Chapter 5

Rachel woke up, arching her back as she stretched in bed, a smile etched across her face; as it had been since James had walk her home after the party. Glancing around the room, Kurt was pottering about organizing things wearing his bath robe. Smirking as he waved at her before heading back into the bathroom, Rachel rolled her head back over and gazed out of the window. The sun shining brightly, and birds flew past the window. Rachel sighed happily as her eyes gazed down below the windowsill. Her smile faded as she saw the open suitcases sat next to one another on the floor. Kurt's had already begun to be packed with some clothes already inside, hers was empty except for a few things. The empty state of it a reminder that in a few days time she and James would part ways, each going back to their own states. Rachel shook her head, trying to focus on the present, spending the last time days with James having fun and sharing his company.

Throwing back the covers, Rachel climbed out of bed and got dressed. As she came out of the bathroom twenty minutes, while she was fixing her earrings, she saw Kurt sat on her bad. He was wearing a smile, but she could see sadness in his eyes.

"You okay Kurt?" Rachel asked, sitting on the bed with him.

"You haven't started packing yet" Kurt replied, touching her hand softly.

Rachel gulped, looking at their suitcases with a sad smile. "We've still got a few days, there's plenty of time"

"Rachel" Kurt said, and she glanced in his eyes. "Talk to James. You two are getting serious, and you need to talk about it"

She nodded, looking down at their hands and sighed. "Alright"

...

A short cab ride, and an hour later Rachel was sat in the middle of a workshop with James and Matt. His hand was resting on her leg, and hers was covering it; holding onto his hand tightly as his thumb soothing motions on her knee. Her thoughts were drifting onto how bring up the conversation she needed to have with him. A small part of her was worried about how he would react; if he would even feel about what she had to say. Suddenly her breath caught in her throat as her thoughts dwelled on the matter. Did he even care for her enough to want to continue being with her across state lines; what if this was simply a summer fling for him, a bit of fun while he was away from home. But once he was back home, he would forget about her. She'd spoken to Finn about wanting to be with someone who would choose her above anything else and here she was kidding herself by being with some guy who'd just used her and would be done with her in a few days time.

"You okay?" James whispered softly, his hand squeezing her leg. Rachel turned her head to look at him, his face creased in concern. She smiled and nodded her head, flashing him a smile as he leaned over and kissed her forehead. Rachel sighed happily as he looked forward again, glad to know that he had realised she was worried about something. The concern in his eyes washed away her troubles. Rachel shifted closer to him, and leaned into his side as a smile appeared on his face.

...

"So what do you think " Matt asked, as they were stood around at the end of the day. After the programme's last full days worth of activities had finished, they were sat on the steps outside the auditorium. James was sat on the step below Rachel as she ran her fingers through his hair.

"You're hair is so fluffy" She whispered giggling into his ear as she leaned over. He tilted his head up and gazed at her, a smirk on his face. Rachel kissed his cheek as he turned back to Matt who was rolling his eyes.

"Watching some NYADA students perform tomorrow is going to be amazing" He grinned, "I'm surprised it took them this long to show-off their students to us"

They continued to talk to each other for a few more minutes, before Lucy arrived and took Matt away. Kurt had called a cab and they were about to head off to it when James kept hold of her hand when they had kissed goodbye. Rachel looked up at him frowned as she wondered what he wanted.

"I was thinking..." James said, before breaking off, his brows furrowed slightly. Rachel, a little concerned, stepped forward and took a hand from his and placed it over his cheek. He looked up and stared into her eyes and she smiled as she saw nervousness as well as affection for her.

"What's wrong?"

"I've done this all wrong..." James replied softly, sighing "We never went out as boyfriend and girlfriend"

Rachel smiled widely, and rubbed his arms with her hands. "That's what's bothering you? It's okay"

"No" James shook his head "No it's not. I want to take you out. Tonight"

"You want to take me out?" Rachel replied softly.

"Yeah" James nodded, and as he talked there was a vulnerability as his voice cracked slightly "We only have a few days left with one another. I'm not sure how we're going to make it work when I'm in Oregon and you're in Ohio but...I think a good way to start is by doing the basics right"

Rachel laughed at his words, and the tone of his voice she could tell he was as worried about what would happen between them as she had been this morning and earlier in the day. Her voice was gentle, and quiet. "I'd love to"

James grinned and then leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips. A few short kisses followed and she pulled back biting her lip.

"Where are we going?"

