Sorry it too a little longer for an update. i had a hard time writing this one. i hate the scene between Jesse and Schue, but i couldn't think of a way to make it better. Hopefully the next will be easier to write.
Cheers and thanks for R&R.
Friday morning came all too early for Rachel.
She had been up most of the night. First she read through all the emails Jesse had sent to Shelby, and then she re-read them all again to make sure that she had read them thoroughly enough to know that none contained any New Directions information. After that she wrote, edited and deleted about 10 emails that she had wanted to send to Jesse, she would start dialling his cell only to stop at the last moment; it was well past 2 am when she finally flopped on her bed with her cell phone in her hands. Just before 3 am she sent a short text, two words,
I'm Sorry.
Before finally falling asleep with her phone clenched in her hands.
So that morning she pulls out the first things from her drawer, a purple sweater and a pair of jeans. She can't even be bothered to style her hair so she throws it into a low slung ponytail. At school she's mostly invisible. The fact that she isn't wearing her normal skirts or sweaters with animals on them means that no one singles her out and she is able to pass from class to class unnoticed.
It isn't until her second period Spanish class that anyone even realizes that Rachel is there. Will notices that there is something wrong with Rachel. Normally she's volunteering and perky but today she is silent and when he catches her appearance he knows that there is something wrong, something most likely boy related.
He has to fight the urge to walk over to Rachel and ask about it. He wants to comfort her, to ask her what's wrong, but he knows that in this situation Rachel probably would rather talk with the girls of the glee club than her teacher. No matter how understanding he is. When he catches Rachel's eye on her way out of the class room he gives her a sympathetic look that quickly shifts to a confused one. He sees that Rachel is studying him, looking at his face as if seeing it for the first time; he hopes that she isn't developing a crush on him again.
Rachel sees that Mr. Schuester is giving her an odd look so she bolts out of the classroom. She knows that if he even asked her what she was doing she would have blurted everything out. Including the fact that Jesse is his son. She knows that she will have time to study his appearance during glee and see what Brittany saw that first day to make her ask what was at the time a ridiculous question.
The rest of the day passes in invisibility for Rachel. She spends her lunch period checking her phone religiously to see if Jesse texted or called. She was tempted to call him, but she doesn't because she is too scared to hear that he is transferring back to Carmel.
Glee comes and Rachel seats herself in the far back corner, almost hidden behind the band. No one in the club notices her they just sit and wait for Mr. Schuester. He walks in and tells the group that their project for next week is going to be Broadway numbers.
"Umm Mr. Schue shouldn't we wait for Rachel and Jesse? I mean they are bound to have a lot to say on this subject." Finn says and Rachel shoots a pained look to the back of his head.
"Well I haven't seen Jesse all day and Rachel's sitting there in the corner and it looks like she doesn't have any complaints about the project." Will tells Finn. It causes all the kids to turn and look at Rachel.
"I think this is a brilliant idea Mr. Schue. This club needs to be exposed to more musicals; we can't just rely on pop numbers and classic rock songs. We need the full spectrum and musicals will help our club round out our set lists." Rachel says with her normal speed, but none of her normal drive.
The group turns back to Mr. Schuester after this as he pulls out a few Broadway music books and hands them out. The kids spring forward and look through the books, Rachel sits in her spot she doesn't need a music book her brain is already on overdrive thinking of songs. She is watching Mr. Schuester. She sees that he and Jesse have similar hair, similar blue-grey eyes, though Mr. Schuester has a narrower face both have a strong jaw line and not to mention both possess a talent for singing. Rachel thinks that if she saw them together on the street she might mistake them for brothers, not father and son. She knows that it must have been a case of teenage pregnancy, but one that Mr. Schuester didn't know about, maybe it happened because of a really big mistake and the girl never told Mr. Schuester.
Rachel is thinking about the reasons why Mr. Schuester doesn't know about Jesse when Quinn interrupts her thoughts.
"Hey man hands, where's your pretty boy boyfriend?" Quinn asks and Rachel thinks of the only plausible lie.
"He wasn't feeling well yesterday so he decided to stay home, he didn't want to risk getting sick because there are some germ infested people at this school who don't understand the concept of hygiene."
"Oh, well you know that they are all going to say that he's back at Carmel revealing all our secrets." Quinn responds placing the Chicago music book on her lap.
Rachel looks at the others in the club. The boys are all standing together in a group, as are the rest of the girls. Only she and Quinn seem to be the outsiders, watching the hushed whispers.
"Well he's not." Rachel answers curtly. "What song are you going to choose?"
"I was thinking Roxie."
"I think that's a good choice for your range. I mean if Renee Zellweger can pull it off, you can too."
"Thanks. Maybe you can help with some of the singing." Quinn offers.
Rachel nods in response. Quinn gives her one last look before going to join everyone else. Rachel watches how Quinn positions herself next to Finn, who subconsciously moves his body to stand behind the pregnant girl, almost protecting her. It makes Rachel smile and lets her know that she really is over Finn because she feels no pang of jealousy.
The practice ends early, it being Friday and everyone wanting to get out of school to start their weekend. Everyone clears out leaving only Finn and Rachel in the room. Finn looks at the door as he watches Quinn walk out. He still hasn't talked to her about what she did, but he knows that he does miss her. He's realized that he did have feelings for Rachel, but being without her for the past month and watching her with Jesse, Finn knows that he and Rachel would never have worked out.
Rachel watches Finn, she doesn't know what he's going to say or do, and she just really wants to get out of the room. She knows though that he wouldn't have stayed unless he had something to say to her. He comes and sits next to her and she gives him a tight smile.
