VACATION
She hadn't always been like this. Once upon a time, Quinn had dreams like everyone else. It wasn't even that long ago when she thought that way. She had dreamt of leaving Lima, becoming successful, and never returning. It was a goal when she entered high school. But then mistakes were made and babies were given away and somehow imagining faraway places just didn't have the same appeal. Quinn was always meant to be the dutiful daughter. Head cheerleader. In the top percentile of her class. Date a nice, respectable boy like Finn. She had done none of that correctly in what felt like the smallest place on earth.
She couldn't succeed in high school, and everything outside of high school was foreign to her. Those end results did not bode well. She wasn't like Rachel. She didn't have an all-mighty talent nor was she the best at anything. She was good at plenty, but never the best. Just as she knew she was smart, but so were several other thousands of people in the world. She had her looks of course, but looks fade and then what? She had Finn to fall back on for a while there if worse came to worse, but just as she always feared, he returned to Rachel. For Quinn, life after high school became the equivalent of freefalling without a safety net. It was paralyzing really. She didn't want to get too far ahead of herself because nothing was definite yet, but she was starting to feel like she could do this. Having Jesse beside her as a companion made things easier. Not to mention seemingly safer. What he said on the first night of the play made things better. Of course that was really the only good thing to come out of that night.
Sure Quinn may have been given a reason to be a little happier with life, but that certainly didn't mean anyone else was. The first night of McKinley's Christmas production was tragic. It began with Finn trying to be subtle and get backstage while Rachel tried to get through the opening scene with the extras and then seconds later the carolers (Blaine, Tina, and Kurt). The moment the curtain closed and Jesse began narrating again, Finn tried to apologize for his latest accident, but Rachel honestly didn't have the time to listen to him as they both had to get ready for the second scene. Finn went through the scene by rotating between reciting his lines and still trying to apologize. The audience of students seemed to be thoroughly entertained by all of this. Especially when the night didn't get any better. It probably didn't help that Kurt, Mercedes, and the two extras on stage spread the word about everything that had taken place between the now former couple.
The second and third nights were at least improved. The second night was the depressing showing as that's what Rachel was feeling, and the third night was the show all about anger, but her performances were better than the vacant one she gave the first night. Jesse did his best to keep Finn separate from Rachel so she could get through the shows. Finn's constant apologies weren't helping anyone. The rest of New Directions, on the other hand, were fine with putting on the show once there was no backstage gossip floating around. Quinn, for her part, had a good time as she spent all three nights snapping at Finn on stage which really wasn't the correct representation of the Cratchits' marriage, but whatever.
"Your cat is laying on my papers again." Jesse informed Quinn as they sat on her floor, backs resting against her bed. Jesse spent his day yesterday printing them both off applications to the schools he could see them attending next year. Today was the scheduled day that they had to begin filling them out.
"You're the one who got me him." Quinn smiled as she coxed Paul Newman off of Jesse's applications and over to her. The cat settled back down, and she glanced at Jesse's papers once more. "Are you sure you can even do this?"
"Do what?"
"Apply to school. You flunked out of a major university. Can you even reapply to another one?" It was something she had been questioning if she should look up for him or not. She made note to ask Miss Pillsbury when they returned to school after break.
"I don't see why I couldn't."
"Because most people who flunk out of school go to community college for a while before reapplying."
"Well that sounds like a waste of time."
"But-"
"Chicago has a show business type feel to it, right? I mean, my career could start out there if it had to." Southern California and New York were where the majority of their applications had been chosen from so far, but to be safe, Jesse also printed some off for Chicago and Las Vegas schools. He also got excited and picked out some Hawaiian ones as well. Not because he saw his celebrity future kicking off there, but simply because he always liked the family vacations the St. Jameses took to Honolulu.
"I guess." She agreed pointlessly since they both already knew these facts.
"It's just a backup, though."
"Yeah, I know."
"Because New York would probably be better, and Rachel will be in New York."
"I know that too." She said stiffly, still filling out her own information.