"Anilo's" James replied, and when he saw the frown on her face he smiled and explained "It's a vegan restaurant, my mom told me about. Perfect for my favourite girl"

Rachel blushed, and hugged him tightly. Pulling back, she kissed him on the lips again. "Pick me up at 8 tonight?"

James nodded, and kissed her one more time before she ran away pausing as she opened the door and waved at him happily before she hopped into the cab with Kurt.

"What are you smiling about? Did you talk to James?" Kurt asked

"Not as such" Rachel replied, and as Kurt frowned and opened his mouth to respond she raised a hand. "Wait, We didn't talk about it; but he mentioned he's as worried about what's going to happen as I am. He wants to do things right. I promise I'll talk to him tonight."

"Tonight?" Kurt said shaking his head in confusion

"He's taking me out to dinner. Our proper first date" Rachel said grinning from ear to ear.

...

"Wow" Rachel said softly, smiling as she looked at herself in the mirror. Kurt had just finished giving her a makeover in preparation for her date with James. He had styled her hair, tying it into a cute tight bun, her bangs along with two strands of hair framing her face. Kurt had put little make-up on her face, just some simple mascara and lipstick to highlight her eyes and lips. As an outfit, they had chosen a short black skirt and tights along with a white top that had a gap in the material showing off her tanned shoulders. On her feet, Rachel wore a pair of black pumps. "I look really..."

"Hot" Kurt added, stood behind her; his arms crossed and a satisfied smirk on his face. "James is going to love it"

Rachel blushed, leaning forward closer to the mirror and tilting her head observing her hairstyle. Grinning widely, she jumped up out of her chair and hugged Kurt tightly. "Thank you so much"

"You're welcome" Kurt replied kissing her cheek, before they walked towards his bed "But its not completely selfless. I'm going to Skype with Blaine tonight and we're going to watch a film"

"Over Skype?" Rachel asked, trying not to giggle at the thought "That's cute"

"I miss him" Kurt admitted, and opened his mouth to speak when the door linking their room to her dads opened and LeRoy poked his head into the room a smile on his face.

"Can I come in?"

"Of course Daddy" Rachel smiled. Her dad walked forwards, and stood in front of her placing his hands on her shoulders as his thumbs rubbed her exposed skin softly.

"Sweetie, you look beautiful"

"Thanks" Rachel grinned back, kissing her dad on the cheek. As she pulled back, she glanced at the clock. "Is James here yet?"

"Ah" LeRoy smirked, "Yeah he is. Your Dad is talking to him now"

Rachel's eyes flew open in shock, gulping she then frowned at him. "You left Dad alone with him? Daddy..."

"I know sweetie" LeRoy glanced at Kurt who was smirking at them "But...James is taking our only daughter out for dinner. He needs to know the ground rules"

"Daddy" Rachel said in horror, running through the door and stopping as she saw her dad stood with his back to her talking to James who had a handsome grin on his face as he laughed at whatever her Dad was saying. Her heart beat faster as she saw him, his smile always made something in her stir; she had never been this attracted to a guy before. His hair was fluffy in that way that she had instantly loved, a messy look to it that somehow matched the smart clothes he was wearing perfectly. He had a white shirt with the top two buttons undone, a black dinner jacket over the top along with pants. One of his hands was in his pant pocket as the other rubbed his chest. As her eyes lingered on him, his eyes glanced at her and they met. His brown eyes sparkling in the light. Their eyes stayed linked on one another's for several moments; a wordless connection between them that their feelings could be expressed without the need for words.

"I'll leave you two to it" Hiram said, kissing her cheek as he passed snapping her out of her gazing into James' eyes. She smiled as he walked into the other room. When she turned to look at James again, he was walking towards her softly. He paused a few steps inches away from her; breathing out deeply. James took a step closer and placed his hands around her waist, as her arms snaked up his and pulled him closer. She tilted her head upwards as their lips met. They shared a few chaste kisses, before she felt him pull back and lean his forehead against hers. Smiling she touched her nose to his.

"You look incredibly beautiful" He said softly a look of affection his eyes as he gazed at her, his hand stroking her cheek tenderly.

"Thank you" She replied, kissing him on the lips again. She brushed his fluffy fringe back out of his forehead as she stared into his eyes" You look very handsome as well"

He grinned at her, before speaking in the tender tone that had become the norm for when he spoke to her over the last few weeks. "You ready to go?"

