Rachel woke up to a loud knocking on her door and groaned, looking around groggily, as reality had yet to sink in. She sighed in annoyance and pulled a silk robe off her chair, thinking it would be best if she didn't answer her door in just her little lace underwear set. She tied the sash tightly around her waist and answered the door, surprised to see Jesse at her door with a bag in his hand.
"What are you doing so early?" she asked. He raised an eyebrow and pointed at the clock rested on her television. She was shocked to see that it was past twelve.
"It's hardly early," he chuckled. Rachel glared at him.
"Well, I was up late last night cleaning your room, so be thankful," she said. She walked away from the door, and Jesse followed dutifully. She could hear him muttering his awe at the beauty of her apartment and smile proudly; she did have wonderful living conditions. She pointed at the door at the very end of the hallway.
"That," she said, "is your room. You have your own private bathroom, and a very spacious closet fit with more than enough room for your clothes. You can get comfortable and unpack while I get decent." She left him to his own and went back to her room, quickly slipping on a pair of lightweight cotton sweats and a simple t-shirt. She was soon out, and she was surprised to see Jesse sitting on the couch, his posture very formal and business-like. Rachel rolled her eyes, but couldn't help but smile slightly; at least he had taken her words seriously.
"Calm down, Jesse, this is your home now, too. You don't have to act like you're at a funeral," she said jokingly. She walked into the small kitchen and grabbed a toaster pastry, not really in the mood to exert any unnecessary effort. "I have rehearsal today, so you can either stay here and get comfortable, or you can start right away and we can leave…" She trailed off and glanced at the clock, double-checking the clock, "in about five minutes. You can mull it over, if you wish, but you will be starting tomorrow no matter what."
"I guess I can go today," he said easily. He stood up, and moved from sitting on the couch to leaning against the kitchen counter. "Do you need me to do anything before we go? Or I could get it and meet you at the theater, if you tell me which one to go to."
Rachel smiled at the idea of having somebody else to do her annoying odd jobs and errands. She wouldn't have such a hectic schedule, now. "I would love that, actually! Can you go the grocers and get me a four Go Girl energy drinks and four Chocolate Peppermint Stick Luna Bars? Then meet me at Broadway Theater (AN: I was too lazy to look up another theater, sorry), and can you please, please hurry? I'm sorry if that sounds rude, but I need it immediately if Scarlett and I want our pre-rehearsal snack."
"She makes you buy the snack everyday?" Jesse asked in shock. He seemed to have produced a pad and paper out of thin air and was in the process of jotting down Rachel's instructions.
"We split the responsibility. She brings the iced coffee and the fruit salad. It's fair," she said, instantly on the defense for her friend. "And we also split the lunch bill."
"Okay, let me just take a note not to be presumptuous," he joked, scribbling dramatically for a second, smiling slyly at her in the corner of his eye. She suppressed at his antics, but she couldn't stop the laugh bubbling from her throat as his face fell. "Crap, I accidentally crossed out the list…." Rachel rolled her eyes and swiped the notepad from his hand, tearing off the first page and writing down the list- and the directions to the nearest store that had them in stock- on the next paper, along with the name of the theater. She handed it to him and ignored him when he reached for the pen.
"No way, Jose, you can get this back after I have my Luna Bars in hand," she said, covering Jesse's eyes and throwing the pen across the room so he wouldn't be able to find it. "Let's go!"
After they left the apartment building they went their separate ways, and Rachel walked slowly to the theater, glad to have the chance to take her time. Since she had about half an hour to get there, she stopped at the occasional shop, or took a picture with fans, if anyone asked, not caring if she looked less than fantastic. She owed everything to them, a picture was the least she could do. It never felt like enough to her, even.
When she finally made it to the theater, she was shocked to see Jesse waiting patiently, engaged in polite conversation with Parker, who was playing Marius. He was playing it cool, but Rachel could tell by the childish spark in his that was excited to be there. She smiled and shook her head, gently plucking the grocery bag from his fingers. "Thanks, Jesse. I'll let you know if I need anything else, okay?"
