Chapter 9

Rachel stepped out of her house the next day, still feeling tingly about the previous nights events. They had remained together until the sun was starting to rise, sitting on her porch and talking over every misunderstanding and miscommunication between them that had led them to that moment. Of course, this took longer due to the gentle kisses and accompanying breathlessness punctuating their conversation, of which neither seemed to mind. Rachel could not get enough of the words he was saying to her, the way he was looking at her. She hadn't said it back to him, but they both knew that she reciprocated his earlier declaration. It was all over her face.

After Jesse had left her with a promise to see her tomorrow at school, she went back into her room and immediately began silently screaming with utter joy. This was followed by a quick descent into her ever soft bed and pillow, for a sleep that was interrupted a mere few hours later by her alarm going off. As she groaned with exhaust en, all the previous nights events came flooding back to her, along with Jesse's vow to see her first thing at school, and filled Rachel with her usual amount of spunk that roused her quickly from her bed and into her morning routine.

Kissing Hiram goodbye and bounding out in front of Leroy for the ride to school, her face broke again into the smile she now associated with the presence of a certain senior, who was currently leaning against his Land Rover, two to-go cups of steaming Starbucks tea in his hands and a smile to mirror her own.

"Good morning" he said quietly as she met him in the middle of the drive. She didn't bother to reciprocate, instead choosing to pull him to her in a passionate kiss, so different from the ones the previous night. A cough sounded from behind them, and Rachel pulled back as suddenly as she had gone for it. Jesse's eyes opened to find themselves meeting Leroy Berry's, whose eyebrows were raised so high they threatened to meet his hairline.

"Good morning to you too Jesse" Rachel said, in an attempt to stave off the instinctual father response.

"Mr. Berry, nice to see you again sir," Jesse quickly followed up, taking his girlfriends lead.

"Same to you Jesse" Leroy Berry said, bemused by their attempts to look as if they were not the insanely PDA prone teenagers that they were.

"I was hoping it would be alright with you and Mr. Berry if I took Rachel to school this morning" Jesse said, gesturing to the cups placed hastily on his hood to catch Rachel when she had flown at him. Rachel beamed at her father, nonverbally begging him to say yes. He looked from his daughter to Jesse and then back again. And smiled.

"I see no problem with that," Rachel bounded over and hugged him before going back over to Jesse's car.

"I'll get her there safe, no worries" Jesse told the older man as he opened the door for Rachel.

"You better" Leroy responded menacingly, but with a wink. He couldn't not play the role of overprotective father, but he trusted Jesse. Rachel talked about him all the time when they were ever separated, and seeing someone make his baby girl so happy made his and Hiram's hearts instantly accept whoever was responsible.

Their whole lives had changed when Rachel came along, and she was the only thing that mattered to them. The way Jesse was looking at her made him realize that he was in the same boat as the Mister's Berry were: In complete adoration of the young starlet, and Leroy wasn't going to be responsible for anything that could upset their obvious romance. He waved goodbye and watched as they drove away, Rachel in the front seat and smiling the brightest smile he'd seen on her in a while.

xxx

"I thought we were going to talk" Jesse mumbled against the insistent lips of the diva, apparently not minding the replacement activity very much.

"I assure you there will be plenty of time for talking later on when we're surrounded by people and I'm unable to assault you like this" Rachel said, running her words together to get the sentence out faster and get back to making out with her new boyfriend.

Jesse laughed and pulled her closer. He felt a flutter of the old thrill of kissing someone passionately in his car in the parking lot of school, a long lost feeling of youth often swept away under the premise of being the mature young man he was supposed to be. The mature young man he was, when he wasn't all over Rachel before the school day had even begun. Concessions can be made for special occasions he thought, smiling into the kiss our first official day as a couple certainly qualifies as a special occasion

The bell rang behind them, and Jesse groaned as the inner attendance stickler in Rachel pulled her away from him and began gathering the backpack long discarded in their efforts to minimize the space between them as soon as possible.

"So how are we going to handle this" Jesse asked as he grabbed his own bag from out of the backseat and got out of the car. "I don't think Finn will take very kindly to us making out in front of him in glee."

