Chapter 14- Hell-O:
Rachel walks down the hall a huge smile on her face, "Hey, looking good." Mercedes says walking down the hall with Rachel.
"Feeling good, Mercedes." Rachel says as they continue to walk down the hall.
"This is amazing." Mercedes says, "Ever since glee club won sectionals, everybody looks at us differently." Kurt nods joining the pair.
"I want to be with you, Rachel." JBI says from behind the group.
"We're glitterati." Kurt says, "I feel like Lady Gaga."
"Get used to it, guys." Rachel says, "We're stars now. On par with all the jocks and popular kids. Oh, it's the dawn of a new era here at McKinley, and we are gonna rule this school!"
Three footballers round the corner slushies in hand, hitting all three in the face with their own blue slushie.
X-X-X-X-X
"Hello." Mr Schue says drawing a stick figure on the whiteboard, "Hello?"
"Hello." The kids say some more enthusiastic than others.
"What do you guys say when you answer the phone?" Mr Schue asks.
"What up?" Mercedes says.
"Who this be?" Artie says.
"No, she's dead. This is her son." Kurt says and the room falls silent.
"O-okay…" Mr Schue says quickly changing the subject, "Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, liked to say 'Ahoy, ahoy' when he answered the phone. It was Edison who decided that 'hello' was a more appropriate greeting." The kids look very confused, "Look, I am really proud of what you guys did at sectionals, but what most of you have realized now, it hasn't made a bit of difference in your day-to-day at school."
"I have a slushie-stained training bra to prove it." Rachel says.
"The fact is, we're gonna have to be better, even more spectacular, at regionals. It's time for some reinvention, some new new directions." Mr Schue says, "We need a new… hello. Here's your assignment for the week. Come up with a fresh number, but it has to have 'hello' in the song title, all right?
X-X-X-X-X
Sue in one her exercise bike, glaring daggers at Santana and Blaine, "You two should be wetting yourselves with shame." She gets off the bike, "Glee club won sectionals, and you did nothing to stop it. If you were samurai, and my letter opener were sharp enough, I would ask you both right now to commit seppuku. In Japanese, this means ritual belly-slitting."
"We were seduced by the glitz and glamour of show biz." Santana says.
"Let me drop some knowledge on you. Ever since Quinn Fabray got knocked up, I've been in the market for a new head cheerleader." Sue says, "If you want the job and back in my good graces, you're gonna have to turn around." The cousins turn to face Sue, "And listen up. You're familiar with a little glee clubber named Rachel Berry?" they nod, "Rachel's the kind of girl who wants things so badly. And when she really wants is one Finn Hudson. I want Santana to go after him, Blaine you'll need to help. She'll go crazy. She won't be able to stand your dating him. Humiliated, shamed, she'll have no choice but to leave the group. And without her, Schuester won't make it to regionals." Sue throws her weights, and the pair quickly catch them, "Now, get out of my office."
The pair quickly leave, "I don't want to date Finn." Santana says grimacing.
"You don't have to date him." Blaine says, "Just make Rachel think you are."
"I thought you liked glee club?" Santana asks, "Why are you doing this?"
"I want head cheerleader." Blaine says, "Helping you get into Finn's pants will get me that."
"But won't I get it? You know, I'm one that will split them up."
"Yeah, but I have something to distract Rachel." Blaine says.
"What?"
"Let's just say, she may join vocal adrenaline when I'm done." Blaine walks off, leaving Santana confused in the hall.
X-X-X-X-X
"I know it's been hard on you since the baby drama." Mr Schue says to Finn as they walk into the auditorium, "Trust me, I get it, and it sucks."
"You seem to be handling it fine." Finn says.
"Well, it's because I realized that I had to find this new person inside of me, the one that was okay with what happened."
"I just feel so bad about myself." Finn admits.
"Finn, that guy, who made all those bad choices, who ignored the signs, he's gone." Mr Schue says, "This new, more experienced more interesting guy is here. And I brought you here to introduce you to him. Help you move forward."