"I still can't believe they actually broke up. This is the best holiday break I've had since the year my family took that trip to Graceland. Who knew the south could actually be worthy outside of Civil War talk and NASCAR?"
"Whatever. I still can't believe he broke up with her on stage."
He chuckled lightly. "I know, it's perfect. Dumps Rachel on stage. Dumps you at a funeral." He sighed wistfully. "It's almost too easy to compete with."
"Charming, Jesse, really." She told him flatly. Since Jesse had found out Finn broke it off with Rachel, he had been chipper to put it nicely. She knew he would approve of these changes, but she didn't think he'd be so excited. Considering the only times he seemed to bring Rachel up in conversation anymore was to prove something that resembled a point, Quinn had just assumed he was moving on from their mutual, little friend.
That was hardly the case, though. For once this year, Jesse was going to put himself first again. Sure, that wasn't necessarily fair to any of the number of people involved, but it was Rachel. She was the future Katharine to his future Spencer…only different. Better. Before he developed an actual friendship with Quinn, every decision he's made since returning to Ohio has had to do with her, and she was finally separate from Finn. Without any meddling involved on top of it. They've gone their separate ways all on their own. Jesse didn't have to do anything, and his original goal of getting Rachel away from Finn happened anyway. It was good for her to be rid of him and move on with this chapter of her life. And now that she was free to pursue, Jesse honestly didn't see the harm in it.
"I'm sorry if my interest in Rachel upsets you." He sighed casually.
"You don't think it's a little soon? It's been about a week and a half." She challenged.
"Yes, and I should probably move quickly. What if Rachel moves completely on from Finn and into some realm of independence that comes complete with an anti-men sentiment?"
"She's Rachel, and this is Finn we're talking about. She's either a crying mess or is trying to figure out a way to get him back."
"That's stupid. Why would she do that?"
"Because she's Rachel and this is Finn. It's what they do."
"I disagree. I think this time's different. Unless you've talked to her and she's informed otherwise."
"I've only talked to you and Brittany over break, but I've also been stuck playing witness to Rachel's entire relationship with Finn. It's predictable."
"So? All the more reason to help break her of this habit. I can give her another option."
"Again, she's Rachel, and she's been dumped which means she's vulnerable which means you'd be taking advantage of her."
"Your concern for her is cute, but I really think it'd be in my best interest to at least remind her that I'm available."
Quinn opened her mouth to argue once more but was interrupted from doing so.
"Knock, knock." Her mother pushed open the already ajar door. "I brought you kids some hot coco." She smiled happily before passing the two mugs along to be met with "thank yous."
"Judy, I'm afraid Quinn and I are having a small disagreement. Perhaps you can help us prove that I'm right." Jesse began, taking a sip. "There's this girl, Rachel Berry –you might have heard of her– and I've been in love with her for roughly two years now. We're each other's perfect match-"
"When singing." Quinn cut him off.
"Right. That too." He nodded before going back to explaining it all to Judy. "Anyway, her loaf of a boyfriend –you actually do know him– finally ended their soiled relationship. Something that should have happened years ago mind you. Now here's the disagreement: I want to inform Rachel that I'm still available while Quinn ignorantly believes it'd be too soon to pursue her."
"You'd also be setting yourself up." Quinn warned.
"How do you figure?" He asked.
"Well let's see, the last two times you dated her or tried to date her you were the rebound off of who was it again? Oh right, it was Finn. Not to mention, if she did hypothetically take you back anytime soon, she'd only be using you."
"I thought you just said I'd be the one taking advantage of her?"
"Also a possibility."
"Hmm. You seem to know a lot about Rachel's relationships there."
"Rachel doesn't know the meaning of subtle."
"Whatever you say."
"I think you should go for it." Judy gained their attention, speaking excitedly. "You should tell her tonight. With the slight snowfall, it's quite beautiful out."
"What?" Quinn blanched.
"See." Jesse smirked. "Your mother agrees."
