Chapter 2

She was standing in the bathroom, tapping a wet napkin under her eyes and over her cheeks, taking deep breaths. She wasn't crying, but she was close to tears. It was a moment of clarity for her, the one where she gets her epiphany about her nearing fall and she was filled with anger. What could she actually do? She can never do anything. Finn is like a puppet and Rachel is the puppeteer. She pulls his strings as if he was an instrument and she plays him to her own accord. Quinn wasn't going to lie herself about that.

She ran her fingers through her hair, studying her reflection in the mirror. For the last couple of days she could see herself with a crown on top of her head and Finn squeezing her tightly beside her, genuine smiles on their faces. But that picture seemed to break in her mind now. She could no longer see it. She did, however, see Rachel grinning victoriously at her and Finn looking down at Rachel lovingly.

Quinn felt like smashing the mirror into pieces, as if that would chase the images out of her mind.

She took a deep breath and put her brave face on. Nobody will actually see how Quinn Fabray feels; she couldn't afford herself that luxury, not now. She needed to keep herself calm and stay collected at least until the crown is on her head. Then she would be able to express her feelings. Yet, she believed that when it came to that the only feelings she would have are those of happiness, because she will have kept Finn.

For some reason, Quinn decided to lie to herself on that one. She wasn't going to lose Finn. She wasn't going to let another man leave her alone again. No, no one will ever leave her again, she was sure of that as she got out and bumped into Jacob Israel.

- Your prom date, Finn Hudson was just seen having an intense conversation with Rachel Berry. How does that make you feel? – He spoke a little nervously, as if he was afraid of her reaction and pushed a Dictaphone in her face.

- Sorry for Rachel. – She gave a fake sympathetic smile. She knew that was coming, she just wished she could know what they were talking about.

- Why? She seems to have two popular guys ready to fight for her. – Jacob was pushing it; he was pushing her buttons in the perfect way to enrage her even more. – Does that mean that you are no longer running for king and queen? – She glared at him, letting too much of her feelings show in that gesture before she pulled herself together.

- Finn and I are running for king and queen. No, scratch that. – She took the Dictaphone out of his hand, and spoke right into it in a quiet, threatening voice. – Finn and I are winning that run. – She handed the device back to him, her lips curling into that well-practiced smile that didn't really touch her eyes. – Don't forget to vote Hudson-Fabray.

She turned on her heels and walked away from Jacob, taking deep breaths and trying to calm herself down. This little… Interview she just had made her realize she needed to talk to one person in particular. He wasn't much of a listener, she knew that, but she would make him listen. If her suspicions were correct, and Jacob just proved to her she wasn't the only one having them, she knew how to play Jesse St. James.

She reached her locker, taking a couple of pamphlets she had there and some pens, smirking to herself as she walked to the one place she knew Jesse would be at, if he was still hanging around the school and she had a feeling he was.

Quinn walked to the auditorium in quiet steps. She wasn't sneaking around or trying to catch him doing something he shouldn't be doing, but a part of her hoped that she would find something to blackmail him with.

She snuck in from the back, peeking from one of the stage corners, looking at him play the piano. His eyes were closed as he leaned back and forth to the sound of the music he was playing. His eyebrows were furrowed, just a little, creating a small crease on his forehead. Jesse St. James didn't frown a lot, he knew it would cause him premature wrinkles, and with a face like that, he needed to look as young as possible for as long as possible to succeed in the showbiz. She couldn't see his hands but she could hear them fly over the keyboard, caressing it like it was his lover. His feet were moving the pedals up and down and as she tried to catch the beat of what he was playing, the music stopped abruptly.

- Fabray. – He said simply, his eyes finding hers immediately, like he knew she was standing there all the time.

- St. James. – She said, walking out of the shadows and onto the stage, approaching the piano.

- What do you want? – He asked looking at her puzzled, leaning against the piano.

- I need to talk to you. – She got to the piano and put the things she had in her hands on it.

- What about? – He arched an eyebrow, glancing at her belongings now on the piano.

- Why are you back? – She knew there was no point in small talk. With Jesse you had to be straight or you were in for a long talk about his goals, hair, music talent or whatever that was keeping him self-absorbed these days. Their gazes locked. He was studying her face carefully, his eyes scrunching just a little, until he broke the gaze.