"Oh, you mean like, meeting other girls?" Finn asks, "Because I think I'm dating Rachel. At least she sure thinks I am."
"No, it's not about meeting someone else." Mr Schue says, "It's about being okay just being you. Come on, you're a rock star, Finn. You're like Jagger, Morrison."
"Yeah." Finn says, "Yeah, I like that."
"Good." Mr Schue says, "I want you to meet the new and improved Finn Hudson by singing about it."
"Oh, that's why the band's here." Finn says looking to the band.
"Yeah. Pick a song, and they're ready to back you up." Mr Schue says.
"Well, I like what you said about me being like Morrison." Finn says, "And the doors have a hello song. So maybe I could find myself and do my glee assignment at the same time."
"All right, man, go to work." Mr Schue walks over and sits on the piano.
"Hello, I love you won't you tell me your name? Hello, I love you let me jump in your game…"
The glee kids clap as Finn finishes his song, "And that, fellow glee clubbers, is how we say hello." Rachel says, the bell rings, "Mr Schuester, I'd like to run some of my hello ideas by you." She runs over to Mr Schue.
Santana looks to Blaine, who nods. Santana gets up and walks over to Finn, "You're a really good dancer." Santana says.
"Thanks, but my feet weren't really moving." Finn says.
"That was the best part." Santana says.
"Oh."
"I was wondering if you wanted to go out." Santana says.
"On a date?" Finn asks.
"Yeah." Santana says, "Breadstix, 8. Table for two?"
"Cool." Santana smiles before walking out the choir room with the others.
Finn leaves Rachel following, "What did she want?" Rachel asks.
"Oh, nothing." Finn says with a shrug, "Just the time." He walks off.
"I know being my boyfriend is a challenge." Rachel says following after Finn, "I'm not Quinn. I don't look like her. I'm not popular, and my personality, though exciting and full of surprises, isn't exactly low maintenance, but…" Rachel notices Finn isn't really paying attention, so she drags him aside, "I'll always be honest with you. Painfully so. And all I ask in return is that you're just honest with me."
Finn goes quiet for a few seconds before blurting out, "I don't think I want to be your boyfriend."
"What?"
"Look, Rachel, you're really awesome, but I think I need to connect with my inner rock star before I can fully commit to one woman." Finn says, "I need to find out who I am now."
"I'll tell you who you are." Rachel says, "You're a scared little boy. You're afraid of dating me because you think it might hurt your reputation, though, which you'd never admit it, is very important to you. You hate what Quinn did to you, not just because it hurt, but because it was so humiliating."
"You're freaking me out." Finn says, "It's like you're inside my head right now."
"I just see you for who you are." Rachel says, "Unlike you, who can only see me as this silly girl who made a fool out of herself in her first glee club rehearsal. And that's where you lose, Finn. Because, if you take a second look at me, you'd realize that I'm the only person in your life who knows you and accepts you for who you are, no matter what." Rachel walks off crying. She walks to her locker to see Blaine, "I'm crying because Finn-"
"I don't care." Blaine says, "I just wanted to tell you, you don't have to spy on anyone anymore. The truth is out now."
"You knew? Didn't you?" Rachel asks wiping her eyes.
"I knew before any of you knew." Blaine says.
"Why didn't you do anything?"
"Then I wouldn't have any blackmail material." Blaine says.
"You're a horrible person."
"Aww, thanks." Blaine says walking past Rachel and pulling a strand of hair out Rachel's head, she doesn't notice, and Blaine puts the hair in a test tube with a smile on his face.
X-X-X-X-X
"Well, obviously, Hawaiian pizza's the best because it's got ham and pineapple on it, right?" Finn says to Santana in the choir room while the new directions wait for Mr Schue to show.
"Mmm-mmh, true." Santana says the two continue to talk while Rachel watches jealously.
"All right, guys, you got to get moving on those hello numbers." Mr Schue says, "Who has got something to show us? Volunteers?" the kids fall silent.
"Mr Schuester?" Rachel asks raising her hand, "I think I found a song that sums up my feelings perfectly."
