A/N: Written for the St. Berry Week Day 7 prompt: Hello and inspired by the fact that I really do not like what the writers have turned Rachel into. This is my way of dealing with it.

HELLO

Jesse leaned back in the shadows and quietly observed the girl seated two tables away. Her shoulder length hair was stylish streaked, her makeup, even from a distance, was noticeably overdone, and her outfit left nothing to the imagination. But it was her words and her interaction with those at the table that he was most interested in. Jesse didn't as a rule have a problem with public displays of affection, but even if he hadn't had an emotional attachment to the girl he would have been offended by her public behavior. She and her muscle bound boyfriend were continually groping each other with no concern that other people at nearby tables were looking on with distaste. In fact the couple seemed to derive a great deal of pleasure in shocking everyone.

Even more disturbing (if that was possible) was the attitude of entitlement that hung like a foul air around the entire group. Jesse had grown up around that attitude, been force fed it even, but as he'd matured it had mostly been chipped away. Ironically, it had been this girl that had made him re-evaluate his behavior. This girl, who had made him realize that money and fame weren't the most important things in life; who had shown him that relationships, love, and friendships were of much greater value. The additional setbacks that he'd encountered in his pursuit of his dreams had also humbled him. He might be talented (although only now was he starting to make a name for himself in off Broadway theater and independent films), he might be rich, but he was no longer the cocky, self-centered idiot he had once been.

Suddenly there was an ear splitting shriek and Jesse watched in disbelief as Rachel rose from her seat and threw a complete diva fit. Some poor soul had been jostled just as they were serving at Rachel's table, which had resulted in a drink being spilled. Jesse was sickened by Rachel's ensuing tirade. What had happened to the girl he used to know? This, this was not the Rachel he'd fallen in love with; this girl who was now reveling in her fame and power while threatening someone with losing their job. Unable to take it any longer, Jesse stood up and walked out in disgust, pausing only briefly at the bar to attest to the server's blamelessness in the incident.

On the way back to his apartment, he took stock of his life. He had loved Rachel, of that he was sure. For six years he had carried a torch for her. He hadn't wanted to believe the gossip and stories in the magazines and internet about the rising young ingénue. He didn't want to believe that Rachel could be more concerned about fame and magazine covers than about her professional growth as a performer and honing her craft on stage. Jesse had always believed in Rachel's talent and in her achieving stardom, but not this kind of stardom - where all that was important was popularity, not the quality of work. But now he had seen for himself that the Rachel he once knew was gone; he was in love with somebody that no longer existed. Jesse sighed despondently; he no longer knew what to do with his life. He was at a crossroads without a map or GPS to guide him. Fame, fortune, even love, now just seemed to be merely illusions.

Deciding he needed to get away and clear his head, Jesse unlocked the door to his apartment and made straight for his bedroom; swiftly he began packing. Within fifteen minutes he'd taken everything that was vital for a trip. His last stop was the safe where he grabbed his passport, and some extra cash (just in case). He didn't even debate about which car to take. Sure the sports car was fast and flashy, but as he had no clear destination in mind, he decided the jeep was more practical. Two hours later, New York and Rachel Berry were far behind him. He had only the open road before him and a prayer on his lips that somewhere he'd find what he was looking for: a reason to exist. Jesse kept driving until an strange thick fog descended and forced him to pull over to the side of the road and stop. Grabbing his travel blanket, he tilted back his seat and immediately fell into a deep sleep.

XXX

Picking up the framed photograph, Rachel gazed at man who had irrevocably broken her heart. Her fingers ghosted over the glossy black curls and lingered one last time over those perfect lips. How could someone who was her kindred spirit, a soulmate, betray everything she thought they believed in, striven for? He had so much talent, so much drive but he'd become a fame whore, someone she didn't recognize or know anymore.

