AU in that Jesse and Rachel have never met prior to this one-shot.

I don't own Glee and all mistakes are my own


A Chance Encounter

Rachel first saw him when she was passing by a classroom on her way to her next NYADA class. He was sat alone in a classroom playing the piano in front of him; the sound of him playing was actually what caused her to take the detour on the way to her class in the first place; he played beautifully. She could have stood staring for days; memorising the way his fingers danced along the keys so effortlessly; there was no doubt in Rachel's mind that the man had been playing for years.

"Rachel!" someone called from behind and she quickly moved away from the door so she couldn't be seen spying on the pianist.

"Blaine!" she replied happily, spotting her best friend and roommate. "What's up?"

He shook his head. "Nothing. Just spotted you on the way to class. What are you doing?" he asked as he tried to look through the glass in the door to see what Rachel had been spying. Rachel tried, but failed, to shield him away. "Ooh, he's kind of dishy. You should try your luck." Blaine urged.

Rachel snorted. "Yeah right. Knowing my luck, he probably bats for your team anyway." She muttered.

"Nah, I don't think so." Blaine said, having another look. "He's not well-groomed enough. Look at his hair." Blaine pointed out with a laugh. "Besides; I'm not exactly interested." He said with a dreamy look in his eye.

Blaine was going out with Kurt. Rachel and Kurt were in the same year together at school while Blaine was in the year below but it was Rachel that introduced Kurt to Blaine. (A/N: I said it was AU; don't be surprised – I don't like always sticking to canon) Rachel and Blaine had been friends for years and she knew that Kurt would be perfect for her best friend – she was happy to find that she was right. Kurt had got an internship with Vogue straight out of high school so travelled to New York with Rachel with Blaine following a year later.

"I always knew you and Kurt would get along well." Rachel said with Glee.

Blaine smiled happily. "Come on Rae, we've both got to get to class." Blaine urged his friend, moving her away from the door where she couldn't help but take sneaky glances.

She sighed and nodded. "Fine. Probably out of my league anyway." She said off-hand.


Rachel saw him again a couple of weeks later during their weekly trip to Callbacks on a Friday night. She was sitting round a table drinking with her friends; thankful that another week was over; when someone stood up to sing.

Rachel heard him before she saw him and as soon as his mouth opened and the first note came out; Rachel was looking at him again and it was just like when she'd heard him play the piano, she couldn't keep her eyes off him.

"That's the guy that was playing the piano." Blaine pointed out; drawing the whole's tables attention to the man singing. Blaine nudged his best friend. "Maybe this is your chance to go and talk to him."

Rachel shook her head. "There is no way he'd be interested in me."

Blaine looked offended. "What are you about? Rae, you are gorgeous; any man would be lucky to have you. If he doesn't find you sexy as hell, I'm sorry but he's blind."

Rachel giggled. "You've been my best friend since forever. Don't you think you're a little biased?" she asked.

"Hell no." Blaine promised immediately. "And I think lots of people would agree with me." He said, very sure of himself.

Rachel waved him off and took a gulp of her drink, hoping to get away from the conversation.

Just because she was sure he would uninterested in her, didn't mean she could look. Every time her friends tried to talk to her, her eyes would unintentionally find her crush on stage; she couldn't help it, he was so alluring. All too soon however, the song was over and the man was coming off stage and disappearing into the crowd again. Rachel sighed and turned back to the conversation; finally giving her friends her full attention.

"Rachel's round!" Blaine called when he noticed that everyone was coming to the end of their drinks.

Rachel tutted and stood. "Same again?" she asked to chorus of agreements. She looked down to her best friend. "Come and help me carry them Blaine." She ordered.

Blaine agreed and they both walked to the bar.

She was stood at the bar waiting for the bar man to get to her when she heard a voice next to her. "Can I buy you a drink?"

She looked in the direction and saw the man she'd been crushing on for the last two weeks.

A blush quickly ran over her whole body. "Oh…um…it's ok. I'm buying a round for my friends." She said quickly as she made an effort to point in the general direction of her table.

The man looked to where Rachel was pointing. "Let me buy you yours and you can get the round for the rest of the table." He offered.

Rachel finally nodded and gave the man the order for her drink of choice. She then ordered the drinks for her table. His order came quickly and he passed Rachel her drink. "I'm Jesse by the way." He said to her.

Finally, she could put a name to the face. Jesse. It occurred to Rachel that the name suited him well.

"I'm Rachel." She said holding out a hand for him to shake. "And this is…" she looked towards Blaine only to find him missing. He'd already walked back to the table with a tray full of drinks. She rolled her eyes and turned back to Jesse. "That was Blaine." She said, suddenly feeling a little embarrassed.

"It's nice to meet you Rachel. I have to say; I've been seeing you around campus a lot. You're an amazing singer."

Rachel blushed at Jesse's compliment. "Thank you." She said graciously. "You're not so bad yourself."

Jesse smiled. "Want to dance Rachel?" he asked, gesturing to the dance floor.

"I'd love too." They both picked up their drinks and Rachel steered them in the direction of her friends so she could leave their drinks with them.

She took Jesse's drink and set it down on the table before meeting Blaine's eye. He gave her a smile and a wink.

Blaine knew that Jesse was at the bar when he encouraged Rachel to go and get a round of drinks and he knew that the two would hit it off. NYADA might have been a big place but you hear a lot of things through the grapevine and he'd heard that Jesse was basically the boy version of his best friend.


Later that evening when Jesse kissed Rachel good night for the first time, after spending almost the entire evening in each other's company, they both knew that this going to one of those relationships that changed their lives; changed them. Jesse walked away from Blaine and Rachel's apartment and he walked away he took out his phone and dialled a number.

"You're a bit eager aren't you?" Rachel's voice asked when she answered the phone.

"What can I say? I like you." Jesse said simply. "What are you doing tomorrow?"


Hope you liked it. Comment if you liked it…favourite it…follow it…up to you. Until next time