"Fantastic, Rachel." Mr Schue says, "Show us what you got." Rachel stands up in the centre of the choir room, glaring at Finn.
"I wake up every evening, with a big smile on my face and it never feels out of place…"
"Guys, guys." Mr Schue says as the song comes to an end, "I don't want to be a buzz-kill, but the assignment was hello."
"I'm sorry." Rachel says, "I was just focusing on the first syllable."
"You know what?" Mr Schue says, "I don't think you guys understand the seriousness of what we're up against." The new directions quiet down, "While we were busy winning our sectional, vocal adrenaline was busy winning theirs. They're last year's national champions. They haven't lost a competition in three years. This is the big leagues, guys. If we don't place at regionals, glee club is over."
X-X-X-X-X
"Five, six, seven, eight!" vocal adrenaline is busy at practice as their coach, Shelby Corcoran, shouts commands at them, "Okay, stop! Stop!" the kids stop halfway through the routine, "That was awful, go take a five-minute break!" the kids scramble off stage.
"Intense." Blaine says approaching Shelby.
"You should be used to it as a cheerio." Shelby says with a smile.
"Yeah." Blaine says, "Sue's MUCH worse." Shelby laughs hugging Blaine.
"So, why are you here?" Shelby asks, "You're not spying, are you?"
"No." Blaine says, "But you have scared Mr Schue."
"Mr Schue?"
"My glee teacher."
"The one that wasn't allowed to show at the competition." Blaine nods, "Damn."
"I was just wondering about something?"
"Yeah?"
"You said you had a daughter." Shelby nods, "Well… I found her."
"You-how?"
"Well, I knew the lead in my glee club, Rachel, looked familiar." Blaine says, "AND, as much as I hate to admit it, she is as talented as you."
Shelby frowns, "That's your evidence?"
"Oh, and I did a DNA test." Blaine says pulling some paper out of his bag.
"Why are you doing this?" Shelby asks.
"I thought you wanted to know who she is." Blaine says with a shrug.
"There's always another angle with you."
"Look, I honestly just thought you'd like to know." Blaine says handing Shelby the papers, "You know I'm very good at finding people. I found you. Finding someone you've been looking for feels good."
"You haven't told you're about us knowing each other, have you?" Shelby asks looking up from the paper.
"No, I know I can't, and I haven't."
"Good." Shelby smiles, "Thanks for this."
"No problem." Shelby smiles hugging Blaine again.
The vocal adrenaline kids walk back on stage and start stretching, "I got to start practice again, you can stay if you want."
"No thanks. I got to get back to Lima." Blaine says, "See you soon?"
"Definitely." Shelby says, "You've still got my number, right?"
"Yep."
"We'll keep in touch." The pair wave goodbye, before Blaine walks off. Shelby looks at the stack of paper, "Jesse! Come here, please!"
Jesse runs up the steps of the auditorium to Shelby, "Yeah, Miss Corcoran?"
"I need you to go to this music shop." She points to an address, "And find and befriend her." She points to a photo of Rachel.
"She a possible new member?" Jesse asks.
"No, I just need you to befriend her. I'll tell you more later."
"Okay, boss." Jesse says walking out the auditorium and to his car.
X-X-X-X-X
Rachel enters her usual sheet music shop and heads straight to the H section. She picks up a book and lots through it, "Lionel Richie, huh?" a teenage boy asks lowering the book to look at her, "One of my favourites."
"Oh, my god, you're Jesse St. James." Rachel says, "You're in vocal adrenaline."
"And you're Rachel Berry." Jesse says, "I saw you perform at sectionals." Jesse lies, "Your rendition of, don't rain on my parade, was flawed. You totally lacked Barbra's emotional depth. But you're talented." Jesse takes the book from Rachel and walks off, "This is one of my favourite haunts. I like to come and flip through the celebrity biographies. Pick up some lifestyle tips. I'm a senior now, so this year's kind of my victory lap. Snagging a fourth consecutive national championship would just be gravy. I'm getting out of Ohio soon. I've got a full ride to a little school called the university of California Los Angeles. Maybe you've heard of it. It's in Los Angeles." Rachel nods, acting like a schoolgirl. Jesse looks to the piano, "What do you say we take it for a spin?"