She nibbled her lower lip anxiously as she considered how she was going to manage performing with him in the upcoming musical. She knew he had negotiated only a short term contract - in order for him to get his instant gratification from a live audience to tide him over until he got another movie offer. It wouldn't be too long before Jesse would be out of her life for good. But in the meantime she had to find a way to deal with his presence when rehearsals began, followed by a few months worth of performances. She would have to deal with the sight of him slipping away after every show with some new, adoring fan. Male or female, it didn't matter to Jesse; it was all about the fame and adoration.

Rachel wiped the tears off her face and resolved she would not cry anymore. She had come to stay at her Aunt Ruth's house to try and put back together the pieces of her life and heart, not to wallow in pain. Throwing the photo into the waste paper basket, she grabbed her jacket and hat. Within seconds she was down the stairs and out the door.

The morning air was crisp and refreshing; the ground still damp from the unusually heavy fog of the previous night, and Rachel took a deep breath of the clean earthy smell. Maybe she should never go back to the bright lights. She could be the Greta Garbo of her generation, moving to Europe, refusing all publicity and becoming a puzzling legend. Or she could become a recluse in the country, growing flowers and collecting stray cats. She'd gain a reputation of being the local witch and children would whisper about the crazy old woman at the end of the lane. Or...Rachel smiled ruefully and shook her head; her sense of the dramatic always got the best of her. Still, the idea of hiding away for an indefinite period was so tempting. She continued walking aimlessly, her mind playing with different possibilities as she tried to decide what she should do her life, a life that seemed to have lost its purpose. It was as if something had gone terribly wrong in her destiny and she had no idea how to fix it.

XX

Jesse was awakened by the morning sunlight dancing across his eyelids. For a moment he struggled to recall why he was sleeping in his jeep, but then the previous evening's events flooded his brain and he groaned. Moving his seat into an upright position, Jesse glanced around and noted that he was somewhere in open country. Everything was unfamiliar so he reached over to check his location on the GPS; but nothing came up. Frowning, he tried punching various buttons, but to no avail. Oh well, he had nowhere to go and all day to get there. It really didn't make much difference. But he was hungry; he needed to find somewhere to eat and to freshen up.

In the distance Jesse could see someone approaching and he decided to wait until they were alongside and then ask where the nearest town was and where to find a good breakfast. As the person drew nearer, he could tell it was a woman, walking with her head down, seemingly deep in thought. Not wanting to cause any alarm, he figured he'd be less startling if he got out of the vehicle and walked towards her. So he ran his hands quickly through his hair to try and tame the sleep tousled look, then he grabbed his keys and stepped out of the jeep and onto the shoulder of the road. After a quick stretch he started walking towards the woman.

As he drew nearer his heart began to pound in a most peculiar way. There was something about the way she moved and her shape and coloring that was achingly familiar. Jesse stopped suddenly. No, this wasn't possible, it couldn't be. From where he was now standing she looked like Rachel, not the Rachel he'd seen last night, but the Rachel that could have been. Her hair seemed longer, and it was its natural vibrant shade. She was dressed casually in faded jeans and a light jacket. But her head was still down, watching the pavement beneath her feet as she walked, so he couldn't be certain. Surely once he'd seen her face he could dismiss his silly notion that it was Rachel.

Jesse waited a little bit longer then called out "Excuse me, but I seem to be lost. Could you tell me where the nearest town and café are?"

Rachel, jerked from her contemplations, looked up in bewilderment. She had been so deep in thought she'd not even noticed where she was or that there was someone approaching her. But it was the familiar voice that had really triggered her awareness. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she took one look at the man standing a few feet away and then she promptly fainted.

Jesse's gaze had met the woman's only for an instant but it was enough to recognize that it was indeed Rachel. The next thing he knew she had crumpled to the ground. Jesse sprinted over to her. Her face was a ghostly white but she was breathing normally. Removing his jacket, he placed it under her head before dashing back to his jeep to get some bottled water. She was starting to come to by the time he returned and he waited a few moments until she regained consciousness.

