on Rachel's bed, an expectant look on his handsome features.
"There's something you want to talk to me about?"
She padded across the room and positioned herself between his legs. Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer.
"That was just an excuse to get you up here. What I really want to do is kiss you," she confessed.
"You are a very naughty girl, and I love that about you," he murmured hoarsely, "but I promised your dads…"
His words were cut off by the feel of her mouth on his. Her tongue slid across his bottom lip, and he nipped at it playfully. When she tilted her head to deepen the kiss, he reluctantly pushed her away just far enough to allow him to catch her gaze. Her face was set in the most adorable pout, and it was almost enough to throw him off track. But then the knot in his stomach that had been his constant companion since he'd gone back to California re-formed, and he reached for her hands instead. As he laced his fingers with hers, she was quick to sense his underlying urgency.
"What is it?"
"I need this to work, Rach."
Her brow furrowed in confusion.
"You need what to work? Us?"
"There's nothing at all wrong with us," he rushed to reassure her. "What I meant is that I need these sleeping arrangements to work. I haven't had a proper rest since our last night in the tree house."
Exhaling the breath she'd been holding, she smiled in understanding.
"It's been the same for me. It only took those three times for my body to come to rely on having you by my side in bed."
He nodded in agreement.
"Every time I'd wake up, I'd reach for you, and when you weren't there I'd go through this momentary panic until I remembered that your absence didn't mean that something terrible had happened to you. It was just that you were still in Lima, and I wasn't."
"If it was so important to you that we end up in the same room tonight, what was with that brutally honest declaration earlier?"
"I'll admit I was taking a chance, but they'd responded well to my telling them the truth before."
"And what if they'd called your bluff? Did you have a back-up plan?"
"I was considering 'accidentally' falling asleep on your bed while we studied."
"Hmm… might have worked. But I'm so glad we don't have to resort to that."
"Me, too."
Wrapping his arm around her once more, he gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek, then stood up and walked to the door.
"Before you even ask, I'm coming right back. I just need to run out to the car to get my laptop," Jesse stated.
"Okay."
While Jesse was gone, Rachel retrieved her homework from her bag and prioritized the assignments she'd been given that day. She'd barely begun her Spanish exercise when her ringtone pierced the silence. Checking the screen, she smiled in recognition at the number displayed there.
"Hi, Grace," she chirped brightly.
"Hi, Rachel. Have you got a minute to talk?"
"Yes, of course. Is something wrong?"
"No, no, not at all. It's actually good news, I think."
Rachel frowned at her friend's uncharacteristic ambivalence.
"Well, why don't you tell me all about it, and I'll be the judge."
"Vince called. He asked me out," Grace's words tumbled out in a rush.
"That's terrific! Wait. You do like him, right?"
"Yeah. He seems like a great guy."
"So why aren't you jumping for joy?"
"Well, he's in Akron, for one."
Rachel snorted loudly.
"Seriously, Grace? Jesse's going to school on the West coast. We're hours apart by plane! I'd feel as if I'd died and gone to heaven if Jesse were as close as Akron."
"Yeah, I know. I didn't say it was a rational reaction. And it's not just that. He's older."
"Hmm… two for two."
"I hardly know him."
"That's what first dates are for. To get to know a guy, and see if you're interested in a second one."
"Did I ever mention that I haven't been on many dates? I'm not the most popular girl in school, remember?"
"Their loss. Apparently, Vince's gain."
"What is it that Vince has gained?" Jesse inquired, startling Rachel, who hadn't heard him return.
Holding the phone to her chest, she mouthed a quiet explanation.
"It's Grace. Vince asked her out."
"Tell her that's a huge deal. He's been so focussed on his music the past few years that his behaviour has verged on the monkish."
Rachel brought her cell to her ear a second time.
"Jesse says Vince hasn't dated for a while, so you should be honoured."
"How does Jesse know about this? Are you on Skype with him while we're talking? I might just be offended," Grace remarked, the lightness of her tone diffusing any possible sting.
"We're definitely not Skyping," Rachel responded.
"You're e-mailing? IMing? Have a different phone in each hand, and are switching back and forth between conversations? In some way not totally absorbed with me and my drama of the day?" Grace continued to tease.
"Wrong on all counts, I'm afraid. But I will concede that I am distracted."
"I give up. If you haven't done any of the things I guessed at, how else would Jesse know, unless…"
The light went on for Grace just as Jesse grabbed the phone.
"Hey, Grace. Nate says hi."
"Jesse? You're actually in Ohio? Because Nate said you…"
"… wouldn't be arriving for another couple of days. I know. Change of plans."
"Uh, you're aware that there are ways to release that kind of tension that don't require you to be in the same room, right?" Grace quipped, her tone laced with amusement.
"Been there, done that," he retorted with a chuckle.
"Too much information," she groaned in response, before turning serious. "Really, though, why'd you come early?"
