Super long chapter now, but I worked hard on this. Thank you for all your reviews for the last chapter! Enjoy!

Jesse decided to skip the last two lessons of the day. He had double Spanish, and he knew Mr Schuester would make an assumption about his absence. He also wouldn't mind, due to the fact that Jesse was actually the most fluent student in his class.

Jesse was top at every subject- the reason he'd failed was apparently a counting error. His gym class results had been messed up, apparently a decimal put in the wrong place, meaning dismal results, which meant he failed. It was ridiculous; considering he was a dancer he was one of the most toned boys in both schools, but once Carmel Highs school board had recognised the error, all of the universities had decided it was too late in the term to allow him to join, so he just had to carry on at McKinley, where he knew nobody would purposely make error on his report, until the end of the year.

The majority of Jesse's teachers had liked him. When he'd first started school, he'd appeared to be a selfish brat, used to getting every toy he could ever want. But as he grew older, he realised that shouting and screaming wasn't the best way to achieve you goals. He learnt that you had to manipulate people, the same way he'd seen his father do, to put on a charming front and make people see your way. Jesse had appeared to be polite and smart, and few of his teachers saw the flashes of cruelty that would become a winning personality in Vocal Adrenaline. Most people only saw one side of Jesse- the charming side or the cruel side. There were very few people who had broken through to see both.

Jesse walked to his car, taking care not to slip, although his balance was good enough that he didn't really have to concentrate. It had been snowing lightly all day, and it was starting to get heavier. He got in his snow-covered car, and drove away from the parking lot. He didn't know where he was going, but before he knew it he found he was taking the familiar route back to Akron. He turned the windscreen wipers on as the snow got heavier.

It was a long drive, but he felt he needed to get out of Lima. He'd always hated the town- he'd only ever gone there to visit the Fabrays, and his fathers brother. The term Lima loser had stuck, and he'd never liked Lima because of it. He just needed to go back 'home' for a couple of hours. To get back to the place where he'd never lived a lie, where there was no heartbroken girl who he was longing to comfort but had someone else to do that, where there was no question to his place in society.

Jesse arrived at the St James estate, which was more like an old English manor than an American millionaires pad. Jesse's father was English, so he'd had his home built to look like they were in the middle of the English countryside. From the look of the house to the perfectly sculpted gardens, it was more like stepping into 18th century England than being in modern day America.

Jesse got out of his car and fished around in his pocket for his key. He eventually located it and put it into the frozen lock, turning it to reveal the entrance hall. He sighed, putting his bags down but keeping his coat, hat, scarf and gloves on. He went straight out into the garden, having always loved snow. It was getting really heavy by then, and he could tell the snow in Akron was much deeper than in Lima.

To get to the garden you had to go through the kitchen, so Jesse grabbed a piece of bread as he passed the bread bin, intending to scatter it for the hungry birds in the cold weather. He then opened the back door and stepped out into the snow. It was getting really heavy by now, swirling around him in a whirlwind of white. He began to walk, just wandering, and anyone who didn't know the lavish gardens as well as he did might have got lost.

He walked down the huge slope and took the gravel path that was covered with snow down through the grounds. He'd always loved snow- as a little boy it had fascinated him. His mother had always warned him about not getting cold, but whenever it had snowed he'd spent hours outside, wandering around the grounds as he was now. And he'd always taken a piece of bread, scattering it as he went. It was a tradition to him- to give back to the creatures that kept his gardens beautiful.

Jesse paused to brush some snow off a bush, to make the berries more obvious to hungry birds. He took off his gloves, wanting to feel the cold on his fingers again, the snow melting on his warm hands. The thing that had always reminded him he was alive, and that he had a heart pumping blood through him. He walked along the path until he passed under the wooden frame where they were growing fruits. He then turned off it and walked around the grounds of the estate.

In the middle of the huge gardens was a lake. Whenever Jesse was younger, his mother had forbidden him from going near it when it was cold and covered in ice. For some reason she seemed to think he'd always try to play on it, but even at a young age Jesse knew it would have been stupid. He had sat by it for hours, working out the exact way to spread his weight to stay on the ice without breaking it, but he'd never tried it.

Near the middle of the lake was a birdbath, and there were a few birds trying feebly to peck through the ice that covered it. Jesse made a few animal sounds and they flew off. He the picked up a stone, weighed up the angles and threw it at the birdbath. It hit the ice but just bounced off.

"Dammit." Jesse muttered. He picked up a second, slightly heavier stone, and recalculated his angles. He threw it with all the force he had and the ice smashed. He smiled to himself, thankful for always having had an accurate throw. Now at least the birds would be able to drink until it froze over again.

Jesse left the lake and found himself walking through the woods. There was a path through the centre, and Jesse thought it looked very picturesque, the snow resting on the trees. He passed the piece of rope he'd made a swing out of, the same swing he'd fallen off when he was nine and broken his am in doing so.

Jesse had been playing in the woods, swinging higher and higher when he'd fallen off. He sat on the ground, cradling his arm for ten minutes, crying. When he'd eventually stood up, he'd stopped the tears and made his way back to the house.