Rachel nodded, before heading to the adjoining doors and telling her Dads and Kurt that she was leaving with James; her dads reminding her to not be out too late. Shaking her head, a smile gracing her face, she headed back to James and they walked out of the room, their hands joined; fingers intertwined.

An hour later, after making small talk about their favourite summer programme workshop as well as other general musical preferences, their food was given to them. Rachel ordered zucchini enchiladas, with James asking for parmesan and a variety of vegetables wrapped in pastry. As they ate, he told her about the embarrassing time his sister walked in on him singing songs from Broadway shows when he was 10 years old.

"Wow..." Rachel said laughing

"I know" James smirked, "Yeah...she tormented me for years about whether I was gay"

"I thought you were close with your sister" Rachel asked, taking a mouthful of her food

"We are, We were even back then" James replied "It's just brother sister rivalry. It was all laid to rest when she caught me staring at certain magazines that I shouldn't have been"

Rachel eyes widened and she laughed loudly. "Well, I'm certainly glad you're straight"

"Me too" James said smirking, leaning forward and kissing her softly on the lips.

They pulled back, and Rachel was filled with the same joy and happiness that she felt every time she had been close to James over the past few days. Even before then, she could feel the link between them. Looking at James, she saw him smirking as he gazed at her.

"What about you. Tell me something embarrassing"

"Okay...umm...when I was eight years old, I got my first love letter from a guy named Tony" James smiles playfully at her, taking a sip of his drink; chuckling lightly "he was very cute, and when he gave it to me I corrected all of the grammatical errors and spelling errors and then I gave it back to him"

"Wow...that's really bad" James laughed at her, she joined in. After a few minutes, she reached over and held onto his hand on the table, staring at him smiling. She felt lucky that she had found someone who cared about her; someone who gave her full attention when she was talking.

"There was a time when I had a hard time believing that I would ever be considered attractive" Rachel admitted, speaking softly. James titled his head and looked at her concern in his eyes.

"Why?"

"I was invisible, no-one ever spoke to me or listened to what I had to say" Rachel replied tenderly "The first time I got that was with Jesse. He would listen to me, but I don't think any of that was truly real. With Finn...I just happy that someone found me beautiful. It didn't matter to me that he never paid attention to whatever it was I was saying."

James smiled sadly, "You deserve so much more than that"

"I know" Rachel admitted, moving her other hand to cover their joined ones. "And you give me that. You are perfect"

James bowed his head, a blush covering his cheeks.

Rachel smiled as she looked at him. Her thoughts drifted onto her conversation with Kurt, and she felt that this was the time to talk to him about what was going to happen between them after the weekend when they would go back to their own states. She had been nervous at bringing it up with him, worried that he wouldn't be interested in her after he went home; but what she had said to him was true. He was the one guy she had known in her life that was true and honest with her, he listened to her intently and cared for what she had to say.

"I don't know about perfect" James grinned looking back up from his lap as a blush flourished across his cheeks. "But what I know is that you are an amazing girl. You deserve someone who will treat you like a queen. If they don't want to listen to you, then they aren't worth your time"

Rachel smiled at him, gripping his hand tighter. "What's going to happen after this weekend?"

James took a deep breath as he let it out. He whispered softly "I don't know Rachel"

"I like being your girlfriend" Rachel said, and he smiled at her. "You make me feel like the most important girl in the world. You look and speak to me with so much tenderness and affection. I know how much you care about me"

"You're amazing" James said smiling at her faintly "I want to be with you after this summer. I don't want to say goodbye to you"

"Neither do I" Rachel replied weakly, looking at him. "But we will be so far away from one another"

"Does that matter?" James said, leaning forward in his seat "Look Rachel, I know we'll be so far away and...that is really going to be crap. But, I want to know that we're still together, that I can call and talk to you when I get out of school and I'm happy about something or whether I'm upset because Matt is giving me a hard time because the Seahawks lost"

"Really?" Rachel asked, giggling softly as she thought back a tear that had begun to well in her eyes. "You think that we can make it work?"

"Yeah" James nodded, leaning forward and kissing her pushing hard against her lips. When he pulled back, he moved a hand and wiped a tear away from her cheek. "Don't cry"

"I'm just happy that you're thinking the same thing as me" Rachel said smiling at him again, leaning into his hand "I thought that you might have just been using me this summer, and when you go back to Oregon you'll forget about me"

James looked at her with a sad look on his face, and she thought she had said the wrong thing. "Only for a split second, I promise. I realised that how you look at me and the look in your eye is..."