He repeated the answer he'd given Rachel's fathers.
"Rachel needed me."
"I can't decide if that should make me swoon or hurl," Grace declared.
"I'd pick option one myself."
"Of course you would. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that you dropped everything because you felt Rachel needed you. I assume it's because of the choices her choir direction made for Sectionals."
"Yeah."
"Well, all I can say is that she's lucky to have you."
"That goes both ways."
He paused, as if waiting for Grace to resume speaking. When she remained silent, he opted to turn the tables on her.
"You and Vince, huh?"
"Don't get ahead of yourself, Jesse. We're going to The Last Bite for coffee and dessert. That's it."
"For now. Like I said to Rachel, it's been all about the music with Vince for ages. He'd come out for group stuff, especially if it involved singing, but I can't remember the last time he flew solo with anyone."
"I'm kind of nervous."
"Don't be. What you've seen during the karaoke night and the bowling? That's the real Vince. There's no pretence with him. And, from what I've observed, you're the same way, so things should work out beautifully. Now, we just need to hook up Amy and Stefan, and we'll be all paired up," Jesse mused aloud.
"That's not outside the realm of possibility," Grace suggested.
"Good to know. I suppose you'd like me to put Rachel back on."
"For a bit, if you can tear yourselves away from each other."
"I think we can manage. Bye, Grace."
"Bye, Jesse. I appreciate your advice," she added.
Passing the phone to Rachel, Jesse set up his laptop and began checking his e-mail. After several minutes, he became aware of his girlfriend's presence behind him.
"You probably helped more than I could have," she confirmed, staring over his shoulder at the lengthy attachment from Nate that Jesse had just opened. "Wow! That looks like a lot of work."
"It is. UCLA's no walk in the park, so it's a good thing I'm an excellent student. And I was being totally upfront with your dads when I said I'd be working all day while you're at school. I can't afford to fall behind."
Leaning against his shoulders for a moment, she dropped a tender kiss on the crown of his head, before moving soundlessly back to her desk. For the next few hours, they worked in companionable silence, only rarely interrupting the other's concentration in order to share an interesting tidbit of information or to check on each other's progress. Finally, as the clock approached midnight and their yawns grew ever more frequent, they decided it would be best to call it a day.
As Jesse emerged from the bathroom, his half-closed eyes popped wide open at the sight of Rachel slipping into bed naked. He felt himself harden immediately.
"Uh, Rach?"
"Yes?" she murmured, her voice partly muffled by the pillow.
"I need you to put something on."
Twisting under the sheets, she eyed her boyfriend quizzically.
"The promise to your dads. I'll never be able to keep it with you looking so tempting."
Noting that he was sporting a t-shirt and his boxers, she huffed out a sigh of disappointment, but didn't argue with him. Instead, she poked her arm out and made a grabbing motion with her hand.
"Toss me the t-shirt and pyjama shorts that are hanging on the bathroom hook, please," she requested, and he quickly did as she'd asked. Once she'd put them on, he slid into bed beside her, promptly wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her flush against him. She snuggled eagerly into his embrace. For the first time since he'd gone back to UCLA, she felt relaxed and at peace, and in mere seconds, sleep exerted its familiar pull.
The next two days went by in a blur. Unseen by her teammates, Jesse dropped Rachel off at school both mornings, then returned to her house. Using the spare key her dads had surprisingly gifted him with, he entered the quiet, empty space where, true to his word, he spent his time completing the assignments Nate had forwarded to him, and studying his friend's notes to make sure he'd be up to speed the following week.
They'd joined Drew and Cat for dinner the previous evening, enjoying the delicious vegan meal that Cat had prepared, as well as the couple's always pleasant company. Since they couldn't make it to watch Rachel perform, Drew urged Jesse to take lots of pictures, which he assured them both he would.
Now, late in the afternoon, Jesse was on his way to pick Rachel up when his phone emitted its distinctive ring tone. Gritting his teeth, Jesse cast a cursory glance at the caller ID, his suspicions instantly confirmed.
That's the sixth time today.
Exhaling an impatient breath, he steered the car to the side of the road before pressing the button that would connect the call. The warmth was entirely absent from his voice as he came directly to the point.
"What do you want?"
Feeling the tell-tale vibration against her thigh, Rachel plucked her phone from her pocket. She was not at all surprised to discover a text from Jesse.
Quinn sounded a bit sharp on those last few notes, and Sam's okay, but he could definitely still use some work on his intonation.
Despite recognizing the impossibility, her eyes darted around the room, as if she might find him hidden in some corner of it. Surreptitiously, she tapped out a reply.
Where are you?
His response was immediate.
Where do you think? Just outside the door. ;)
Her heart rate sped up instantly – mainly due to the risk he was taking, but also simply because her body couldn't help but react anytime he was near.
You're crazy.