His parents hadn't noticed until dinner. His father had asked him why he was clumsily using his left hand to handle his cutlery, and Jesse had showed him his arm. At the age of nine, he'd been taught not to cry, and thought of it as a sign of weakness. Although his arm had killed, he'd kept a brave face.

It wasn't until after dinner that his parents had finally realised he might have done something serious to it and took him to hospital. When the doctors asked when he'd broken it, his father had replied before he could. Mr St James had told them that Jesse had fallen off his swing after dinner, and that they'd rushed there as soon as they'd found him.

It took Jesse another three years to work out why his father had lied about that. At the time he was more concerned whether the delay in treatment would affect his arm permanently, but he'd recovered after a few months.

Jesse continued to walk around the gardens, thinking about his childhood. He'd never really had anyone to play with, or have snow ball fights with. His snowmen had been built by one person. That's what happened when you lived in a huge estates- there were no next-door neighbours. The only person he'd ever really had round was Quinn. She'd been his only friend in a lonely childhood, in a world where the pressure was on him to be his best, to live up to his name.

He remembered the last time it had snowed. He'd been at Carmel, in a rehearsal. When it had started snowing, Shelby had commanded them all outside. She had told them how the snow could help them track their footing, so for an hour they danced outside in the lightly falling snow, checking after each dance that their feet had been going in the right places.

Being part of Vocal Adrenaline had been odd. They appeared close as a team, tight nit, their loyalties unwavering. But inside, the petty squabbles, the bitch fights and the arguments defined the team. The harsher you were, the better you did, so Jesse's crueller side had come into play. He'd though his way to the top, and he'd been unwilling to let it go. The whole McKinley business had meant that he had to fight for his place when he returned. His loyalties had to be proven. That's what the egging did.

He remembered that day in the parking lot, the one he'd been trying to forget.

Jesse dialled her number into his phone. He'd told himself that he'd kept it in order to use if for these purposes, but in all truth, he couldn't find it in himself to completely let her go. He put his phone to his ear.

"Meet me in the parking lot." He said, before hanging up. He didn't trust himself to speak any more; scared his voice would crack in light of the treachery that he was about to partake in. He closed his phone, and looked expectantly at the place where she'd emerge. He tried to ignore the blue clad members of his team who were hiding in the shadows, and took the time to compose a perfect show face. He knew he'd have to hold it once he saw her.

Rachel burst out of the doors, turning to look for him. Jesse watched as the smile lit up her face, and he plastered on a grin to match hers. He raised his arm and waved, keeping one hand by his pocket. Rachel's smile widened, and she began to run towards him. As she did so, Jesse found it harder to keep his face happy, choosing instead to wear a characteristic smirk.

When Rachel was about three meters from him, the first egg had stuck. It splattered into her brunette hair, and a look of understanding flashed across Rachel before she hid her face in her hands. The eggs impacted all over her, the cracking sound ringing in her ears, the stench almost overbearing. She could feel the cold trickles slither down her back, but didn't look up until the attack stopped.

Jesse met Rachel's eyes, and the hurt was the first thing he saw. He watched her pained features for a moment, before Andrea Cohen broke the silence with a taunting remark

"I hear you're a vegan, Berry. The souls of those egg foetuses are on your conscience now."

Jesse turned to look at Andrea. He tried to keep his face composed as he faced her. Andrea smirked at him and pressed an egg into his hand.

"Do it Jesse." She urged, and seeing his panicked glance at Rachel added "Are you with us or not?"

Jesse turned to Rachel and stepped forward. He looked into her eyes, trying to see past the hurt for something, anything that would take him away from this. She tried to his her emotions, and her eyes were almost glazed in the effort.

"Do it." Rachel said. "Break it like you broke my heart."

The words cut through Jesse, and before he knew it he was replying, whether out of spite or hurt, he never knew.

"I loved you."

The words had always haunted Jesse, Rachel too, although he didn't know it. It had been an unexpected crystal of salt in the wounds, a statement to rival hers; a moment of pain that he needed to get revenge for. But the words would always leave him wondering.

Jesse walked through the courtyard where the flowers were. He brushed the snow off each one, marvelling at the bright colours that contrasted to the white of the snow. He was especially careful dealing with the roses- they were always his favourite flower. He then went over to the walls and brushed the snow off the climbers, knowing it'd be harder for them to climb whilst held down with snow.

Jesse began to walk towards the maze. He knew the path off by heart, having always come out into the gardens when he wanted to get away. He then decided against going in it, due to the fact that it was getting dark, and made his way back up to the house. He put his gloves back on, to preserve his fingers.

As he walked up the big hill to get back to the manor house, he saw there were lights on. He assumed it was the staff. He stood in the doorway, pausing to cast an eye over the huge snow covered gardens he would one day own. He saw all the trees he'd ever climbed as a child, all the places he'd sat for hours thinking, pretending he wasn't Jesse St James, and that he was just a normal child on a day out to a stately home. He looked over the flower garden again, the colours distant now. He turned and entered the house.