"Don't apologize. I understand" James said as he shook his head smiling at her reassuringly "I don't blame you. Things happened really quickly, we went from being friends to being boyfriend girlfriend so quickly. A month ago we didn't even know each other and now we're here"

"But it feels right" Rachel said softly, causing him to grin widely again

"Yeah it does"

"I just feel bad for doubting you, for thinking that you didn't really care about me" Rachel said, and James leaned forward looking at her with his caring eyes

"It's fine, don't apologize for something that isn't important. All that is matters is, I care about you and you care about me" James replied, kissing her forehead. "I'm just happy that I have you"

"Me too. My Dad's approve of you which is a plus as well..."

They sat looking at one another for several seconds before James laughed suddenly. Rachel looked at him strangely for a few moments, before she felt the urge to laugh as well.

"What's so funny"

"Your Dad…" James said smirking.

"I'm sorry about him. I don't know what he said but it was probably something inappropriate and embarrassing" Rachel said, blushing.

"No…well yeah he did mention that I wasn't to try anything with you or he'd have to call Barbara to sing at our wedding" James said and they both laughed again. "But no, he said that if we were serious about each other, I could come visit you and stay in the guest room during the school year"

"Really?" Rachel said, her heart fluttering.

"Yeah, apparently they really like me" James admitted, and rubbed a hand up and down her arm "Would that be okay with you if I did?"

"Of course! Why did you even have to ask" Rachel replied happily, leaning forward and kissing him again. As she pulled back she felt another tear run down her cheek. "I just wish that you could come home with me this week. There's so much I want to show you, and to introduce you to my friends"

James looked at her for a moment, a strange expression on his face before it split into a smile, as he wiped the tear from her eye "Okay…Well, I have something to tell you"

"What is it?" Rachel asked concerned

"It's nothing bad, in fact it's a good thing I think…" James replied, biting his lip anxiously. "Jake invited me to stay with him for a week"

"Wait...what are you saying" Rachel asked frowning. Jake is in Vocal Adrenaline...and if he's letting james stay with him then that means

"I'm going to be in Ohio for a week, the week after next" James said smiling "I don't want to push you...but I was hoping that I could come visit you for a few days in Lima"

"Are you serious?" Rachel said loudly, grinning widely "I would love that!"

"Yeah?" James asked, and leaned forward to kiss her

"Why didn't you say anything before?" Rachel asked, smiling at him

"I didn't want to force you into anything" James replied, holding her hands "But, I want to make this work and this is just another excuse to spend more time with you"

"That would be so amazing" Rachel said, "I can show you around Lima, and introduce you to the glee club. You can stay in the guest room for the few days you come to visit me so that you won't need to drive back to Akron"

"I'd love to" James replied, "I didn't want to make things to be difficult, since I wasn't sure if we'd even be together before we went home…I was going to tell you tomorrow, but your Dad was so amazing and you are just incredible"

Rachel said, bringing his hands to her lips and kisses his knuckles. "This is going to be so great"

James looked at her grinning, before their hands separated as they finished their dinner. Rachel was happy beyond belief, not only had all her anxiety regarding the future with James been resolved, she had him coming to visit her in Lima for a few days. It would suck after that when they had to say goodbye again, but Rachel knew deep down that they would be able to make it work; they both cared about each other to make sure that it did. Their conversation drifted to when they could visit one another as they sat eating desert; James had ordered icecream and Rachel had non-dairy cheesecake.

"I can come watch your sectionals" Rachel remarked as James swallowed a spoonful. "And you can show me around your home and school"

"That'd be great" James said grinning. "Oregon's sectionals are at the end of September and the first week of October. We're one of the first"

"That's a whole month before Ohio's start" Rachel replied, smiling. "You'll have to come watch"

"Try and stop me" James laughed, "What about thanksgiving? You still celebrate that right?"

Rachel nodded, swallowing before she spoke. "Yeah it's an American holiday not a Jewish one. Only difference is we have a tofu turkey"

James laughed at her, before nodding. "Well, my mom doesn't like to celebrate it with Charlie away. Harvard runs classes during the week for law students…and with my dad…well we haven't had a proper thanksgiving for a few years. I could come visit you during then"

"That'd be great, you can have it with us. It'll be great, we sing songs and " Rachel cut off as James laughed at her, smirking she found herself joining in.

