Sunday had been a busy day for Rachel and Jesse. They both agreed that telling Shelby would have to be done so they decided that Friday after glee they would drive to Carmel and Jesse would tell Shelby he's really leaving. They also practiced their Broadway number, found time to fool around with each other and even have dinner cooked for Rachel's dads. Over dinner Jesse asked if Rachel could accompany him to New York for his audition and her dad's agreed, even if they were wary that she would be missing a full week of school. Rachel couldn't even think to care about school when she knew that she was going to be in the greatest city with her boyfriend for a whole week. Before leaving to go back to his uncle's, Rachel and Jesse had performed their duet for her dads and both men had tears streaming down their faces at the two teens that showed so much emotion in their faces and their voices. Rachel and Jesse smiled at each other because that was the exact reaction that they had been hoping for.
The following week had been so much fun for the whole group; even those who weren't crazy about musicals had gotten into the performance and fun aspect of musical theatre. Rachel found it hectic as she tried to collect all her homework and assignments for the following week. But all that went away when the final bell rang and everyone gathered in the auditorium to perform their numbers.
Monday saw Quinn performing first. She had done a spectacular job embodying Roxie Hart and even being 8 months pregnant she pulled off the sexy number and the whole group cheered for her. Tuesday the girls, with the exception of Rachel and Quinn, performed a rather scintillating version of Big Spender that had all the boys drooling and Rachel and Quinn giving everyone dirty looks. Wednesday Brittany and Santana showed the group just how much they had learned in glee and how much they really liked performing by doing an excellent rendition of Take Me or Leave Me from Rent. Thursday the boys did a hilarious version of The Bitch of Living; with Artie as Moritz, Puck as Melchior, Finn as Georg, Matt as Otto, Mike as Ernst and Kurt as Hanschen. The number had the club laughing and dancing as the boys had gone all out.
Friday, Rachel and Jesse took to the stage and silently acted out a moment of Eponine being shot and Marius finding her before the music starts in behind them. They both perform the song as if it were the truth and at the end both have their voices cracking and members of the club have tears in their eyes, some falling and some hiding it better than others.
After the club had wipes their eyes from the stirring and emotional performance Jesse and Rachel had given, Jesse announces that he would be missing the following week because he would be in New York auditioning to get into Tisch. Jesse couldn't believe how supportive they were all being. Wishing him luck and telling him that he was bound to get it. Even Finn came up and congratulated him and Jesse thanked him. Jesse is most happy when Will finds him and says how proud he is of Jesse and how he would be willing to write an extra recommendation letter for him. Jesse didn't know how to respond to that so he just hugs Will and thanks him.
On the way to his car Rachel comments on the scene and told Jesse that the time to tell Will the truth might be coming soon. She also told him to hold onto that feeling because he was going to need that strength to talk to Shelby. Jesse says tells Rachel that she's his strength and that's why she is coming with him to the school.
Jesse pulls into the visitor parking at Carmel. He feels weird for a moment, before transferring over to McKinley he always had a prime parking spot that was always left empty for him, now he feels like a stranger in his own school. He takes a deep breath and gets out of the car. Rachel follows him into the school, but stays in the hallway as he goes into Shelby's office.
"Jesse? What're you doing here?" Shelby asks looking up from her papers.
"I came by for a little chat."
"Oh, you missed me. Came by in person to tell me what that little glee club is up to, how sweet."
"Actually Shelby I came by in person to tell you that I'm not going to be spying for you anymore. I'm finished. I'm choosing that team."
Shelby's eyes darken and narrow at Jesse's admission.
"What?"
"I'm not going to be your little puppet anymore Shelby. This whole thing was bullshit from the beginning and seriously in the last two months I have found more heart and joy in singing than I ever did here."
"You know the consequences of what you are doing St. James. You're fucking up your entire future. You know I can crush you with a few quick emails."
"I know," Jesse says looking down at the floor, "but you won't. Because then all your cheating and scheming will come out and you will be the one who is screwed."
Shelby's glare is enough to freeze Jesse to the bone.
"I'm sorry that it's come to this Jesse, but be prepared because I will find a way to crush you and all of your dreams."
Jesse draws his lips into a tight line before nodding his head and leaving the office. He doesn't see Rachel in the hallway, but follows the sound of singing to the auditorium. He finds her hidden in the back watching Vocal Adrenalin rehearse a Lady Gaga number. He places his hand on her back and she nearly jumps. He signals with his head that they should leave and Rachel silently follows him. The minute they get out of the school Rachel start talking.
"I can't believe they are doing Lady Gaga. That is sure to help them win. I mean they had the outfits, the dancing, and the vocals down perfectly and they just had this presence to them that will certainly win over the judges at regional's." She continues on about Lady Gaga and Jesse doesn't say anything about VA's real number.
Rachel notices that Jesse isn't saying anything and she suddenly remembers why they had come to Carmel.
"Oh sorry I forgot to ask, how was the meeting with Shelby?"
