A/N : Thanks for the Reviews !
I like the idea of a James chapter. There will be one coming up that will give us a bit of an insight into how his mind is working; I won't be doing them often, but every now and then to give us an idea what he's thinking. It'll most likely be chapter 10!
This chapter is going to introduce "Cobi" to the story, James' best friend and if you check my profile once it updates you'll find a description and pictures of the actors I have to potray the OCs that are in this story and which are going to come up in a few chapters.
…..
Chapter 6
The next few days after their little get together at the apartment following her talk with Kurt and Santana; Rachel doesn't work at the diner. She's glad for the distraction of NYADA from the brewing problems in her personal life, so when she gets told by Cassandra that she had come in and work more on some dance routines as well as catching up on some assignments for her general music history classes. She's been thinking about what her two best friends said to her about James and she's starting to realize that maybe she wants to be more than just friends with him. In fact she's pretty sure the last few weeks she's been enjoying how close their relationship has become because she definitely wants him to be more her friend.
She spent a few hours compiling a list of all the reasons why they'd be good together; narrowing it down to three major reasons; For one, He makes her feel special. Secondly, He listens and actually wants to hear what she has to say and finally he's amazing with her, from not letting her high maintenance personality bother him to cheering her up when she's down.
Obviously there were more reasons, she'd wrote down He's hot as a fourth reason but quickly scribbled it out along with he gives great hugs and several other descriptions of how he looks that make her out to be more vain than she'd like to admit.
On the other hand, she writes reasons why she just remain friends with him; a) He's afraid of relationships b) Could you trust him? And finally c) You
Like she said to Kurt and Santana, the fact that he hasn't had or actually even wanted a relationship since his bitch of an ex-girlfriend fucked his brother when he was in high school is the major reason she's wary of expressing her feelings to him. She knows she enjoys his company more than just as friends, that's painfully obvious to pretty much everyone at this point; she likes his arms around her and she likes the fact that when she kissed him, it felt so right. Rachel is also very aware of the fact that James doesn't shy away from her at all when these things do, in fact he had been the one to take it further and embrace her tightly from behind; a very affectionate, loving gesture that definitely didn't happen between "just friends".
Rachel dismissed the "could you trust him?" reason pretty quickly once she had put it down. She actually feels horrible for even doubting it, realising that it's just herself putting something down to try and convince herself that she can't be anything more than friends with him. She knows that there's one thing she can always rely on with James; he would never do anything to betray her trust.
While James is a man whore, something she still loves to tease him about and he drinks more than she thinks appropriate, there's one thing she's certain of; James wouldn't cheat on her. Even if he hadn't had to suffer through it himself, she'd still believe that he would always be faithful to her should they be in a relationship; he just screams "You can trust me" to her. The eyes, his nature and just the reassuring tone in his voice has her convinced he would be an amazing boyfriend.
The Reason; "You" is something that keeps coming to her mind. Could she let herself be in a relationship with? Could she get out of the way and stop worrying about losing his friendship so that she can be actually tell him she likes him as more than friends. He's wormed his way into her heart and life by being that caring, kind, lovely guy that she's not sure if she's prepared to lose him if either he doesn't want her, or things don't work out between them and they break up horribly. It was different with Brody and she doesn't miss him because they were never really friends in the first place; right from the start she was very aware of the fact he was into her and wanted to get her. James on the other hand came into her life as a friend and as she became closer friends with him discovered that she might just like to be more than that with him.
Fuck what a mess She thinks to herself as she falls asleep one night.
...
"Hey Rachel" she hears her name called, turning around to see Abbie coming towards her with a warm smile on her face. They've just been together for Miss July's dance class, and Rachel had put on a pair of sweatpants over the top of her tights. Abbie is a beautiful blonde haired girl who is a couple of inches taller than Rachel's own height; the two of them have been friends since the New Year.
"Abbie" Rachel replies returning the smile. "Hey, what's up?"