- Why is that of any interest to you? – He asked, as he sat up straight and focused his attention on the keyboard, playing a simple melody with one of his hands.

- Anything that includes you and Berry includes me and Finn. – Her voice was of the same height as the key Jesse hit as soon as she spoke the first word. For some reason, she liked how she noticed that. – I need to know if you're after Berry or after the Glee club.

- Why would I be after any of those? – He raised an eyebrow again, playing a somewhat dissonant chord.

- Stop answering my questions with your own. – She said sharply, lowering the fall slowly so he would have time to move his hands. He looked at her, placing his hands below the music rack.

- I flunk out of college and now I'm back in my hometown. – He said in a matter-of-fact voice, looking her in the eyes. – Does that satisfy you?

- You flunk out of college? – She arched an eyebrow in disbelief and he just shrugged in response. – So what now? Yes, you are in your hometown, but what about this school…? This isn't your school. – She scrunched her eyes, looking at him, studying his face carefully.

- No, but I did go to it for however short a time. – He smirked, looking around. – Unfortunately. I see not much has changed. – She rolled her eyes, sighing in exasperation. His gaze returned upon her and he finally said. – Fine, I'm not randomly back here. I'm here to make things right.

- With Rachel? – She guessed, her worst fears coming true as he nodded.

She sunk her teeth into her lower lip, frowning, deep in thought. How was she ever going to make it now? Jesse ignored her and raised the fall, starting to play again. The melody he played sounded like a death march to her, even though it might not have been that. Her mind was racing, she was trying to think of a way out, she needed to think of a way out, otherwise this Bermuda triangle Rachel, Finn and she had going on would drag her to the bottom. Again. Jesse was the spot that had the potential of making a square of it, which would result in creating two separate lines which would distance themselves and she would no longer have to worry about Rachel and Finn; ever again.

- I have a proposition for you. – She said in a serious voice, making him stop his playing. He glanced up at her, a glint of interest in his eyes, though his features showed none of it.

- Do tell, Fabray. – He said in a matter-of-fact voice, but she knew that he was hooked. She was also sure of the fact that he knew that she had picked up on his interest like a hungry lion, but he was now putting on a show. Jesse St. James without a show was nobody.

- I need you to keep away from Rachel. – She noticed he was about to protest, so she quickly silenced him. – Just until prom is over. And I don't mean not see her or talk to her, just don't make a move.

- What's in it for me? – He scrunched his eyes, looking at her as she reached for one of her pamphlets and pens, handing them to him. He looked at the objects, arching his eyebrows. – Unless you are asking me to be your king, I'm not following. – He said in a silky voice, looking at her with a smirk she wanted to erase.

- You are meddling with my chances to win. – She didn't try to hide the exasperation in her voice; on the contrary, she even rolled her eyes to emphasize how much she didn't appreciate his newest approach. – I don't like that. I don't lose. – Her voice was as sharp as a knife.

- And how does my sweeping Rachel off her feet exactly corrupt your plan? It is a bad plan, to begin with. Just look at who you are running with. This? – He raised the pamphlet, pointing on Finn's face. – You must be desperate to settle for this. – He looked at the picture again, making a sour grimace.

- Leave that to me. The only thing I want you dealing with is not dealing with Rachel just yet. You know as well as I do that that little face has a head start in Rachel's heart to yours. So, if you keep your schemes and plans to yourself for a little while longer, and I am certain you have some up your sleeve, you and I could both end up with what we want the most.

- Broadway? – He raised an eyebrow, making her roll her eyes. He sighed, getting to his feet, walking to her. – You know you're making a deal with the devil here, right?

- To each his own. – She smirked, looking up at him, as he nodded, offering her his hand. She shook it, making sure her grip was firm and decisive as a smirk grew on his face.

- You do know how you make a deal with the devil on a crossroad?

- You wish, St. James. – She said coldly, pulling her hand from his and turning on her heels to walk out of the room.

- You forgot your things. – He called after her, taking the promotional material in his hands.

- No I didn't. That's your motivation. – She said not even bothering to turn and look at him.