"Here?" Rachel asks, "Oh, no. I-I-I'm kind of nervous."
Jesse sighs contently, "I remember when I used to get nervous. Come on. I do this all the time. I like to give impromptu concerts for the homeless. It's so important to give back." Jesse starts playing the song on the piano.
"I've been alone with you inside my mind, and in my dreams, I've kissed your lips a thousand times…"
When the song ends the people in the shop clap, "We should do this more often." Jesse says to Rachel, "How's Friday night?" Rachel smiles before nodding.
X-X-X-X-X
Finn and Santana sit in Breadstix eating, "Excuse me?" Santana says as their waitress passes, "I like to send this back."
"But you ate all of it." The waitress says.
"Look, I'm pretty sure you have to do what I say. And this food was not satisfactory." Santana says, "So, I want more, please." She hands the plate to the waitress.
"You can't do that." Finn says.
"Uh, yes I can." Santana says taking a sip of her drink, "Just did."
"Doesn't mean it was right."
Santana rolls her eyes, "I'll just give you an introduction into the way that I work. You buy me dinner and I'll let you have sex with me. It's like the best deal ever."
"Um, not it's not." Santana frowns, "That's not how dates work."
Santana sighs, "You know what, actually? Would you mind waiting in the car?" Finn frowns, "And leave your credit card."
Finn gets up, "This was a mistake." He leaves, Santana frowns in confusion.
X-X-X-X-X
Finn walks up to Rachel, who is standing at her locker, "Hey, Rach, can we talk?" Finn asks. Rachel shuts her locker, "Look, I want to apologize. I realized I don't want to date other girls. Only you." Rachel frowns, "You do talk too much, and usually you're just talking about yourself, but at least I don't feel alone when I'm with you."
"I'm glad you've come to that realization, but you're too late." Now Finn frowns, "I've met someone else, a boy who's finally worthy of my talent and love." Rachel goes to walk off.
"Whoa, whoa, wait." Finn says and Rachel stops walking, "Do I know him? Is he bigger than me?"
"Oh, he doesn't go to this school, and he's a senior." Rachel says turning to face again, "His name is Jesse, and he's the male lead in vocal adrenaline. We're both aware that out Romeo and Juliet romance will be a challenge, but our deep respect for each other's talent will carry us through."
"Rachel, don't you think that's kind of suspicious?" Finn asks, "We make it to regionals and suddenly the top guy in our main competition picks you up?"
"I know it's hard to believe that anyone would like me without an ulterior motive, but you have to respect that our love is real." Rachel says, "Move on, Finn. I finally have." She walks off, and Finn heads to the choir room.
"Mr Schue." Finn says entering the choir room, "We have a problem."
"What?" Mr Schue asks, "What's wrong?"
"The male lead of vocal adrenaline is dating Rachel." Mr Schue frowns, "I think he might have an ulterior motive."
"I agree." Mr Schue says, "Leave it with me. I'll deal with it."
X-X-X-X-X
"Finn didn't fall for any of my tricks." Santana says to Sue as they do sit ups on yoga balls.
"Such as?" Sue asks.
"I didn't wear a bra." Santana says, "And I had them turn up the air conditioning."
"I misjudged you." Sue says, "You may be two of the stupidest teens I've ever encountered. And that's saying something. I once taught a cheerleading seminar to a young Sarah Palin."
"I did find out that Rachel's with some guy from vocal adrenaline." Blaine says with a smirk, a smirk Sue misses.
"Name?"
"Jesse St. James." Blaine says.
"Ooh, bringing down this club may be easier than I thought." Sue says, "I'm engorged with venom and triumph. Now get the hell out of my office." The pair get up and leave.
"What did you do?" Santana asks Blaine once their out of earshot of Sue.