"No problem, Rachel," he said with a smile. "Took you long enough to get here, by the way." He added that last part as she headed toward Scarlett. She stuck her tongue out at him over her shoulder.
"Hey, Scar, you got the stuff?" she asked in a paranoid whisper. Scarlett went along with the charade flawlessly and glanced around suspiciously before pressing a small container of fruit salad into her hand.
"Be careful, it's powerful stuff," she whispered. Rachel smiled and ripped open the package, spearing a piece of fruit with her little plastic fork.
"So, is that Whipping Boy?" Scarlett asked, taking a large bite out of a Luna bar as she gestured to Jesse. Rachel nodded and held up a finger, telling Scarlett to wait a minute while she finished chewing.
"Yeah, he decided to come today. Be nice, okay, Scar? This can't be easy for him, he's used to being in charge, not the one at someone's beck and call. I'm trying to be as nice as possible," she told her sternly. Scarlett rolled her eyes at Hermione and popped open her energy drink; she heard a distinct fizzle of carbonation as the pink liquid passed through Scarlett's lips.
"Well, it wouldn't be wrong of me to, after what he did to you," she sulked, "but, as you're my best friend, I'll listen. But I won't be nice, I'll be… Civil at best. Or polite with a grumpy undercurrent."
"Scar…"
"Ah, shut up and eat, why don't you?" she said, though she was smiling. Rachel rolled her eyes, though she, too, was suppressing a grin.
"So do you know what scenes we're practicing today?" Rachel asked between sips of iced coffee. Scarlett nodded.
"Yes, we're practicing the scene in which Jean Valjean dies, because apparently my emotional depth isn't deep enough," she groused, "then we will rehearse Fantine's final scene, and after that, she'll sing I Dreamed a Dream; she has to get home early to see her kids, so we're knocking her scenes out first. Then you will sing On My Own, then Parker and I will practice our wedding scene, and—"
"God, why does Robert have to be so random?" Rachel laughed. Scarlett shrugged. "I don't know, but I do know I'm excited for Parker to kiss the bride." She gave a rougish wink and dropped her trash in the bin. Rachel followed her lead, and as they still had a few minutes before it officially started. Rachel led Scarlett over to Jesse and Parker.
"Scarlett, this is Jesse, my assistant. Jesse, this is my friend Scarlett," she introduced, gesturing between the two. Jesse smiled politely and offered his hand, which Scarlett studiously ignored. Rachel pinched the bridge of her nose before elbowing her friend hard in the ribs in silent warning. Scarlett sighed, and Rachel sent Jesse an apologetic look. He looked uncomfortable and slightly guilty, which made her feel even worse.
"Ignore her, Jesse, the devil is always cranky in the morning," she said, sending her friend a harsh glance. Scarlett simply huffed in response.
"Morning? It's one o' clock," he chuckled. Scarlett cracked a smirk.
"Honey, eleven is morning when you have a hangover," she said coolly. Rachel chuckled.
"Get your lazy asses up here, people! We have some songs to sing!" Robert said from the stage. A light chuckle erupted from the actors, and they made there way to the stage as the assistants sat back and mingled amongst themselves. Rachel smiled blissfully, and was first to get on stage, sitting in the small cluster of chairs where the actors who weren't up were supposed to sit and watch, and give criticism if necessary. She couldn't wait to show what she had- it was finally time to show Jesse St. James how much she outshone him.
I know I said I would go in a cycle, and I had. But the latest chapter I was working on for SNN was deleted when it was almost finished, and I was just like, 'screw it'. I'll get to it next time it shows up in the cycle, promise! As for the Bouquet series, I've decided to save first love for last, so Amaryllis is up next :) (after LITL, of course)
Also, sorry it took so long to update! I was soooo busy these last couple weeks. Lame, I know.
Harry Potter fans: I have a new idea floating around in my head for a fic, and I'm not sure if I should do it. Do you think I would be an epic fail at writing for HP? Just let me know!
Cheers!
-Harlot (who doesn't own Glee)
PS: Ten reviews! :)
ALSO, thanks to my wonderful beta, GleekXxX, for helping me with this! Sorry I didn't wait, I was gonna be away from my computer for a while and wanted to get this up :)