Sorry for the wait, guys, I was just soo busy and I wanted to write this somewhat properly and not in a hurry. And it looks like it might turn out to be a two-parter. Therefore making it 2 chapters ;) It's pretty intense and dramatic, as it should be, lol. Thank you for reviewing!

REGIONALS PART I

The day that New Directions and Vocal Adrenaline had been waiting for had finally come- Regionals. The bus ride there had been surprisingly calm and quiet, except for the occasional chatter between Tina, Kurt and Brittany. Jesse spent most of the trip staring out his window into the rainy fields of Ohio. Quinn was sitting next to him, trying to keep up a conversation but failing, as Jesse mostly gave her one-word answers. He hadn't seen Rachel since the whole Funkification fiasco. Many times had he contemplated going over to Rachel's house and giving her a piece of his mind but something kept pulling him back and he wasn't quite sure what it was. Jesse was no longer in denial – he had finally accepted what had happened and was going to deal with it accordingly; he just needed a final confirmation.

New Directions got ready in their dressing room. The guys were in all black clothing with golden ties and the girls were in golden dresses (which at first seemed like a great idea but in the end it kind of looked like they were wearing something resembling a spacesuit.) with headbands in a golden tone that didn't even go with the dress. But they all still looked amazing as they sat in the dressing room, listening to the first group, Aural Intensity, perform. They were doing a crazy Bohemian Rhapsody number, which made Jesse quite jealous and angry, mostly because he should have thought of that himself - he would totally rock that song.

"Bohemian Rhapsody? Are you kidding me? Somebody tipped them off about the judges!" Puck yelled in fury. He rarely got roweled up but being in Glee was important to him and he really, really wanted to win this one. Aural Intensity must have somehow known that Rod Remington would be one of the judges – he always goes on about how he and Freddy were such great friends and his favorite song is Bohemian Rhapsody.

"Guys, we can't get distracted by what the other teams are doing!" Santana tried to calm him down. She too was feeling a bit uneasy about their song choice but it would be alright, there were still 3 other judges.

"We just gotta keep our heads in the game and focus." Quinn added.

"Even though we know we can't win?" Jesse asked. Almost everyone in the room was stunned by this. Jesse was always the driving force of the group and now he was the one doubting them. Nobody knew what to reply, because, honestly, what can you reply when your leader loses hope?

"Yes," Mr. Schue stepped in and turned down the speaker, "if this is only about winning then I owe you all an apology, because I failed you. And we should just all go home, because it means we've already lost. And besides, we have got something that the other groups don't."

"What?" Artie asked, as they all looked extremely curious.

"Matt's dancing!" He laughed and was responded to with a laugh. Matt looked confused because he really wasn't a good dancer and couldn't understand how that could possibly help them. But since everyone else was laughing he figured that there probably was a way.

"Now come on, we've only got 20 minutes, pull yourselves together!" Will said as they all started getting psyched up.

Jesse quickly stormed out of the room, saying he'll be right back and he had to go the bathroom before they perform. He was actually going to find Rachel Berry, there was something he needed to tell her and he wanted to get it done before hand so that he could have a clear head during the performance. And yet again it seemed the stars were on his side, for when he turned to corner he saw Rachel pacing through the empty hallway outside of Vocal Adrenaline's dressing room, which was right across the hall from the backstage entrance. He would recognize that petite body anywhere and in any clothing, though now she was in a black and hot pink shimmery outfit. Bohemian Rhapsody was fairly audible in the background, as they were just starting the second half of the song. He could hear the piano solo and knew what was coming up next, his favorite line.

"Scaramouch, Scaramouch will you do the fandango?"

"I've come to congratulate you." Jesse said as he approached Rachel from behind.

Rachel jerked up and turned around in surprise. Of course she recognized that voice and she willed herself not to turn around but she didn't have much of a choice.

"Very, very frightening me!"

"You shouldn't be here, Jesse. Just leave." She said hesitantly, avoiding eye contact. She tried to make her way back in the dressing room or wherever she could go, she just needed to get away from Jesse.

But of course Jesse St. James didn't go or let her go, either. He grabbed her arm and turned her toward him.

"I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me."

"You made me believe you loved me. I should applaud you." Jesse said in a scorned voice, a hint of disgust in it. People often make the misconception that only girls are utterly heartbroken over a breakup, when really girls sometimes tend to be the biggest heartbreakers. If a girl plays her cards right, it's not hard to get her hooks into you and then just chew you up, lovesick puppy that you are. And Rachel Berry had obviously been queen of this game and he owed it to her, as a professional, to show some respect and congratulate her on a job well done.

"Jesse, don't… Just leave." Rachel said, trying to break away from his grip. Jesse couldn't see clearly but he was pretty sure he saw tears in her eyes.

"If it wasn't real, then why are you so afraid of confronting me? That's not the Rachel I fell in love with, so maybe I don't love you, either. Maybe you're just a coward who's too terrified to stand up for herself!" Jesse said, practically yelling, as the music became louder.

Rachel moaned a "no" in synch with the song, as she still tried to get away from Jesse.

"If you're such a talented performer, at least have to decency to look your audience in the eyes!"

"Let me go!" she demanded but unsuccessfully.

"Bismillah! No! We will not let you go!"

"Tell me you don't love me!" Jesse begged, as if he'd get satisfaction out of hearing her say it.

"Jesse, go away!" Rachel yelled as the struggle deepened.

"If it's true then say it!" Jesse didn't know what was happening, it was like a demon inside him had taken over and there was nothing he could do about it. His emotions overtook him and they were determined to get a straight answer out of Rachel, no matter what. Sure, she had told him before but he didn't believe it, he wanted it to sound more convincing and now he had caught her off guard and he was hoping that whatever her answer was, it would be true. But now she was just running away from him.