"I just told my-a friend from vocal adrenaline a little secret I found through some DNA testing." Blaine says.
"What?" Santana asks stopping walking.
Blaine stops who turning to face Santana, "Just wait, you'll probably find out soon." He walks off.
X-X-X-X-X
Mercedes and Kurt are sitting in the library working on homework, "Hey, guys." Blaine says sitting down.
Mercedes and Kurt share a confused look to each other, "Hi?"
"Have you heard about Rachel's boyfriend?" Blaine asks.
"Yeah." Kurt says, "She's dating Finn."
Blaine laughs, "No, she's not. They broke up."
"So, whose she dating?" Mercedes asks.
"Jesse St. James. The male lead of vocal adrenaline."
"What?" Kurt and Mercedes ask in union.
"No way, she wouldn't." Mercedes says.
"Oh, but she would." Blaine says, "Ask her."
"You are joking." Tina says.
"I'm not." Santana says, "I overheard a conversation between her and Finn."
"But why would she do that?" Artie says struggling to keep up with the girls.
"Because she clearly doesn't care as much as she claims too." Santana says with a shrug, "I just thought you'd guys would like to know." She walks off. Tina and Artie run into Kurt and Mercedes.
"Have you heard?" Artie asks.
"About Rachel's new boyfriend?" Mercedes asks, "Yeah, Blaine just told us."
"We need to talk to her." Kurt says.
"Definitely." Tina says.
"How's it going?" Sue asks Blaine and Santana as she walks down the hall with them.
"San and I told everybody in glee club about Jesse St. James." Blaine says, "They're furious."
"If Rachel falls for him, the club will self-destruct." Santana says.
"Outstanding." Sue says, "On to step two. Round up a bunch of moustache-sporting teenage girls with glandular conditions."
X-X-X-X-X
"Hey, guys." Rachel says entering the choir room to Mercedes, Tina, Artie and Kurt.
"Cut the butter, Benedict Arnold." Kurt says, "We heard about your new boyfriend."
"Look, Rachel, we're all happy that you're happy." Mercedes says, "But we've worked too hard in glee club to let you throw it all away on a relationship that might not even be real."
"Why, cause he's in vocal adrenaline?" Rachel asks.
"Their motto is, 'Aut neca aut necatus eris.' Which loosely translates to 'Murder or be murdered.'"
"They give their dancers human growth hormone." Tina says.
"Look, we're not saying the dude is playing you."
"He's playing you." Kurt says interrupting Mercedes.
"We just think that until regionals are over, we can't risk the possibility that he is." Mercedes says.
"None of us want to go through what happened at sectionals again." Tina says.
"Okay, look, Jesse and I might not be true love, but what if we are?" Rachel asks, "I know who I am. And how many chances at this am I going to get?"
"If you don't break up with him, you're out." Kurt says.
"You can't kick me out!" Rachel says.
"But we can all quit if Mr Schue doesn't." Artie says.
"Well, good luck winning without me." Rachel says.
"Everyone is replaceable, even you." Kurt says.
"How could you do this to me?" Rachel asks.
"How could you do this to us?" Mercedes asks, "We're a team, and all you've ever wanted was for us to be great and be a part of something special. Now this that still true or not?"
"It is, but-"
"Then split with Jesse." Kurt says before the small group leave.
X-X-X-X-X
Rachel enters a classroom, "You wanted to see me, Coach Sylvester?" she asks looking very confused.
"I did, Rachel." Sue says, "I want to introduce you to McKinley High old Maids club."
"Have a seat boy hips." Lauren Zizes says.
Rachel walks over and sits on the chair next to Sue, "I don't understand."
"Well, Rachel, it's come to my attention that you've been given the old heave-ho by that terribly uncoordinated Finn Hudson."
"Ouch." The girl next to Rachel says.
"And I also understand you have a serious suitor in the form a piping hot hunk wad from another district." Rachel raises an eyebrow, "But that your fellow glee clubbers are incensed with betrayal, they barely have time to apply freeze off to the clusters of warts between their knuckles."