Judy nodded. "If you love this girl like you say you do and she's finally out of a bad relationship, then you should definitely confess your feelings for her. Just like in the movies."
"Precisely."
Quinn shook her head slightly. "How am I the one in this room with the highest moral conduct right now?"
"Quinnie, you shouldn't overthink love." Judy advised.
Jesse grinned. "I couldn't agree more. I've said it before, but if only I were older, Judy."
"Or I younger."
"Okay," Quinn held up a finger, "we have talked about those types of phrases."
"She's just so touchy." Jesse laughed along with Judy while Quinn simply glared at them. They did this sort of thing on purpose in spite of her. Jerks.
Quinn wasn't necessarily thrilled hers and Jesse's families were bordering on a giant family affair. Christmas this past weekend was spent at the St. James'. Admittedly, this year was better than last year when she and her mother just had an awkward and quiet dinner after mass before exchanging meaningless gifts. (Plus, no one had to go to any teacher's apartment.) However, that didn't mean she liked being one, big, dysfunctional family.
She and her mother drove all the way to Jesse's real home with his Uncle Stew, and their arrival was the last normal part of the night. After dinner, the four adults spent the rest of the evening getting tipsy and discussing their younger years while the four kids spent the night watching It's a Wonderful Life for the eight hundredth time. Thankfully, when the movie became too dull, Jesse excused himself and Quinn to spend the rest of the night talking about nothing. Quinn still couldn't find any way to get along with Jesse's brother and sister. On the weird scale from 1 to 10 they were Suzy Pepper.
"Well then I'm going to win back a lost love." Jesse breathed calmly before readdressing Quinn. "Unless of course there's any particular reason why you don't want me to."
"You mean besides what I've already told you? No."
"Sure?"
Quinn pursed her lips before responding. "If you want to go over to Rachel's without any consideration for her feelings when she most likely needs time and distance, then go ahead."
"In that case, I think I will."
"Fine."
"Last chance." He sing-songed. "I'm walking to the door."
"Go away, Jesse."
"Quinn, don't be rude." Her mother scolded.
Jesse just chuckled. "I'll see you ladies later. Be sure to finish my applications for me will you?" He added quickly before walking out of Quinn's room.
"So does this mean you've finally opened your eyes?" Her mother teased.
Quinn rolled her eyes. Despite telling her multiple times that Jesse was a friend and only a friend, Judy always hoped for more between the two. "I'm not jealous. I just don't think Rachel needs an ex-boyfriend chasing after her when she's trying to deal with her latest breakup."
"Well that's very nice of you, Quinn, but Jesse's your friend and I would hope that you want him to be happy."
"Can we please stop talking about Jesse going after Rachel?"
"Okay." Judy moved to go sit on the end of Quinn's bed above her. "So how far have you gotten?" She began twirling a piece of her daughter's hair fondly.
"Not very. I figured I'll start on the essays tomorrow."
"Well that's good."
"Are um…are you okay with all this? With me leaving I mean?"
Judy inhaled sharply, pausing in her ministrations. That usually meant her mother didn't entirely approve and would soon be putting on a faux smile. "I think if this is what you truly want to do, then I'll support your decision."
"It is." Quinn really wanted to leave Lima behind.
"You just have to promise to come back with Jesse for holidays."
Finn sat awkwardly on Rachel's living room couch. She had called him over about a half an hour ago now, and so far all they had done was silently watch TV; glancing at each other every couple of minutes before he would quickly look away. They hadn't actually talked to each other since the breakup. He tried apologizing one last time when Jesse wasn't around on the last night of their play, but that was it as far as communication went which sucked. It really hadn't been a good week. Kurt was angry with him. He hadn't said anything, but by now Finn knew when his step-brother had an attitude about something. It was obviously about the end to him and Rachel. The rest of the gleeks also seemed to be on the side of that-was-the-wrong-way-to-breakup-with-someone, but it was something he had to do. He just didn't' mean for it to happen the way it did.