Definitely, but only for you. Tell Sam that was better.
"Hey, Sam, that was good," she declared enthusiastically, just loudly enough for her words to carry to Jesse's sensitive ears.
I said better, not good.
Then come in and tell him yourself.
You don't really want me to do that.
Not today. But soon they'll all know, so we won't have to hide anymore.
I'm looking forward to seeing their reactions.
Stop smirking!
But why? I'm irresistible when I smirk. ;)
Get your smug self to the car. I'll be out in a few minutes.
Sure you don't want me to wait in the hall? I'm wearing a disguise.
A ball cap and sunglasses, I assume? That only works in the movies.
Spoilsport. :P
Letting him have the last word, Rachel turned her attention back to Mr. Schue, just in time to catch the beginning of his latest Sectionals pep talk.
Slouched down in the passenger seat of Rachel's car, Jesse peered out from under the brim of his hat, watching intently for any sign of his girlfriend. A huge grin split his face as she emerged from the school's main entrance. The moment she was outside, she broke into a run, crossing the parking lot in record time. Reaching over, Jesse eased her door open, and she quickly tossed her bag in the back seat and took her place behind the wheel. Sam had just made an appearance as Rachel drove swiftly past, her small wave little more than a blur. The blond boy shrugged and headed for his own vehicle, oblivious to the teen seated at Rachel's side.
Keeping her eyes on the road, she tried to ignore the hand that was currently tracing absent-minded patterns on her thigh.
"What were you thinking, standing right outside the choir room like that? I should be furious with you!"
"But you're not," he observed correctly.
"I can't stay mad at you when you're doing… that," she chuckled softly, as her breath hitched.
"Then I'll be sure to do it more often."
Their shared laughter echoed throughout the car, before a comfortable silence settled between them. When Jesse finally began talking once more, Rachel was unprepared for the seriousness of his tone.
"I have a confession to make."
"That sounds ominous."
"It's not too bad. At least, I don't think so. But you might feel differently."
He felt her tense, and he turned his teasing strokes into longer, soothing ones. She calmed down slightly and waited for him to resume speaking.
"I spoke to Shelby today."
"What? Why?"
"She called me. I ignored her the first five times, but by the sixth, I realized she wasn't going to give up, so I figured I might as well find out what she wanted."
"Which was?"
"To give me a warning. She advised me, in no uncertain terms, to stay away from you."
Rachel flashed Jesse a look of pure irritation.
"How dare she? What business is it of hers, anyway? And why would she suddenly be concerned about this now?"
"You forget how well she knows me. Even if we weren't back together, I would still have come to watch you at Sectionals."
She couldn't help the thrill that shot through her at his words.
"Oh."
"Yeah. So she wanted to make sure I didn't try to take advantage of the opportunity to plead my case for a reunion."
She detected faint traces of amusement in his voice.
"What did you do?"
"I behaved like the arrogant asshole most people think I am. I took perverse delight in telling her I was your boyfriend now, and that I'd been back in your life for months."
"How did she react?"
"Like a mother who doesn't trust the guy her daughter is dating. She reminded me that you were still under the age of consent, and she threatened to have me brought up on charges."
Rachel's tone was guarded, laced through with more than a hint of bitterness.
"Trust her to get all maternal when I don't want any part of it."
"Not to defend her, but she's legitimately worried that I'll hurt you."
"But her scheme to have me contact her was the catalyst for you hurting me in the first place. As long as she's out of the picture, there's no danger of it happening again."
"Even if she were to come back into the picture at some point, there'd still be no danger. Although we're sure to fight from time to time, I will never hurt you that way again. That's a solemn promise."
She squeezed his hand lovingly before offering him a tentative half-smile.
"How did you leave things?"
"I informed her that, since we'd never had sex, her accusations were baseless and she'd get nowhere. You should have heard the relief in her voice. Then, she did an almost complete 180 and practically begged me to put in a good word for her. She even had the nerve to ask if I'd act as a go between tomorrow."
Rachel stiffened as she grasped the implication of what Jesse had just said.
"She'll be at Sectionals?"
"I'm not sure. I told her it was a bad idea, and that you weren't ready."
Having arrived at the Berry residence, Rachel parked the car, but made no move to get out. Jesse pulled her onto his lap and ran his fingers through her hair as she leaned her head against his shoulder.
"I don't know if I'll ever be ready," she sighed.
"That's okay. Take all the time you need to consider it. Even if she's there tomorrow, you don't have to see her. Should you choose to let her back into your life at some point, I'll be right beside you. If you don't, I'll still be there. Either way, you win."
Relaxing into his hold, Rachel placed a soft kiss on the edge of Jesse's jaw, and he responded by rubbing her nose gently with his. Sitting quietly in the gathering darkness, they remained secure in the knowledge that, whatever the next day held, they would face it together.
A/N: Anyone else excited for Sectionals? ;)