Hi everyone! Sorry for taking so long to update but I got a bit of writers block and time just hasn't come as freely as I wish it would. I hope you all like this chapter, I skipped the rest of the "Rise and Fall of Sue Sylvester" episode. Please enjoy and review!
It's been a few days since Jesse sent her back to Lima to help the Warblers transition into the New Directions. She really didn't want to leave New York or Jesse, especially after the day (and night) they had spent together. She had gotten a taste of the New York life she would have with him and she did not want to let it go.
But after a lot of persuasion on his part, Jesse convinced her that she was needed back home.
It turns out that upon her return everything went to hell with Sue. She got fired, humiliated on National television and is now coaching Vocal Adrenaline. How all that all happened in a matter of days, she's not sure but it did. She still has the issues with the Warblers who can't fully accept being at McKinley and are constantly bumping heads with the New Directions. Now Myron is telling her that the superintendent is planning to cut all arts programs if they don't win.
But none of that compares to the turmoil she has going on in her head with what to do with her future. She received two possibly life changing phone calls throughout the week, both offering a second chance at the life she threw away. One a Broadway leading role, the other a college education. Her friends have been voicing their opinions about what she should do. Most of them tell her to take the role, Sam tells her to go back to school.
But the person who's opinion would matter the most isn't here. In fact he has no idea she's going through this. Since she left him their communication has been limited and she constantly fights the urge to call him to help her decide what to do. She knows she has to make this decision on her own.
Now as she turns these options in her mind she sits on the piano bench in the empty auditorium, feeling completely overwhelmed. She plays a few notes on the piano hoping that music will help her figure out what she wants.
When she had the lessons with Blaine earlier in the year she hadn't been completely honest with him. She had truly taken those lessons as a kid and quit because she didn't have the patience for it. But that wasn't the extent of her piano lessons. The part she failed to mention was that Jesse had taught her how to play the instrument the first time they had dated. He loved the instrument and wanted to share his knowledge of it with her. When they broke up she tried to bury that knowledge and continued to do so until he came back to her life. Now she can't help but play the first song he taught her.
The familiar notes of Lionel Richie's Hello begin to fill the auditorium and she begins to sing the verses that Jesse had once serenaded her with.
"I've been alone with you inside my mind, and in my dreams I've kissed your lips a thousand times. I sometimes see you pass outside my door. Hello, is it me you're looking for?" she starts singing. She then hears the familiar clicks of designer boots walking behind her and smiles continuing to sing with the other person joining in.
"I can see it in your eyes. I can see it in your smile. You're all I've ever wanted. And my arms are open wide," they both sing and Jesse sits down next to her.
"'Cause you know just what to say. And you know just what to do. And I want to tell you so much, I love you…" they both sing, looking into each other's eyes, and with Jesse taking over the piano.
"Oh yeah," Rachel sings
"I long to see the sunlight in your hair," Jesse sings smiling
"And tell you time and time again how much I care," Rachel sings caressing his cheek.
"Sometimes I feel my heart will overflow. Hello, I've just got to let you know. 'Cause I wonder where you are. And I wonder what you do. Are you somewhere feeling lonely, or is someone loving you? Tell me how to win your heart. For I haven't got a clue. But let me start by saying, I love you... Is it me you're looking for? 'Cause I wonder where you are," they both sing together, remembering the first time they sang that song.
"And I wonder what you do (Rachel: Wonder what you do) Are you somewhere," Jesse sings
"Feeling lonely, or is someone loving you? Tell me how to win your heart. For I haven't got a clue. But let me start by saying, I love you..." they both finish and lean in to kiss each other. They break the kiss and keep their foreheads touching.
"I missed you," Jesse whispers.
"I missed you too," Rachel tells him smiling and kissing him again.
"The song?" Jesse asks, creating some distance between them.
"I've always considered this our song and playing it made me feel closer to you," she admits which brings a smile on to Jesse's face. "But what are you doing here? What about New York?" she asks
"New York is still in New York," Jesse tells her jokingly and Rachel glares at him. "My producers gave me permission to leave while they hear back from the potential leading lady and I just happen to have a gorgeous girlfriend I wanted to visit."
She tries to fight off the warmth and happiness his answer brings to her but fails. She smiles at him and kisses him.
"So what about you what are you doing here?"
"I just needed some time to think about what decision to make."
"Does this decision have anything to do with a phone call you may have received this week?" he asks with a knowing look.
"I told Kurt not to tell you," she mutters a bit angry.
"He hasn't told me anything."
"Then how…"
"Because while I was in New York I heard you were offered a new role in the Russell Simmons musical opposite one of Broadway's hottest up-and-coming young actors, but that the producers are still waiting to hear back from you," Jesse tells her and sees the surprise in her face.
"The producers said that they were keeping things under wraps, how do you know all this?" she watches as a smirk forms on his face.
"Because I'm the hot up-and-coming young actor that you're going to play opposite of," Jesse admits.
"You're playing Tino?!" she asks surprised and happy.
"The Iraqi war vet who was discharged for covering the American embassy with graffiti that he used to make him a famous Philly street artist, and when he comes home crippled with PTSD, it's only his love of hip-hop that can save his life? (she laughs) Yeah. The producer spent a month trying to cast the role of Segovia Shade until I reminded them they found their Segovia Shade. She auditioned for them. Her name is Rachel Berry," Jesse tells her
"Jesse, I really appreciate you doing that for me, but I just… I haven't made up my mind yet," Rachel tells him
"Rachel, I know being here coaching the glee club is fun and all but we decided that we need to get your ass back on Broadway," Jesse tells her.
"I know, I am going back but I'm not sure if it's going to be for college or for Broadway," Rachel says
"What?! You can't be serious," Jesse asks in disbelief
"Look, my career was on track. And then I dropped out of NYADA and my whole life fell apart until I met you again. So now I have the chance to rectify that mistake," Rachel explains standing up and walking away
"Rachel, we've talked about this. Your mistake was not leaving NYADA. You got Funny Girl no one could have expected you to turn that down. Your mistake was leaving the show too soon to make that stupid sitcom," Jesse reminds her.
"I know," she mutters. He walks over to her and holds her. "I just need time to think about everything," Rachel tells him and he sighs
"Take the time you need," he says kissing her head. "It's just... we make beautiful music together Rachel. We always have. And I'm not going to lie but I would love nothing more than to share a stage with you eight shows a week," Jesse admits
"And I promise one day will," Rachel reassures him
"I know," he says back.