"How'd you know that?" Rachel asks.
"I know how torn you must be, Berry." Lauren says, "My freshman year, I fell for a boy on an opposing wrestling squad, but my team wouldn't go for it. So, the next time I stepped onto the mat, I pinned him so hard, it ruptured his scrotum, ending his run for the state championship and my run for his heart. To my team, I was legend. But I relished this victory in solitude. Now. I spend my Friday nights making out with my cat and watching ghost whisperer."
"Well, Rachel, if I weren't ignoring what these ladies were saying out of an overwhelming sense of deep repulsion, I would probably hear them encouraging you to go for it with your Carmel High beau. Or you might end up like Dottie here, who, although her father offered a sizeable dowry, which included livestock, still couldn't get a date to homecoming."
"No homecoming?" Rachel asks.
"No valentines, no sock hop." Sue says, "Rachel, you need to become even more narcissistic and self-centred than you already are. Think of yourself, your potential happiness. If not, join the club." Rachel looks around horrified.
X-X-X-X-X
"Jesse?" Rachel asks walking on to the vocal adrenaline stage. A spotlight hits Rachel and she shields her eyes, "Who there?" Rachel asks nervously, "I carry a rape whistle."
"Just me." Jesse says and Rachel sighs with relief, "Most spotlights are 2,500 watts. This one is ten times brighter. We have to wear sunscreen onstage, but it's worth it."
Jesse turns the light off and Rachel approaches him, "I guess everything is bigger and brighter here." Jesse laughs, "I have to ask you something. And I need you to tell me the truth, because if you don't, there will be consequences, life-and-death consequences. Because if I give myself to you, and it turns out that you're just playing me, I might die. Okay, okay, not literally, but emotionally. It'll be the kind of heartbreak that girl like me hold for the rest of their lives, like Barbrain the way we were."
Jesse laughs, "Oh, my god." He wraps his arms around Rachel's waist.
"What?" Rachel asks.
"You're more of a drama queen than I am." Jesse says still laughing a bit. Rachel looks up at Jesse with a scared expression. Jesse steps back and offers a hand, "Hi. I'm Jesse."
"I know who you are." Rachel says.
"You know Jesse St. James, the star of vocal adrenaline, your competition at regionals." Jesse says, "I want to introduce you to Jesse, the guy who's nuts about you, the guy who would never hurt you." Rachel hugs Jesse.
"No one can know." Rachel says.
"I understand." Jesse says, kissing Rachel. While they kiss Jesse looks up at Shelby who is standing in wings, she nods before walking away silently.
X-X-X-X-X
"Hey." Rachel says approaching Finn at his locker, "I ended it with Jesse. You can spread the word. I know you know how to do that."
"Look, I'm sorry, uh… look, I know this really sucks for you, but I think it's for the best." Finn says.
"Taking one for the team." Rachel says, "I get it."
"No, not just for the team." Finn says, "For us. You and me. I've been thinking a lot lately. I feel like I have all these problems, you know, with Quinn and basketball and girls and stuff, and I've been so overwhelmed trying to figure them all out. Then I realized the only thing I need to fix was us. I want us to be together, Rachel. A real couple. Look, I even circled some dates on your crazy calendar. Is you not able to talk right now a good thing or a bad thing?"
"I can't." Rachel says.
"Can't what?" Finn asks.
"I can't be a couple with you." Rachel says, "It's the team. We can't have any, um, drama right now. You know, we need… we need to focus on regionals. And I appreciate your offer, but in the spirit of being a team player, I have to decline." Rachel turns away.
"Hey, whoa." Finn says, Rachel turns back to face, "I'm not just some guy that you met at the music store that you can just blow off. I don't give up that easy." Finn shuts his locker, "See you at rehearsal." Rachel nods.
"You say, yes. I say, no. you say, stop. I say, go, go, go. You say goodbye. And I say, hello…"
The new directions stand on stage as the performance finishes. Rachel looks at Finn before running off stage.
Hope all the relations make sense. Please review