The Fight

"God, Rachel it's not like I'm asking you to move in with me. I asked you to stay the night. "Jesse yelled throwing his hands into the air as he stalked away from her.

"You might just as well." Rachel snapped back.

"Rach, it's not that hard of a decision."

"Maybe to you it isn't."

"It's a yes or a no!"

"No!" Rachel's and Jesse's chest heaved as they stared at each other, both standing on the opposite sides of Rachel's dressing room.

"I just don't understand Rachel; we've been dating since high school! I think it would be okay for you to stay the night at my place."

"I don't want too!"

"Why not? Do you think I would take advantage of you? Do you not trust me? Is that the issue? Uh?" Jesse yelled. Rachel mumbled something and turned to leave but stopped when Jesse's hand grabbed her arm and swung her around to face him.

"No! You don't get to just walk away! We aren't doing this again!"

"No we're not! Not here, not there!" She pointed to the door. "We have to go, people are waiting!"

"No! Not until we figure this out!"

"You don't understand!"

"I don't understand! I DON'T UNDERSTAND! You're talking to the guy who egged you to get a 4th National title!" Rachel looked at him.

"You know what maybe you're right maybe I don't understand why you are so hell bent on ruining our relationship!" Rachel started to protest.

"No Rachel I do understand, understand better then you think." With that he left her standing speechless in the middle of her dressing room.

The pair had signed autographs and posed for pictures, they had for their fans seemed to be happy, laughing at jokes and gently nudging each other to get the others attention, but they were far from it. As they slid into the cab Jesse had hailed the atmosphere was tense. Jesse leaned forward and told the driver Rachel's address.

"I thought we were going out to dinner?"

"I don't want to go dinner with you."

"Jesse you're being ridicules."

"No, I'm just not ready for that kind of commitment."

"Is this because I won't stay the night with you?" Jesse didn't answer the rest of the ride was silent. When they pulled up to the building, Rachel hopped out and turned around.

"Bye Jess." He didn't turn around.

"I'll see you tomorrow." He nodded still not looking at her.

Jesse and Rachel fell into a dreamless sleep, both tossing and turning much of the night. Jesse finally sat up and looked over at his clock. The blue green numbers blink up at him. It was only 2 in the morning. He flopped down on the bed again.

"Ugh…"

Rachel wasn't having the best of luck either she had given up on sleep as soon as she had walked into her apartment. She sat their clutching her pillow, tears soaking the top of it. She felt bad, really bad. Jesse had a point; he was so patient with her. Tonight was first time that he had lost his temper with her. She ran her hand through her hair a habit that she had picked up from Jesse she looked at the clock 2:30 she sighed. It was going to be a long night.

Jesse wanted to called her, and apologize for yelling at her, but on the other hand his pride refused to let him do it. He knew that she was probably having just as much sleeping as he was. He looked at the clock again 2:45; he was never going to sleep. Then he sat up. Knock. Knock. Knock. It was so quiet any other night he would have ignored it. He sighed and pushed himself out of his bed and walked to the door he unlocked it and yanked it open.

"Rachel?" His mouth fell open. There she was standing in front of his apartment looking more tired than he was. He quickly looked her over, worried that something had happened. Her hair was windswept and sloppily pinned up in a loose bun, she wore pajama pants and a ratty Julliard sweatshirt, in her hand she clutched a duffle bag and her eyes were red and swollen.

"Hi." She mumbled quietly as she shifted from foot to foot. "Jess, I'm sorry. I know that I made you upset." He nodded. "I don't know why I'm so scared. I panicked. Forgive me?" Jesse stepped forward and wrapped her in a hug. He immediately felt her body relax. Rachel pulled away.

"Need a roommate?" She nodded to the duffel bag in her hand. Jesse took it from her.

"If the price is right." Rachel stood on tip-toe and kissed him sweetly.

"How's that for a deposit?"

"That works for a deposit, but I'm still going to need Rent…" he told her as he step back to allow her to come in. She pushed him lightly as Jesse kicked the door closed and followed her.