"I was wondering if you want to get a coffee with me?" Abbie asks, brushing her hair out of her face. "We haven't spoken much in the last few weeks and I thought we could catch up"
"Sure, I'd like that" Rachel says nodding her head. It would be nice to spend some time with a friend; maybe it'll get her head off the whole James issue that's been driving her fucking crazy.
She's been trying to work up the courage to go and see him but she thinks that she might say something to ruin their friendship; and that's still not something she wants to risk, considering how aside from texting the lack of time spent with him has really been making her sad. Rachel has become increasingly attached to Dani, James, Kurt and Santana; all of whom are involved in her drama combined with the fact she doesn't have many friends outside of the diner, she hasn't really had anybody who doesn't know about the drama to talk to.
"Is it okay if we head closer to NYU to get coffee?" Abbie brings up as they exit the NYADA dance building. "I hate the ones near here, that student one they have over there is so much better"
"Yeah that's fine" She nods, pulling her bag further up her shoulder. The closest Starbucks to NYADA really does suck and if going just that bit further away means getting a coffee that doesn't taste like shit then well its worth it.
They talk while they walk, Rachel feels refreshed talking about little things at NYADA that distract her form the turmoil she's experiencing in her personal life.
"I'm so glad this week is almost over, It's been horrible" Abbie remarks as they head up the street towards the coffee shop.
"I know that feel, it's been fu-really stressful" Rachel replies, catching herself as she was about to swear. Even though she hadn't heard James voice in a week, she still found herself swearing a lot more; but she didn't really mind, like he'd said to her, she was standing up for herself.
Abbie had apparently caught the word she was about to say, by the judge of her smile. Rachel really didn't want to get into it, so she was glad when the girl said something instead; "So how are you doing? We haven't really spoken much the last few weeks.
"I've been working a lot" Rachel replies, smiling.
"Oh yeah, at that performing diner? Do you enjoy working there?" Abbie asks, a genuine smile on her face.
"It's amazing, it can be really busy but I'm good; I'm happy" She replied smiling. "I've met some really amazing people there as well"
It was true, even if she was still suffering about the fact she hadn't heard back about her funny girl audition but even with all of that she was just happy because of the friends she'd made.
The two of them talked while they stood in line, Abbie asking her if there was any other reasons for being so happy; perhaps a boy? Abbie had gasped and tried to get the information out of her when Rachel had blushed furiously while thinking about James.
"It's complicated" Rachel had offered, as they were walking away from the coffee store towards an open part of the NYU campus.
She saw Abbie opening her mouth to talk again when she heard she heard a laugh that sounded too familiar, his laugh.
Instinctively, she stopped in her tracks and turned around looking to see where he was; where James was laughing from; that beautiful laugh she hadn't realised she'd missed until she heard it.
She smiled as she saw him sat on the edge of a stone wall that surrounded a flower bed about twenty-five feet as he talked to a tall dirty blonde haired guy next to him. His face was lit up as he smirked at the guy next to him and Rachel breath caught in her throat as she admired how handsome he looked.
"Who's the cutie?" Abbie asked next to her, snapping her out of her daze.
"That's James…I won't be a minute" she replied resisting the urge to tell Abbie to fuck off for calling him cute as she handed the girl her coffee before taking off running over to him. She vaguely heard a voice in the back of her mind telling her to calm the fuck down, but it was barely audible with the excitement she had about seeing him.
He hadn't seen her yet, but Rachel didn't care. As soon as she was close enough to him, she pressed herself into his side and wrapped her arms around his waist. She didn't care that it was probably inappropriate as hell but her rational side was being overridden by the fact that she hadn't seen him in over a week, as well as a small part that she was fucking falling for him but she tried not to let that bother her.
Rachel could tell he was surprised as he uttered a "what the fuck" and she found herself giggling against his chest as she felt him wrap an arm around her shoulder and pulled her even closer as he apparently realised who was attacking him.