"As well as could be expected. She threatened to crush me and my dreams. I know that she can take away UCLA, so I didn't tell her about NYU. That I'll keep to myself." Jesse says with a self satisfied smile.
Rachel is happy that Jesse isn't upset over leaving VA and that he didn't abandon her for his old team.
"Well it looks like I better take you home so you can get all your work done."
"Do you want to come for dinner?"
"No, I'd like to, but I am going to finish my own work. Pick out some pieces for the audition and spend some time with my family." Jesse says. "But I'll come by tomorrow to show you what I picked and you can critique it all you want and then Sunday morning is our flight."
"Oh it's going to be so great. New York here we come." Rachel says, dropping a kiss on Jesse's cheek before getting back into the car.
*Glee**Glee**Glee**Glee**Glee**Glee**Glee**Glee**Glee**Glee*
Sunday morning Rachel's dads drove the two teens to the airport and waited until the pair of them were beyond the security gates before leaving. Jesse and Rachel were buzzing; it was taking all their energy not to burst into song.
The flight felt longer than it actually was, but the cab ride to the hotel was even longer. Both Rachel and Jesse craned their heads to look out of the windows at everything and to point out everything. The cab pulled up in front of the Hilton and both teens got out. Jesse knew being rich had it perks and staying at an upscale hotel in New York City was one of them. After collecting their luggage, checking in and getting into their room Rachel jumped into Jesse's arms peppering him with kisses and thanks for bringing her to the best city in the world.
After a quick dinner the pair headed to 42nd street and Broadway to see the lights of Times Square. Jesse decides that Rachel should do something a little bad, but not really illegal so he pulls her into a theatre and they second act A Little Night Music. Rachel leaves the theatre exhilarated and she can't wait to make a name for herself in this city. That night as she's falling asleep next to Jesse she whispers the song One Short Day, thinking the lyrics describe exactly what she's feeling.
Monday Jesse and Rachel fully embody New York City tourists. Checking out the Empire State building, taking photographs at Times Square and taking a walk through Central Park and making a stop at Strawberry Fields. Both teens love their touristy experience and make the most of it by constantly taking pictures, goofing off, getting a little mixed up and constantly using the phrase 'someday when I live here.' That night they go for dinner in Hell's Kitchen, Jesse had made reservations and the two enjoyed a delicious meal. Rachel was most overjoyed with her dessert which was a chocolate mousse cake and Jesse presenting her with two tickets for Wicked on Thursday night.
Rachel practically bounded out of her chair when she saw the tickets. She saved it for when the pair were out of the restaurant. Rachel turns to Jesse and pulls him into a passionate kiss that earns them a catcall and a few raised eyebrows.
"Thanks again for the ticket."
"Your welcome, now hop on." Jesse says turning his back to Rachel and waiting while she clambers up so he can carry her piggy-back style.
Rachel rests her head on Jesse's shoulder as they make their way along the street, reminiscing about their day. Half way back to the hotel Rachel places a kiss on Jesse's neck and whispers in his ear to get her back to the hotel immediately. Jesse stops and hails a cab so that they can make it back to the hotel faster. That night Rachel repays Jesse for bringing her three times, and the two fall asleep together with a sheet draped over them as their bodies cool.
Tuesday is a busy day for Jesse, he spends the majority of the day in an empty room, and that the hotel said he could use, for rehearsing and preparations for Wednesday's audition. Rachel spends the morning out on the streets just wandering. She promised Jesse she would be back in a couple hours after he had rehearsed enough to perform for her. He wanted her opinions and she would give them willingly. Jesse's rehearsing went well into the evening; four years of Vocal Adrenalin training had perfected his body for numerous repetitions of songs and dance numbers. When he finally dropped to the floor in exhaustion Rachel presented him with food and took him back to their room. That night they slept snuggled together, Jesse drawing off of Rachel's warmth to calm him.
Wednesday morning came bright and early for the pair. Both showered and Rachel picked out an outfit for Jesse. They grabbed a cab and headed towards NYU for his audition. When he was finally called in he gave Rachel a kiss and walked into the room with the full confidence of Jesse St. James, the future star. Rachel waited in the hallway outside of the audition room. She closed her eyes and pictured Jesse walking these halls and one day herself being part of this school. The thought makes her sad for a moment because she knows that September will see them separated not just by just school districts but whole states.
The thoughts are immediately pushed from her head when she sees Jesse come out of the room a smile on his face. He rushes to her and spins her. He had nailed the audition. He could see the faces of the members of the panel and they had been impressed, not only with his voice but the emotion behind it and the character he became when they asked him to act out a scene from Streetcar Named Desire.
"I think I got it." Jesse whispers to Rachel and the smile she gives him is a bright as the spotlights on the Carmel stage.
That night Jesse also calls his parents and tells them how the audition went. They sound so proud over the phone and Jesse sounds like an excited child. Rachel listens to the conversation and knows that even though Jesse wants to let Mr. Schue know that he is his son, Jesse would have been fine just living and loving his parents. Rachel thinks that she is completely ok with just living and loving her dads.