"Are you, okay?" Jesse asked anxiously as her eyes flickered open and gazed at him dazedly. Jesse helped her sit up and then offered her the water. He wanted to bombard her with questions. How and why was she here? Why was she so different in appearance from last night? But as she looked too fragile and shaken, he refrained.

She took the water and after several deep sips handed it back. A frown formed between her brows and a hand reached out to tug one of his long curls.

"Are they real?"

Jesse's eyebrows shot up in confusion. Somehow that was the last thing he expected her to say. "Of course they're real, although I admit I'm overdue for a trim." Jesse rain one hand through his hair distractedly then gazed worriedly back at Rachel. "Did you hit your head? Do you know who you are? Who I am?"

"Of course I know who I am. I'm Rachel Barbra Corcoran and you're Jesse Jameson. But I don't understand. You just got your hair cut super short two weeks ago, for the upcoming show. Your hair can't possibly be that long yet."

Jesse Jameson? Rachel Corcoran? What? Obviously she had hit her head and hard. "Maybe I should get you to a doctor, you seem a little confused."

"No, I'm fine. I should have had something to eat before I left the house though." Rachel stood up unsteadily, reluctantly leaning on Jesse for support.

"Well, I can't leave you by yourself in case you do have a concussion. I'll drive you home and make some breakfast. Then we can decide if you need to see a doctor."

Rachel was so confused, first by the length of his hair and now by his behavior. Maybe she had concussed herself and was having some kind of hallucination. Rachel nodded reluctantly. Jesse had never been with her to her aunt's place so he wouldn't know how to get there. "Okay, I'll direct you to the house."

Slowly they made their way back to Jesse's vehicle, and after he had helped her get settled and buckled in, they drove off. Following her concise directions, he soon had her home and settled in a kitchen chair. She obviously had not lost her memory regarding where she was staying, nor her ability to be very detailed in explaining things, Jesse noted with a smile as he followed her precise instructions in preparing green tea and breakfast. But her hair and demeanor were so unlike the woman he'd just seen in New York. He liked this Rachel, he wished she could stay this way, but no doubt once she recovered from the fall, she'd be back to the Rachel he wanted to forget. It would be better for him if that Rachel resurfaced quickly.

After obtaining directions to the bathroom Jesse excused himself for a few moments. On his way back to the kitchen he took the opportunity to see if he could find anything that would trigger her memories. It was then that he spotted the framed photo. It was Rachel's college graduation photo. Her graduation from NYU, that is. Jesse frowned and taking the photo in hand, returned to the kitchen. He placed the photo on the table in front of Rachel and stared down at her perplexedly.

"This says you graduated from NYU."

"Of course I did. You know that. We graduated from Tisch together that year, after you'd transferred from UCLA."

Jesse sat down abruptly across from Rachel. "No, no I didn't. I didn't go to college. Well, I attended UCLA for almost a year, until I dropped out. And you, you attended NYADA."

"NYADA? What is NYADA? I've never heard of it." Rachel shifted uneasily. This was the strangest conversation. Jesse looked like Jesse (well except for the longer hair and the clarity in his eyes) and his voice was Jesse's, but his behavior was very different. He was the Jesse she'd known in high school, the one who'd taken her to junior Prom. The Jesse who she had been so sure was her soulmate, not the Jesse who had reappeared in her life during her final year at Tisch.

"And your name is Rachel Barbra Berry, and I'm Jesse St. James." Jesse continued. Then he reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet. "Look." Jesse took his driver's license out and shoved it towards Rachel. She picked it up and after reading it carefully, dove into her jacket pocket and produced her wallet and driver's license for him to read.

There was a long moment of silence as they looked at each other incredulously. Jesse's throat went dry and his heart sped up. He had the strangest feeling that somehow the universe had just righted a wrong. He didn't know how or why or what would happen next, but he couldn't wait to find out. Jesse extended his hand across the table and Rachel Corcoran's small hand instinctively grasped it.

"Hello, I'm Jesse St. James. Is it me you're looking for?"