Sighing happily, Rachel thought that she'd never gotten a better hug out of anyone before him. After enjoying his embrace a little longer than appropriate; Rachel bit her lip as she lifted her head of his chest, her face splitting into a beaming smile as he smirked at her. God he is so handsome.
"I've told you before babe, girls normally make me buy them a couple of drinks before they throw themselves at me" She heard him say. Of course he'd be an asshole!
"Fuck off asshole" Rachel giggled nudging him with her shoulder, noting happily that he didn't move to pull away from her or that actually neither did she. Leaning up she pressed a kiss against his cheek, rolling her eyes at the cocky handsome on his face as she pulled away "I missed you"
"I can tell" He chuckles softly, rubbing his thumb in circles on her shoulder. "I suppose I missed you a little bit too"
"Really?" She asks looking him at sceptically, waiting for him to switch to asshole mode.
"Yeah I mean, shit babe I've missed talking to you" he replied and she felt her heart warm, he was being sweet! "not that I get a fucking word in 'cus you talk my ear off for ten hours"
Alright so he wasn't completely sweet, but she felt touched that he had missed her, not that she was going to let him know that as she digged him in the ribs.
"You're being feisty today midget" He grinned at her and she knew he loved it. "You look really beautiful, Rach"
"Thanks" She replied, smiling embarrassedly as she felt her cheeks heat up. James tongue wet his bottom lip but as he opened his mouth to speak, Rachel heard another voice interrupt him.
"So, you're planning on introduce us?" A second male voice spoke and Rachel tore her gaze away from the handsome smiling face of James to look at the dirty blonde haired guy next to him. He was cute, not nearly as attractive or as well built as James was; but who was? James' body was…shut the fuck up thinking like that Rachel.
"This is Rachel" He said smiling. "Rachel this is my buddy, Cobi"
"Nice to meet you" She said extending her hand and shaking Cobi's. She didn't move an inch from James' side though, too caught up in enjoying being stood next to him enjoying his presence, but she saw Cobi's eyes widen a little bit as if he recognized her and she had the sneaking feeling that James had talked about her before.
"So you're the famous Rachel huh?" Cobi asked, a smile on his face. "James hasn't shut up about you"
"Really? So you did miss me?" Rachel asked, smirking at James as he rolled his eyes.
"Of course I did" James replied, glaring at his friend "And you can fuck off dude, I've mentioned her like twice"
"Yeah today" Cobi replied smirking and Rachel smiled back, though her heart beat a little faster at what he was suggesting. "But it's finally nice to meet you Rachel"
"You too" She replied, chewing her bottom lip.
"Gonna introduce your friend?" James spoke and Rachel looked up at him to see him gazing at Abbie.
"This is Abbie" Rachel said embarrassedly as the girl handed her coffee back. "Abbie this is James and his friend Cobi"
"Glad you didn't forget me" Abbie said, offering her hand to James. He smirked, raising his hand to his mouth before he extended it to clasp Abbie's. Rachel frowned when she saw the cigarette in his mouth; she knew he smoked, duh they spent a lot of time together. While at work she'd noticed that he'd normally have 1 or 2 but she'd tried to convince him to stop; the reasons for it she'd tried to assure herself was because he was her friend, but it was becoming a lot clearer that was a quite obviously a lie.
"I wish I could say I've heard a lot about you but Rachel hasn't seemed to mention you" Abbi replied smirking at Rachel. James chuckled as he took the cigarette out of his mouth and let out a puff of smoke away from the girls.
"So, you were giving me shit about not missing you and you haven't even told Abbie about me? That hurts Rachel, I thought we were friends" He teases.
"Well, you're an asshole remember?" Rachel replies, smirking back at him. Gesturing with the coffee in her hand towards the cigarette, she widens her eyes to emphasise her point as she speaks again; "I'd be more inclined to tell my friends about you if you tried to stop smoking like you promised"
"It's a gradual process, babe. Besides its only my second one today" He says, taking it out of his mouth.