It was hardly as spur of the moment as it seemed. Finn had been thinking over the decision of breaking it off with Rachel for weeks beforehand. Those thoughts kept popping into his head like inappropriate sexy thoughts. He totally didn't want to be having them, but they just kept coming into his head anyway. Stupid subconscious. And worse, they began to make sense. He always knew that they were going to part ways from each other at the end of this year, and he thought he could do it. He thought one last year without any drama between them would've been great, but then the future slowly started creeping up on them. Maybe he really was selfish like Quinn had told him or maybe it's just that he wasn't all that mature yet, but he was constantly frustrated around Rachel. There was just this never ending twisting in his stomach when he looked at his girlfriend because he knew he was trapped in this tiny town while she'd be leaving it. Finn may not be a genius, but he knew that wasn't healthy for a relationship nor was it fair to hold any resentment against Rachel just because she had paved the way for herself to follow her dreams.
"That was a pretty funny episode." Finn finally broke the silence between them when the latest Will & Grace rerun ended.
"Yes, I suppose it was." Rachel agreed, happy that Finn was finally speaking.
"So how have you been since, well, how have you been? How's your break so far?" Finn internally winced as he searched for something to say.
"I'm fine. It's been fine, and you?"
"Same." He nodded slowly. "Just…fine."
"Good. I don't know about you, but I can no longer watch any more television tonight." She quickly flicked off the TV set before sending him a bright smile. "Would you like to come upstairs instead?"
"Sure. Okay." He agreed before he moved to follow her upstairs because, well, anything would be better than this.
They were both lying of course. Neither was exactly fine. Finn had spent the last week sulking in his room. He didn't even find himself wanting to celebrate Christmas. And Finn loved Christmas. His mom, Burt, and Kurt had to basically force him into participating. And yeah, okay, he was the one to do the breaking-up, but it still felt like some college stoners were playing hacky sack with his heart or something. And Rachel hadn't been fairing much better. As any overly emotional actress would do, she cried. A lot. When one suffers a bad breakup, that's what they do. Along with eating ice cream. Lots of ice cream. It was because of this that she did not feel guilty about slightly cheating on her vegan diet. It was tradition.
Looking back over the last few weeks, the breakup hadn't been entirely out of nowhere. There had been a small distance between herself and Finn that just seemed to keep growing after summer ended. They had minor arguments about things that weren't important. Finn still didn't approve of her friendship with Jesse, and he never joined in discussing college plans. If Rachel had been looking for signs, she probably could have prepared herself for this, but she hadn't been looking. Unlike the previous two years, her relationship with Finn hadn't been the forefront topic on her mind. She had been busy focusing on next year and her friendships and glee. This change was something she was questioning if she should start regretting or not.
Despite how she and Finn had ended last year, she didn't want to lose him. She had been chasing him since she was fifteen years old. Surely that meant something more than just a high school romance. She had felt that her lack of tunnel vision was better for their relationship this year. She could easily focus on her dreams and drag Finn along with her. He was obviously mistaken about something. And he was thoroughly oblivious if he assumed she would just let him duck out of their relationship quietly. No, because for this week only, she was going back to tunnel vision, determined Rachel Berry. She had to at least try and salvage her relationship with Finn. She couldn't just give up on them after everything. He was Finn. So after the crying ceased, Rachel's planning began.
Once they got up to Rachel's' room, Finn awkwardly gazed around it. "So like are we going to watch your MySpace videos again like we did that one time because I'm not really sure-" He continued turning around but froze once his eyes landed on Rachel. "What are you doing?" He looked to the robe casually tossed onto her bed and back up to Rachel who was now dressed in a girly, little pink dress thing that somehow managed to cover enough to remain respectable yet left little to the imagination.
"I think it's high time we put this breakup behind us, don't you?"
Rachel's fathers scheduling Tuesday date night provided her with the perfect opportunity to execute her plan. Her plan being to show Finn what he was missing before moving their relationship forward a few steps then, of course, getting back together.