"You and your dads are absolutely amazing" James responded, holding her hand tightly. "It just sounds perfect"

A while later, they were walking back into the hotel lobby, Rachel telling him about the plans she had already begun to make in her head of what they would do in Lima when he came to visit. James, being James, smiled at her as she talked gazing at her affectionately.

"The Lima bean has the best coffee I've ever tasted, well apart from New York; but that's New York coffee" Rachel remarked, swinging her hand in is softly

"Yeah, it's like the best ever. I think its the water" James said smiling

"Me, Kurt and Blaine go there all the time" Rachel said as they waited for the lift. "Oh Blaine! You've got to meet him, he's Kurt's boyfriend and he's just like you. He's so sweet"

"I look forward to meeting all your friends" James replied, standing facing her and placing his hands around her waist as they stood in the lift going up to her room. Rachel smiled before a thought crossed her mind; her friends back home. Finn. She hadn't talked to Finn all summer, and when they had last talked she had broken up with him for good. She was going home in a few days and she would inevitably run into him. Her eyes widened as she realised not only that, but James was coming to visit. Her new boyfriend was going to be in close proximity to her ex. An ex who had no idea she would have started seeing someone else.

"Rachel…are you okay?" James asked concerned, one of his hands cupping her face.

"Yeah…" Rachel said softly, and James leant forward to kiss her lips softly; pulling back slightly to stare into her eyes affectionately

"You can tell me, you can always tell me anything" James said, smiling to reassure her of his words.

"I know" Rachel replied softly, sighing "I just realised that I haven't told anybody back home about us"

"Why does that bother you?" James asked, "The idea of being your secret lover is kind of sexy"

"I haven't told Finn…" Rachel admitted weakly, and she saw confusion in his eyes "You're going to come visit me, and he doesn't even know that I've found someone else"

"Why is that making you sad?" James said, a frown on his brow. "I don't understand"

"Because I hurt him when I broke up with him" Rachel replied, her bottom lip quivering. "And seeing you is only going to hurt him even more"

James stepped back from her, looking at her with confusion. "I don't understand what you're saying"

"If you come, it's going to upset him so much" Rachel said softly

James titled his head at her, frowning with a sad look in his eyes. "Do you not want me to come see you? So you don't have to face upsetting him?"

Rachel remained silent as the lift opened. She grabbed his hand and led him out, but he was unmoving. Looking back at him, she saw hurt on his face as he shook his head.

"I should go home" James said softly. Rachel looked at him with despair on her face as she tugged him out of the lift roughly, embracing him tightly. After a few long moments, she pulled back and placed both hands on his face forcing him to look at her.

"Don't be mad at me" Rachel pleaded softly. "Of course I want you to come visit me."

"It doesn't sound like it" James replied weakly, a tear running down his cheek which she wiped away.

"I do" Rachel said firmly, and he smiled slightly at her. "Me and Finn are finished. It's just I hadn't thought of how I was going to tell him. This summer has been so amazing with you, that I haven't thought of anyone back home in Ohio"

James nodded, and his smile grew. "I'm sorry, I just thought…"

"I know, and I don't want to make you feel like that" Rachel replied, "I'll speak to Finn, its just I don't want to rub you in his face. I can't hurt him any more. But I don't want to hurt you just to make him feel better"

James looked at her, before leaning forward and kissing her. "I understand"

Grinning, Rachel hand moved to his neck and pulled him down for another kiss. After a few small tender kisses, she ran her tongue across his lip as he smiled against her; opening his mouth and deepening it as his met her tongue. One of his hands rubbed shapes on her back pulled her closer into his body, as the other gripped hers tightly. They stood there in the corridor near her hotel room for quite a while enjoying the taste and feel of each other. After a time, he pulled back short of breath and leaned his forehead against hers; kissing the tip of her nose. Rachel licked her bottom lip as he grinned at her.

"I really like kissing you" James said, and Rachel chuckled at him. "You're an amazing kisser"

"Well, you're not so bad yourself" Rachel giggled, as he kissed her softly on the lips again. "I best get in before my Dads come looking for you"

"Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow" James replied, pulling her in for another kiss that ended up lasting a few minutes longer than it should have done. Rachel ended up teasingly shoving him away, "You need to go"

"Until tomorrow Ms Berry" He said laughing as he waved, walking backwards slowly.

"Bye " Rachel replied, opening the door to her hotel room, blowing him a kiss as she disappeared inside.