"Quitting is about willpower, and I know you wouldn't like to look weak in front of me" She teases, knowing that it'll get a reaction out of him; James loves to be all big and manly in front of her.
James looks at her for a moment, shaking his head as he throws it on the floor before stubbing it out with his foot. "Happy?"
"Very. Thank you" She couldn't help but feel proud that he was taking her words seriously as she leans up and presses a kiss against his cheek. It really did touch her that he was willing to try and quit for her, he really had taken the hour long rant a couple of weeks ago about the risks of smoking to heart.
"Wow, looks like Rachel has got you by the balls" Cobi remarks smirking.
"Fuck you dude" James replies, "She's scary as fuck dude, fists of fury"
"Charming as always" She replied, trying to keep the smile off her face.
"You love it" He replied and she bit her lip as he looked towards Abbie. "So, how do you know Rachel?"
"I got to NYADA. We're in the same dance class" Abbie replied, a smile on her face that makes Rachel blush a little at realising the girl had just witnessed how she interacts with James. Crap she's going to know he was the guy I was talking about.
"Sweet" James said, licking his lips. "So you're a dancer or a singer who pretends they can dance like midget over here?"
That comment earned him another dig in the ribs, causing all four of them to laugh as she shook her head at his crudeness. "She's a dancer and put those eyes away she doesn't need an asshole like you hitting on her"
"Babe, you know I only have eyes for Hot brunette Jewish girls with killer legs" He remarked smirking at her in a way that caused her to blush. His words were teasing but she could see something in his eyes that made her think…maybe?
"You're so full of shit" Cobi remarked laughing. The four of them stood there chatting for a good quarter of an hour as Rachel got to know Cobi a little bit. She was thinking about the fact that Cobi seemed to be one of James' "real" friends as she listened to them; her thoughts were interrupted as James spoke again.
"We better be going Cobi" James said, glancing at his watch.
"Are you working tonight?" Rachel asked, chewing her bottom lip. After a week of not seeing him in person, she really didn't want this to end.
"No and I'm off tomorrow night as well" James replied. Rachel felt him shift where he was sitting and it felt like he moved so that she was closer to him, if that was even possible. "You?"
"I'm not working until Saturday" She answered, smiling at him. "Why aren't you working?"
"Why do you think" He asked, wiggling his eyebrows at her as a smirk sat on his face.
"I think you'll be out getting wasted and wake up regretting it tomorrow" Rachel replied with a soft smile.
"You're probably right babe" James said laughing before looking at her again, the look on his face playful…and maybe just a little bit flirty? "I'll call you up and you can take care of me, maybe give me a bit of TLC? What do you say?"
"Don't even think about it" Rachel replied feeling herself giggle, although in her mind she's thinking about how she might just like that idea more than she should. "Seriously, when are you working again?"
"Missed talking my ear off?" James said getting a laugh from the other two people that she had seemingly forgotten were stood by them. When she nudged him again, he groaned and smirked at her again "Alright working Saturday; the graveyard shift"
"Me too; well, I'm starting a little earlier in the afternoon with Dani but I'll be there all night" Rachel replied her smile widening. It was her first shift back for over a week and a half; she was glad she'd get to spend it with him.
"I'll see you Saturday then Rach" He said, leaning down to pull her into a tight embrace, the warmness of his body feeling perfect and so, so relaxing. Rachel eyes closed as she felt him kiss her cheek as they separated about ten seconds later; his lips against her skin causing her body to heat up "Nice to meet you Abbie"
"You too" Abbie smiled, Rachel waved as James and Cobi walked off; rolling her eyes when she saw James reach into his pocket and light another cigarette. "He's cute"
"Cobi?" Rachel asked wishfully, she was well aware of how attractive James was but she didn't like the idea of another girl recognizing it and trying to make a move on her….friend, yeah James was her friend.
"Him too" Abbie replied, nudging her shoulder. "You like him right?"