"Um no." He blushed and looked away before frowning. He looked back up at her. "Wait, is this why you called me over here?"
"Yes." She crossed the room over to him.
"I thought you wanted to talk about everything."
"For once, I don't find myself wanting to talk." She began leaning up.
"Rachel, stop." He gripped her shoulders and held her away from him.
"But-"
"No buts. Like any butts at all. Seriously." Finn walked past her and picked up her robe from the bed. He came back over to where Rachel stood and tied it around her quickly as if he was dressing a small child to go play in the snow. He looked her over once. "I thought it was weird that you were dressed like that." He smiled to himself. Really. Who invites people over in a robe?
Rachel rolled her eyes before squeezing her arms through her sleeves. "Do you…do you not like it?" She folded her arms in front of herself, shyly now. "Because I tried to keep in mind that you don't like your girlfriends to look like depressed hookers."
"No, it's…you, um, look great, but I don't want to look at you dressed like that. You're not my girlfriend, and this is hard enough as it is, Rachel."
"Well it doesn't need to be. We can put this whole misunderstanding behind us an-and continue focusing on the future."
Finn sighed heavily before sitting them both down on the edge of her bed. He obviously needed to clear some things up. "Rachel, this isn't a misunderstanding. I'm not doing something stupid like chasing after Brittany and Santana or lying to you about my virginity, and you're not kissing Puck to hurt me." He paused because that statement made them sound pretty screwed up. "We agreed last year that we'd go our separate ways after we graduated."
"Exactly." She shifted closer. "Graduation is months away, Finn, and we can still be together until then."
"Maybe you can, but I can't. Just put yourself in my position. How would you feel if you knew I was leaving next year while you were going to be stuck here?"
Rachel stopped to consider the reverse scenario. What would she feel like if Finn was the talent and she was the naivety? "I'd feel like I was taking advantage of your talent and using it as my only possible way out of Ohio."
He frowned. "Well no, that's not how I feel. I just, I can't…" He tried to figure out how to explain this to her. "Sometimes I find myself wishing you were less talented so you'd stay here with me. And when I'm not thinking that, I'm busy wishing I was better so I could go with you. Neither one of those is good, Rachel. Wishing you sucked is terrible, and it makes me feel like the worst person ever. And wishing I was awesome does nothing but result in more disappointment because I know it's not going to randomly happen. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"No." She said simply. "I'm afraid I'm not someone who can comprehend not striving for the best or not having some sort of a dream to go for."
"Okay well you played football last year, right?" He got a new idea. "Now let's pretend you were kind of good and that you really liked it and wanted to pursue it. Just because that's what you wanted doesn't mean it's physically possible for you to go on to be like a professional player."
"Women can't play in the National Football League, Finn."
"My point is, is that sometimes other things get in the way even if you have dreams. Sometimes they just can't come true no matter how hard you try or how much you want them."
"I disagree."
"Then I don't know what else to say, Rachel. I'm sorry about how I broke up with you. It wasn't the right time or place, and I wasn't really thinking about that at the time, but I'm not sorry about breaking up with you. It was the right thing to do, and I hope that one day you'll see that."
Rachel displayed a frown herself; that last statement reintroducing some anger. "How am I supposed to see that this is the right thing when it makes no sense? Is it, was I putting too much pressure on you or-or was I ignoring you or did-"
"Stop. You didn't do anything wrong, and it's not because I don't love you anymore or that I developed feelings for someone else or any other normal reason to break up with someone. Not all relationships work out. I wish ours could. I really do, but it's just not the right time for us anymore."
"So you're just giving up?"
"No, I'm just being the mature one for a change."
"Finn, that's-"
They were interrupted as her doorbell sounded throughout her home.
"Were you expecting anyone else?" Finn questioned.
Rachel shook her head. "No."
Finn jumped to his feet, thrilled that he was given a possible distraction. Rachel, on the other hand, was upset with the interruption. Still, she followed after him to answer the door. It was her home after all. When they got downstairs, Finn pulled the door open to be met with the sight of Jesse.