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no!"

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no!"

"You're a coward."

"Mama!" Rachel gasped, as her mother opened the door in front of them.

"Mama Mia, Mama Mia, Mama Mia let me go!"

All of Vocal Adrenaline looked over at the open door, to see a frozen Jesse and Rachel staring back at them.

"What, in God's name, is going on? Get your hands off my daughter!" Shelby demanded.

Jesse let Rachel go and looked at her as she also finally looked him in the eyes with such a miserable expression on her face that anyone else in the world would feel sorry for her, except for the person she used and destroyed. Her make-up was ruined and her hair was all messed up, she looked in no shape to perform.

"So you think you can stone me and spit in my eye?"

"Go on and run back to your team. I've said what I wanted to say." Jesse spat out.

"So you think you can love me and leave me to die?"

"You showed me what I needed to see. And you are nothing to me." He gave his final remark, barely keeping himself together, as he was tearing up. Then he turned away and went back the way he came, his look still piercing though Rachel's heart like a knife.

"Ohh, baby, can't do this to me baby. Just gotta get out, just gotta get right out of here."

For some reason Jesse felt better, which seems quite odd considering the extreme intensity of his last encounter with Rachel, but it felt somewhat like closure. True, he may have been a little harsh but how can you possibly act differently to someone who's used you like that? It was nothing worse than she had done to him. Though he still felt terribly heartbroken, at least now he felt relieved. Yet deep down he wondered if he'd ever meet someone as amazing as Rachel Berry again, and if someone would ever make him as happy as she did…or truly happy.

"Hey!" Quinn yelled as she was coming towards Jesse, she obviously had come to find him, "What took you so long? Aural Intensity just finished and we have to go on in a couple of minutes!"

"Uhh…Sorry. I had some business to attend to." Jesse said distractedly.

"Business? Today? What else could possibly be as more important than this? Listen, we had a chance at keeping it together in the dressing room until you decided to bail. You're our leader, Jesse! The way you're on everyone all the time is annoying but it also keeps the club motivated. You and I are gonna fix this. We're going out there and we are gonna win this thing!" Quinn insisted. That was just was Jesse needed to hear, a good pep talk. He took a moment to think.

"You're right," he smiled and took her hand leading her to the doors of the auditorium, "Let's go show them how it's done!"

Jesse straightened his tie and sighed, as he stared at the door in front of him. Beyond those doors lay his destiny. Ok, not really, but the Regionals judges, which included Olivia Newton-John and Josh Groban were out there, which was a pretty big deal. He looked over to his left to see Quinn standing in front of the other entrance, playing with her hair. She turned to him and smiled a smile that had "NERVOUS" written all over it. Jesse smiled and winked at her as he heard the announcer start to introduce them.

"Ladies and gentlemen, our 2nd competitors, winners of the Central Ohio Sectionals – McKinley High's New Directions!"

This was it. The piano started playing and Jesse's eyes broke away from Quinn's gaze and opened the door, entering the auditorium, filling it with his soft voice.

Highway run into the midnight sun
Wheels go round and round you're on my mind

Quinn entered and took over the song, going down the other aisle, catching up with Jesse.

Restless hearts sleep alone tonight
Sending all my love along the wire

Jesse joined in, as they were standing face to face yet 20 feet away.

They say that the road
ain't no place to start a family
Right down the line it's been you and me

They started walking toward each other, singing their hearts out.

And loving a music man
Ain't always what it's supposed to be

As they past one another, contently staring in one another's eyes, Quinn sang a solo line before Jesse joined her once again.

Oh, boy you stand by me

I'm forever yours, faithfully.

There was no doubt these two had great chemistry; everyone was in awe as they thought these two performers were like a match made in heaven. Everyone, except the one person watching who knew better – Rachel Berry. She had slipped in right after the lights went out and was standing in the corner, she had to see this, even if it meant it would break her heart once again. She saw how Quinn was looking at Jesse – like a love-struck teenage girl, who was mesmerized by this stunning boy. Rachel completely understood why. What she couldn't understand was how Jesse could look at Quinn the way he was. She really wasn't even that amazing, Rachel knew she would knock the ball out of the park if she were the one singing this song, especially with Jesse.

And being a part ain't easy on this love affair
Two strangers learn to fall in love again
I get the joy of rediscovering you

Jesse was really getting into this song and he sounded amazing. It actually was a brilliant idea to take this song and make it into a duet. He had practiced this with Quinn a dozen times but this seemed to be the best they've sounded together. For some strange reason, as he was looking at Quinn, whether he liked it or not, he imagined Rachel in her place. He even pictured her in that golden dress with a golden headband. How she would belt out notes that most of the people in the audience probably didn't even know existed. How they would sound completely spectacular together, and together they would also crush any competition in their way. But no, she already had done that. Jesse snapped out of it and looked at Quinn. Yes, these words were truer about her than anyone else, she was the one who has stood by him through thick and thin. He didn't love her but he sure valued her friendship, and he would be there for her whenever she needed.

Oh, girl you stand by me
I'm forever yours faithfully

Rachel couldn't deny that it hurt. It hurt the way the boy she actually did still love sang about how he's faithful to another girl. It hurt the way he looked so happy with her. It hurt the way they were totally rocking this song. She couldn't help the few small tears that ran down her cheek.

The curtain rose, as the rest of New Directions appeared on the stage and Jesse overpowered the whole choir with his strong voice.

Ooooooh ooooooooh ooooooh faithfully
faithfully... I'm still yours!
Ooooooh ooooooooh ... I'm still yours
Ooooooh ooooooooh ...I'm still yours!

The music stopped and Jesse and Quinn faced each other to sing the final line.

Faithfully.

I know it's a terrible place to end but I'm just mean like that :)