"James?" Rachel asked before nodding her head when Abbie replied with a yes. "Yeah I do"
"Why haven't you made a move for him?" Abbie inquired, raising an eyebrow. "It's obvious that he's into you; I think you two would make a cute couple"
Rachel smiled at the girl, agreeing subconsciously with the statement, sighing sadly before she spoke again; "He hasn't dated in years not to mention he's my best friend...everything is just so complicated and I don't want to risk losing that"
"I get it, you're nervous of losing him" Abbie said smiling softly. "But Rachel, just think for a moment how it would make you feel if he finds someone that isn't you…"
Rachel nodded softly walking in silence for a few minutes before they separated a few blocks away from NYADA as Rachel headed towards the subway. She remained quiet on her way home, but her mind was working over time; What would it feel like to see James with someone else? She hadn't thought of that until now, just because he hadn't found anyone since he came to New York doesn't mean that there isn't the chance he could and it would feel horrible to see him acting couplely with another girl; it had become harder in the last few weeks to listen to him talk about his one night stands and they were with girls she'd never even met.
Rachel knew what she wanted…she wanted to be with James and she was pretty sure he felt the same way about her, his comment today seemed too serious despite his teasing smirk. By the time she arrives home at the apartment in Bushwick, Rachel is completely sure that she wants a relationship with James; seeing him today had confirmed the idea that they could be together in her mind. There just happened to be one final small problem, did James actually want to be her boyfriend? She'd spent the last week arriving at the realisation for herself that she wanted James, but did he return that feeling? He was so protective of his feelings and it was so, so hard to determine what he really thought about her and the idea of "them".
Luckily for her, there was someone in his life that knew James better than anybody and would be able to provide her with the answers she needed. Another bit of luck happened to be that James had just provided her with the perfect opportunity to talk to this person alone because he wouldn't be in the apartment that night. Rachel smiled to herself; if she wanted to get that final confirmation that she could be in a relationship with him, all she had to do was go and speak to Dani.
….
Later that night, Rachel was stood in the hallway of James' apartment building; waiting for someone to answer the door. After getting home, she'd spent a bit of time led on her bed deciding whether or not to visit Dani or to call her on the phone; eventually she'd decided that she needed to talk to Dani about this in person.
"I won't be a moment" She heard Dani shout from inside as footsteps made their way to the door, followed by the sound of the lock turning as it opened to reveal the blonde girl stood smiling. "Rachel Hey"
"Hi Dani" Rachel replied, returning the smile. "Can I come in?"
"Sure, of course" Dani nodded, stepping aside and gesturing for her to enter. Rachel smiled, walking in and when the door closed she heard Dani speak again. "Uhmm if you wanted to see James, he's out with-"
"He's out tonight with Cobi" Rachel finished, nodding her head as she took her coat off. "I know, I wanted to speak to you; unless you have plans?"
"Oh" Dani said, the two of them stood in the kitchen of the apartment. "Sure, we can talk; I mean, I don't have anything planned, Santana is working tonight. You want a coffee?"
"Please, that'd be lovely" She says. There's a few minutes of idle chat between them as Rachel asks her how her week has been while the coffee brews and Dani returns the question as they settle down on the couch in front of the TV, some random programme playing in the background.
"Is everything okay, Rachel?" Dani asks suddenly as she takes a drink. "I love spending time with you, but did you really come over at 9pm to catch up?"
"No" Rachel replies, biting her lip nervously. Why was this suddenly so hard? Oh yeah that's why, because Dani was probably the only person that knew James better than she did and what if Dani told her that James wasn't interested in her romantically at her? That would probably just destroy her completely.
"Rachel?" She hears Dani speak again, followed by the feel of her hand enveloped in Dani's. "You can talk to me about anything? We're friends."
Still unable to find the words, Rachel nods and smile weakly.
"It's about James right?" Dani asks softly and Rachel feels her eyes widen slightly as Dani smiles.