"What's up Rachel?"
She shrugs and shakes her head.
"Come on. You aren't wearing your normal clothes, you were silent all practice. Hell I didn't even notice you in the halls today. So what's going on?"
"Nothing just woke up late."
"Oh, so it's nothing to do with Jesse?"
Rachel gives Finn an astonished look, almost like he read her mind. "Well we sort of got in a fight yesterday. And I haven't talked to him since he stormed out of my house. I want him to call, but I'm too afraid to call him."
Finn doesn't really know what to say, so he just goes with something standard. "Well I'm sure that he'll call you tonight he probably just needed the day to cool off."
"Maybe, but I can't help thinking that because of what our fight was about he's going to transfer back to Carmel. He's going to abandon me here and tell all our glee secrets and ruin our chances and in a way ruin me."
Finn's eyes dart around the room; he didn't expect that to come out of Rachel's mouth, let alone to him.
"For all it's worth I don't think he'd do that." Finn offers and Rachel looks at him. He gives her a crooked smile. "Sure I didn't like him and I might not completely trust him, but he wouldn't do that to you Rachel. I seen him with you, he really likes you and I don't think he would give all that up over just one fight."
"But it was horrible and by the time it was over he was angry and so was I and…"
"Rach with the two of you being so dramatic no wonder it seemed like a huge fight." Rachel chuckles at this. "Just call him tonight and talk, I mean it's good to get that stuff all out in the open so you can move on and be together."
Rachel gives Finn a beaming smile as she says, "Maybe you should take your own advice."
"Yeah." He says thinking about Quinn and maybe the fact that it might be time to talk about what happened.
"Thanks Finn." Rachel says standing.
"No problem."
The pair leaves the music room, both thinking of the conversation they just had and both resolving to do something about their respective feelings and situations.
*GLEE*GLEE*GLEE*
Jesse's day started early, he had gotten up and had a run before jumping in the shower. He knew that he wasn't going to be at school, but that didn't mean he was going to spend the day in bed. When he got out of the shower he checked his cell phone. He only had one new text. It was Rachel saying that she was sorry. Jesse wanted to text her back, but he was still too angry from yesterday so he set his phone down and went to the kitchen.
Because he had gone to his house last night Jesse decided to utilize the empty house to blast music and just get his feelings out through angry rock songs. The majority of his day was spent in that way, along with coming up with potential Regional's songs and numbers for New Directions. He knew that the group was good and that they were able to come up with some great numbers, it wouldn't hurt to help them along in the right direction.
He also checks his emails. There is one from his parents telling him about their trip, he sends them a quick response. The other is from Shelby. Attached are sheet music and a choreography video for Vocal Adrenalin's Regional's number. Bohemian Rhapsody. Jesse's parts are marked off with red, and the video is using a stand in to show him what to do. After looking at the attachments Jesse finally reads the email.
I see that you have been including more in the emails and we all thank you.
Based on what you've shared, our performance is sure to win.
So learn your parts – singing and choreography – I will expect a near perfect performance of the both very soon. I need to know that you are keeping up with us.
Shelby.
Jesse is tempted to delete the email, but he doesn't. He knows that if Rachel revealed his secret he is going to have to go back to VA, so he keeps it as back up.
Throughout the day he is tempted to call Rachel and nearly does, but he wonders why she hasn't called or texted him since last night and because of this he always puts his phone down and goes back to listening to music or playing on the piano.
By 4 in the afternoon Jesse is restless, he needs to get out of the house and do something. He gets in his car and heads in the direction of his uncle's. He's passing the plaza where he met Rachel and he decides to pull in. He goes into the music store and just browses through, he feels contented for the first time since last night. He spends a good hour flipping through a few biographies before making his way to their café. On his way to order a drink he sees Will.
"Jesse?" Will says confusion is evident in his voice.
"Hello Mr. Schuester." He says.
"I thought you were sick?" Will asks, and Jesse's face looks like he's just been caught cheating.
"Not exactly, I just decided to take the day off."
"Oh. I thought maybe something happened between you and Rachel."
"Why would you-"
"It was just the way she was acting today. She was quiet, her clothes weren't her normal style and she just looked sad."
Jesse drops into the empty chair across from Will. "I don't really know why she was like that."
"Look Jesse I may not be the best person to talk to about relationships, hell I was just at Sheet's and Things setting up a meeting to finalize my divorce, but I do know one thing and that is when someone looks like Rachel did today it's because her heart was really hurting."
"Oh god." Jesse whispers.
Will decides that he is going to give Jesse some advice that he wish he had gotten from his father.
"I don't know what happened between the two of you, but I think you need to talk about it. Seriously talk, because avoiding the situation never works and it will just get worse until one of you snaps and everything ends."
Jesse looks at his father. He knows that there is something else behind those words than just comfort and advice. Jesse feels something, like a new connection with his father and it makes him smile. It also makes him realize that he has to get to Rachel's to talk to her.
"Thanks Mr. Schuester." Jesse says standing.
"Anytime Jesse. If there's anything else you want to talk about, don't hesitate to come find me." Will doesn't know why he offers that to Jesse, a lot of the time he sends students to Emma, but this time he doesn't.
He felt something when he looked at Jesse, almost a fatherly desire to help him out of his situation. Will shakes his head, the fact that he was so ready and preparing to be a father not that long ago must still be ingrained in him.
Jesse leaves Will with a smile on his face and a determination to have a serious conversation with Rachel. He gets into his car and follows the now familiar path to his girl friend's home.