The estate was equipped with a lot, and the St James' had always thought this would make up to their son for their absences. As a child he'd never really cared about the arcade, multiple swimming pools, gym or home cinema. All he'd wanted was his parents there, and for them to care about him. But they never had, so Jesse had spent his time in the music room. It soon became his favourite room of the house, and from the age of six, he'd spent the majority of his time in there. His love of music had started in that room- the place he'd escape to.

He'd grown up as the spoilt boy who'd always got what he'd wanted and never quite what he needed. Early in their relationship, Rachel had said no to him. The spoilt child in him raised it's ugly head, and he'd left in a hurry. Even when his parents hadn't got him what he'd wanted, hadn't made it to a concert, or went away for a few days, he was given some kind of material good as a consolation. He'd always ended up with something- but getting a straight no had wounded his pride.

But that had been early on, before everything had got complicated. Shelby had found out pretty early on about the relationship. Vocal Adrenaline were very nazi on dating, only allowing them to date within Carmel, but rarely within the club itself. They didn't want to lead to awkwardness, but a relationship outside of school meant fraternizing with the enemy, and the pureness of the club being weakened. Jesse remembered the time Shelby had found out about him and Rachel.

Vocal Adrenaline had been practising Highway To Hell for four days straight, but there was something still off in the performance. Both Jesse and Shelby could see this, but the other members couldn't seem to get it right. Shelby had just asked them to give her a few show faces before dismissing them. J

Jesse was making his way off stage when in his peripheral vision he saw a movement. He turned to see the director of McKinley glee club walking down the row of seats towards Shelby. He remembered the mans name was Will Schuester, having seen him at sectionals. Frowning, he'd walked off stage before sneaking back to try and eavesdrop on the conversation.

Shelby didn't mention the conversation with Mr Schuester until the next day. She called Jesse aside during rehearsal.

"I had a visitor yesterday Jesse." She told him, smiling slightly.

"I know." He replied, keeping his expression neutral.

"I assumed you heard the conversation then?" Shelby asked, and Jesse just nodded. "I should be made at you but I admire your initiative."

"Miss Corcoran, if you could just tell me that I'm not allowed to be with her and allow me to continue with my day, it would be appreciated." Jesse replied, no disrespect intended.

"Always so quick to jump to conclusions." Shelby smiled. "I wasn't actually going to tell you that."

Jesse frowned at her, confused.

"You mean, I'm allowed to date Rachel?" He clarified.

"Yes." Shelby answered. "But, before you do, I have to tell you something, and also asked you of something."

"Continue." Jesse replied.

"Well, I'm sure by now that you know of Rachel's parenting situation?" Shelby questioned.

"Yes… she has two gay dads." He said, wondering how this was relevant.

"Jesse this is hard to say, but I'm Rachel's mum." Shelby told him, registering the shock on his face that he masked quickly. She was almost proud of him for the speed at which he plastered on a show face. "I can't tell her this, and neither can you. But I want to contact her, I want to know her, and seeing her at sectionals made me realise that. But legally I can't."

"Which is where I come in." Jesse replied dully. His quick mind had already worked out why she was telling him this.

Shelby nodded. "I need you to befriend her, gain her trust, put yourself in a position for help her find me." Shelby said. "Your relationship would be no different, except that you'd have my permission, unlike you would otherwise. You know the Vocal Adrenaline dating policy."

"Is that blackmail?" Jesse asked. Shelby shook her head.

"I'm not going to force you to do this Jesse. Like I told Will Schuester, you're a good kid. I'd never make you do this against your own will."

"But, other than jeopardising my relationship with Rachel, what would I get out of this?" Jesse's selfish side reared it's head again.

"You'll reunite a family. You'll make her, and me, very happy." Shelby said simply.

Jesse had nodded. It was as simple as Shelby said. A way to make his new girlfriend happy, and to please his coach. He'd always been close to Shelby; she'd known about his home situation. There was nothing the could do, his parents weren't hitting him or starving him, if anything they went out of their way to provide Jesse with the means to get what he wanted, but she knew how miserable they made him. And Shelby had seen the heart under the layers of Jesse's character. Behind the charm and cruelness, there was a good kid under there, just one who hadn't been taught to love.

He'd do it for her, and for Rachel. When he'd stated his mission, which he claimed to the rest of the group, and himself, was an acting exercise, he tried not to get to close, reminding himself of his 'true intentions'. But the small voice in his head tried to remind him it started genuinely, but he ignored it. He had to get his task down, that was no his priority, not falling in love. But it didn't really go how he'd planned.

A noise brought Jesse out of his thoughts. He walked back through the kitchen and out into the entrance hall. He stopped dead. In front of him was a tall man with dark hair streaked with grey, wearing a suit, and woman with blondish brown hair, dressed ridiculously for the current weather. The two people he despised the most, the two people who had made his childhood as miserable as it had been. His parents.

I'm sorry at how long that was, but I wanted to get a lot more into Jesse's character! Drama shall be postponed slightly to fit better with S2, but we'll have some St Berry moments before it all kicks off. Next chapter- meet the parents! Review please! :3