Jesse blinked. "I must be having a nightmare."
Finn, for once in his life, was happy to see this tool. "Jesse's here. Look, Rachel, Jesse's here."
"Yes, I see that, Finn." She looked from her newest ex to her other one. "You can come in. Obviously nothing I wanted is going to be accomplished here tonight."
They followed Rachel to her couch, and Jesse made sure to sit in between the two. He wasn't actually sure how this cosmically happened to him. Somewhere a former cheerio was laughing at him right now. He just knew it. Seriously, what was Finn doing here?
"So come up with anything for Regionals yet?" Finn asked Jesse.
Jesse waited a beat before responding mostly to himself. "This must be my Karma in life. I assumed befriending Quinn was my Karma, but now I know it must be this."
"Well I'm pretty sure that Kurt and Blaine want solos. And Rachel too, right?" Finn informed.
"Um, yes, Finn, I would always appreciate a solo." Rachel answered slowly.
"I'm sure I'll work something out that will both please some while offending others. That seems to be the norm." Jesse agreed.
"Well that's really great. I'm sure it will be awesome. So I'm gonna go 'cause I'm sure Jesse would rather talk to you when I'm not around and stuff." Finn hopped off the couch and headed for the door.
"Finn." Rachel tried to stop him as she stood from the couch.
"I'm really sorry, Rachel." He told her one more time softly before exiting her home.
Jesse frowned. "You know, I never expected him to be respectful of me or approve of my choices for glee."
"He doesn't. He was just looking for an excuse to leave." She spun around to face him. "And you had to go and give him one."
"Yes. I feel badly about that."
"This isn't a joke, Jesse."
"I find anything that pertains to Finn Hudson to be a joke."
"Well I'm glad that my relationship provides such entertainment for you and Quinn." She plopped back down on her couch. "I can just picture you two sitting around and having a good laugh at my expense."
"Hardly. Most of my time spent with Quinn is an argument."
She sighed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. I'm just upset."
"About Finn? Please wake me up so I can return to real life. Finn Hudson is not worth any emotional turmoil over, Rachel."
"I can't just turn off my feelings for him. It doesn't work that way. I need him in my life."
"Okay. Is there something in the Lima water supply that makes all the women here dependent messes?" He asked the room flippantly. This may have not been the best thing to say for whatever reason because the moment the words left his mouth, Rachel burst into life-imitating-art tears. Crap. Well that settled it. Nothing he wanted to happen was ever going to happen. Seriously, his life was really starting to suck. But at least Rachel was crying. He didn't exactly know how he kept getting stuck with crying girls, but Quinn seemed happier after spilling some tears so maybe Rachel will too.
Jesse scooted the few feet over on the couch and pulled Rachel into a half-hug of comfort. "Rachel, please stop crying over Finn. You're nothing other than extraordinary, and Finn truly isn't worth this."
"I did not see this coming." She spoke once the tears began to subside some.
"Really?"
"I suppose if I was looking I would have, but I wasn't looking."
Jesse leaned away slowly and pulled his arm back in order to speak with her. "I'm going to ask you something that I've already asked you in the past." He prepared. "Why Finn?"
"Because I love him."
"Yes. Why?" He continued. "After everything you've been through with him, why do you still want to be with him?"
"Finn and I are meant to be together. I know it."
"Okay, but I believe the same thing about you and I. That doesn't necessarily mean either one of us is right. Saying two people are meant to be together can be applied to anyone."
"Except it's true for me and Finn. It has to be. We've overcome all of our outside love interests. We jeopardized Nationals last year with what we thought would be the final kiss that we would ever share. We've always found our way back to each other. Aren't we supposed to get our happy ending? We should be leaving for New York together at the end of this year to starting our future journey. Isn't that how love's supposed to be?"