Thursday Jesse and Rachel wake up late and then decide to do New York City movie moments. They go to Tiffany's for Rachel and Jesse takes a picture of her standing there with a coffee and croissant. Their next stop is FAO Schwartz where they convince the workers to let them recreate the scene from Big for Jesse. At the toy store Rachel buys a board game for her fathers, Jesse purchases a Broadway lights puzzle for his parents, a Beatles version of Trivial Pursuit for himself and a black umbrella covered with gold stars for Rachel; as he gives it to her she let's out a prayer for a little rain.
That night they see Wicked and Rachel sits at the edge of her chair for the entire performance. He watches her, watching the show. Both are spellbound by what they see. Jesse knows one day he will be sitting in an audience in the same edge of your seat manner, watching Rachel perform (though he hopes not for all her productions, he will be performing along side her for at least one). He also knows that he will be missing things like this when the fall comes. He will have to leave Rachel and already the feeling of not seeing her causes a jolt in his chest.
Jesse puts those thoughts out of his mind and thinks about the next two days bliss they will share in the city that never sleeps.
*Glee**Glee**Glee**Glee**Glee**Glee**Glee**Glee**Glee**Glee*
With Jesse and Rachel gone for the week Will decided to give the rest of the glee club the week off too. Not that he told them to do nothing, just pick out some songs that could be amazing at Regional's. Something fun, group oriented and that can be performed with a lot of heart.
Over the course of the week Will has also been wondering how Jesse has fared at the audition. He hopes that the boy gets everything that he wants because he has never met a young person, with the exception of Rachel, so driven to do something. That week Will also pulls out some of his old glee club stuff. He pulls out ribbons, a stack of photos and programs from competitions and showcases. He flips through some of the photos and finds a stack labelled 1992 Regional's After Party.
There are pictures of the McKinley group with the arms around each other, some candid singing shots and photos of Vocal Adrenalin members who they had partied with that night. Will remembers that party well. He had gotten drunk for the first time. It was junior year and he and Teri had gotten into a huge fight and broken up. He thinks in that moment that they probably should have stayed broken up. He also remembers a girl at the party, a girl who he slept with. He scans the pictures and comes up with a close up one of him with his arm slung across the shoulders of a cheerful faced girl.
He looks at the girl. There is something familiar about her eyes. The shape, the blue colour and the steely determination, they remind him of Jesse's eyes. There are other small features of the girl's face that look like Jesse as well. He then looks down at his own face and almost does a double take. His smile and his defined cheek bones are identical to the teenager who barged into his life because of Rachel.
Will shakes his head, "It's just a coincidence" he says to no one. "People look alike all the time. We just have those faces."
He puts the photographs away and doesn't think of Jesse, the girl he slept with almost 18 years ago (he wore protection, he swears to himself) or glee club.
Friday he holds a brief glee club meeting where everyone presents him with sheet music of all styles and arrangements. He tells the kids he will look over the choices and then see which ones could work best and then from there they could all decide which numbers would be performed.
Sunday night Will is checking his emails when a new one pops up in his inbox.
St. James is a Spy
Is the subject line, he doesn't recognize the sender, but it intrigues him so Will opens the email.
I'm writing this to let you know that your student Jesse St. James former Carmel student and Vocal Adrenalin male lead is a spy.
He has been sending emails to Shelby Corcoran over the past few months with details of choreography, music selections and costuming. VA has been using that information to help them prepare for regionals.
I hate to have to tell you this.
As proof I have attached two emails that Jesse has sent to Shelby.
Another thing Jesse is a skilled actor and liar; I wouldn't believe anything he tells you.
CS
Will opens the two attachments as reads the brief emails that had been sent from Jesse. There weren't the details that he was expecting more just general information on musical artists and who was most likely to be given solos. The dates on the attachments are from when Jesse first transferred and Will knows that the emails must have gotten more detailed.
Will slams down the lid of his laptop and curses Jesse. He's pissed; he can't believe that a boy who seemed so right and so good for the club was betraying the team and the girl he claimed to love. What really pissed Will of is the fact that he believed in Jesse, was proud of this boy for going for his dreams. Now all that faded and is replaced by anger.
*Glee**Glee**Glee**Glee**Glee**Glee**Glee**Glee**Glee**Glee*
Shelby sits back against her chair. She knows she just ruined Jesse's life by sending the anonymous email, but she needed her star back and the only way to do that was to highlight his betrayal to Will Schuester. It would not only ruin the team, but ruin Jesse's real reason for staying at the school. She's happy she sent the emails, she just a little angry that she couldn't send more attachments, but Jesse had put in too many descriptions about how VA should do certain numbers or things he should be working on for VA. It forced Shelby to send his most sparse emails, but she knows that little message will do as much damage as a fully detailed email.
** Just a note: Thanks for all the great reviews... keep em coming. Sorry for some slow updates i just started a new job, so i've been a little tired. Also i know that the initials at the end of the email are backwards that's done on purpose... showing sort of who its from, but keeps Will from figuring out that shelby sent it.