"How did you know?" Rachel asks gulping. Was it really that fucking obvious she liked him?
"Santana told me about what you said to her and Kurt" Dani replied, smiling reassuring. "About the kiss and about you liking him, but I think it's more than that right?"
"Yea" Rachel says softly, nodding her head. She might be attracted to James and think he's incredibly hot, but she knew that wasn't all that it was; Rachel knew her feelings were more than that. "I think I'm falling for him"
She feels a smile cross her face at admitting it. Truthfully she had begun to get caught up in him weeks ago, when they had their first talk; he was so kind to her, so attentive and caring. How could she not?
"I thought so" Dani smiles warmly. "Santana thinks that you just want to get him in bed, but I knew there was something more; both of you look at each other like you care deeply about the other sometimes"
Rachel felt her breath catch in her throat again. "Both of us?"
"You think that it's one way?" Dani says, laughing gently; not in a I'm taking the piss out of you sort of way, but an amused way as if she can't believe that Rachel hasn't seen it. "Rachel, James cares about you a lot"
"Yeah?" Rachel asks, giggling softly. She feels as if a weight is lifted off her chest, hearing the confirmation she had wanted from Dani when she'd decided to come visit earlier. "I'm so fucking happy you just said that"
"It's what you came over for right?" Dani says smiling. "To ask me if James felt the same way?"
"It was, yeah" Rachel admits, wiping her eye with her palm; she hadn't felt the tears in her eyes until they had rolled down her cheek. "How do you know he does?"
"Really?" Dani says rolling her eyes. "Please Rachel, you two are so obliviously into each other. It's so adorable. For weeks, you've been the thing he talks about the most wearing that shit face grin of his. Don't even pretend that you don't realise how you two act around each other, all flirty and cute"
"We're pretty oblivious huh" Rachel replies giggling again.
"You let him stand with his arms wrapped around you, pulled flush up against his body and you didn't seem to be embarrassed one bit" Dani says, smirking. "Neither did he; I'm surprised that you've finally admitted it, me and Santana were planning on working with Kurt to get you together"
"Payback for Operation Dantana?" Rachel says laughing along with her.
"Something like that; I think Santana wants to call you guys something silly like "Jameshel"" Dani replies, giggling.
"That's so bad" Rachel says sighing. "Do you think James knows I like him?"
"I'm sure he's aware of it, yeah" Dani chews her lip for a moment, her eyes drifting off to the side in thought. "Honestly, Rachel; I don't know. Everyone knows that James likes you, but he's such a fucking idiot that he might not realise it yet"
"Should I wait around for him to ask me out?" Rachel asks, wringing her hands nervously. She knows, KNOWS, that James cares about her; but she doesn't know what to do, every other relationship she's had, the guy has made the moves.
"That's up to you Rachel" Dani replies, smiling as she moves a hand to clasp hers. "James is like, crazy about you; but it might take him a little bit to realise it. Me, Santana and Kurt will help you two get together and trust me I'll be nudging him towards you"
Rachel nodded a smile on her face as she leans forward and hugs Dani tightly. They stay that way for a few seconds before they separate, both of them smiling warmly at the other. "Thanks Dani, you're a really amazing friend"
"You too Rachel" Dani says, reaching for her coffee cup with a smirk on her face. "So come on tell me about these fantasies you've been having about James"
"Oh my god, I can't believe Santana told you!" Rachel says horrified before they both break out into giggles.
By the time that Rachel is home, having declined Dani's offer to stay over and sleep in James' bed; really she'd love to have done, but she doesn't not wanting to sleep in James bed again until she manages to get him to realise that he cares about her and the two of them are together. As she falls asleep, Rachel can't help thinking that might not be so far aware.
…..
Dani is a character that I really think had a lot of potential on the show, not only as a storyline for Santana but also as a "girl-friend" for Rachel. I'm just taking the opportunity to expand it a little bit!
The next chapter will be a split PoV chapter between Dani and Rachel.