He took a deep breath to absorb all of this. "So we know where Finn belongs in Rachel's script. But where does Finn belong in Rachel's life? As I've come to learn over the last six months, the two are not the same." He sighed as he was met with nothing but a questioning frown. Sometimes he forgot that despite Rachel suffering enough heartache to last a lifetime, in some ways she was still very much childlike.
He tried a different approach. "You know what the greatest thing about movies is? It's that no matter how you choose to view them, they're always an escape. It's two hours of living someone else's life. Entertainment in its purest form. When you watch a film, everything is romanticized because no one wants to spend two hours watching real life play out in front of them. We already do that every day." He paused. "Have you ever actually looked at your relationship with Finn outside of the ideal?"
Rachel immediately recalled the only time she ever had. It was why she initially didn't want to try again with Finn last year until he offered one final year. But that was before she began believing they could accomplish otherwise. Now she wasn't too sure what to think of them exactly.
"Last year in New York." She said finally.
"And what was your conclusion?"
"That I was meant to be on stage."
"I understand wanting to make the movie a reality, Rachel, it's why I came and found you after flunking out of school. But thanks to a certain blonde we both know, I've realized that sometimes reality might just be better." Quinn's script was the opposite of her ideal. It was her and Finn settling down in Lima, Ohio, and Jesse couldn't see the benefits of that becoming real life.
"I'm sorry that I ruined your movie." She told him softly.
"Rest assured that the script is still written. It just happens to be nothing but a dream now."
"Shouldn't we always chase our dreams?" She lost some more tears before wiping them away.
"No, we should chase our goals. If determined enough, goals are inevitabilities. Dreams are just wishes. They're impossibilities that have a way of both taunting us and giving us our escape."
Rachel moved to lean her head back down onto his shoulder. It wasn't the first time they've spoken about topics such as these. They've shared similar conversations to this one in the past. And Jesse proved to be correct every time. She fulfilled a dream by finding her mother, but Shelby had wanted a daughter that wasn't Rachel. She had finally heard Finn profess his love for her, but Finn had lied to her about Santana the entire time, bringing up too many insecurities. Original songs did not result in New Directions winning Nationals, and they were still at the bottom of McKinley's social ladder.
"Well that's very rude of them." She pouted.
"Terribly so."
They were silent for a few moments before Rachel sat back up and continued the conversation. "So what's your goal, Jesse?"
"Right now? To get me and Quinn out of Ohio."
"You should have brought Quinn over with you."
"To be truthful, I didn't exactly come over here to spend time with you. Bringing Quinn would have been a hindrance in my original intentions. Besides, she didn't want me to come here anyway."
She frowned. "Then why are you really here?"
"Now that you're officially single, I just thought I should remind you that I'll always have feelings for you. Timing, however, wasn't on my side tonight."
"Oh. Well not to offend you, but that's not exactly new information. Why was Quinn against it?"
"She thought I was taking advantage of you. Regardless of the fact that she probably won't be admitting to it any time soon, she cares about you, Rachel."
Jesse watched as Rachel's face lit up at this piece of information. He rolled his eyes. It really wasn't something to be that excited about. Quinn caring about someone wasn't all that different than Quinn not caring about someone. It's not like she'd ever willingly show those emotions.
"Um, since that you are here and both our nights have not gone as planned, would you perhaps like to stay and watch a movie?" She offered.
"Actually I was thinking of leaving to sulk and give a breathtaking rendition of 'My Heart Will Go On' at the nearest homeless shelter. I think the homeless would appreciate that."
"Well we can do that."
"I think it'd be more meaningful if I did it alone. It wouldn't have the same emotional backdrop if the girl I was singing about was there with me." He stood from the couch, prompting her to do the same. "But I can bring Quinn by tomorrow for a movie or two."
"And maybe I can call Kurt and Blaine and-"
"Okay, I said Quinn, not glee."
"Right."
"Goodnight, Rachel."
"Night." She watched him walk to the door and out into the cold. Tomorrow was the first day she was looking forward to since the opening night of A Christmas Carol. Maybe 2012 wasn't going to be as bad as she predicted it would be.