"Jesse!" Rachel squealed, turning bright red at his candid phrasing of it "We're not going to be making out in front of anyone, especially not in glee and especially not in front of Finn. You just got back, I don't want you to take off again because of his reaction"

Jesse smirked at the thought of the younger boys face upon seeing Rachel with Jesse. For a moment he was almost overcome by a strong urge to do it just to see what Finn's exact reaction would be. The thought made a smile begin to creep onto his face

"Come on Rach, where's your sense of adventure?"

"Right next to my desire to stay in Lima for the rest of my life" she deadpanned at him "I'm pretty sure he wouldn't take it well" Rachel said thoughtfully, biting her lower lip in thought "maybe we should hold back on letting anyone know..."

"What!" Jesse yelled, causing a group of passing Cheerios to look at him in apparent scandalization. Rachel joined them with her own confused face. Jesse stopped their path into the school and put his arms around Rachel's waist

"There is absolutely no way I will ever consent to hiding the fact that you are now my girlfriend Rachel."

"I appreciate that Jesse but maybe for a few-"

"No."

"-days we can just put feelers out to see how most of them-"

"No."

"It's astonishing how irritating you can be when you do that Jesse" Rachel said, obviously frustrated "I am only attempting to prevent any more chances for Finn to try to bait you"

Jesse felt immediately bad for overriding her thought process. "I'm sorry Rach" he said, leaning his forehead down to reach hers "I just want to be able to do this whenever I want to" he said nodding towards their embrace "after weeks of being a little bitch about how I felt, now all I want is to hold onto you all day, possibly kiss you at the same time, just because I can now."

Rachel smiled up at his bluntly honest answer "I understand, but I believe that if we slowly become open about our relationship, they'll react better than if we threw ourselves into the deep end per say."

Jesse knew she was right. He hated to admit defeat on this topic in particular, but it was true. No telling how poorly Finn and the rest of the gossip mongers would react if Jesse and Rachel proceeded like he wanted to. He sighed in defeat.

"I know it isn't the most desirable path, but it'll be better in the long run" Rachel said, her hand lifting Jesses face to look her in the eye. He felt her chest against his and smiled as he realized the tattoo against his torso was her heart, beating almost in time with his. God I cant believe how much of a softie shes turned me into he thought, feeling completely at peace with this less than 24 hours of dating and I'm a sucker for a smile and completely whipped. But really, its not like anyone can blame me. Honestly, she's perfect

"How about a compromise" she stated, breaking into his reverie "we can act as disgustingly adorable everywhere except for glee, that way-"

"Deal" he said quickly before she could change her mind.

"Thats it?" she questioned suspiciously "I half expected a debate, or at least less enthusiasm"

"No way. I get to kiss you anytime between first and fifth period with no risk of getting in trouble with you, how would I not be okay with that? And as for the other hour and in rehearsal I get to tease you with my amazing vocal abilities until you throw yourself at me. I'm in love with this compromise. Or you. Maybe both. Whatever. Im completely okay with this" He punctuated the last sentence by kissing her to seal the deal.

The bell rang above them and she reluctantly pulled back. "No making me late for class though" she warned as he tried to pull her back to his lips

"Never" he mumbled, walking backwards into the school, still firmly attached to her "what kind of guy would I be if I tried to make you miss class?"

"A very Jesse St. James 'make my own rules' kind of guy" she quickly shot back making him laugh.

"Fine then" he said and instead put an arm around her as they made their way inside. "but dont expect to be there every day on time. I have a reputation as my own schedule maker to consider, and you happen to distract me."

"Its not my fault!"

"Of course not. You're unintentionally adorable. Common ailment for beautiful girls."

"And you're unintentionally a charmer"

"Nah thats on purpose" he said winking at her as they arrived at her class door "miss me darling" he said, laying a chaste kiss on her hand, overly dramatic on all fronts. She rolled her eyes and slipped in, feeling like she had finally arrived where she always wanted to be, all thanks to the bravado and

showboating of the senior who winked at her again as she slipped through the door.

xxx

Jesse practically skipped away from the room where he had left Rachel. He hadn't mentioned that he had dropped his first period, because he knew she would refuse a ride from him if he didn't have to be there as early as she did for her sophomore schedule. He fully intended to use this time on productive measures (such as napping in the car until his classes actually began in second period) but today he had a mission to accomplish.

Bounding past the administration offices he had to hit up later in order to clear up that little week of absences, he took the stairs two at a time. Reaching the top and arriving in the foreign languages wing, he slowed as Mr. Schuester's door got closer. Making sure the room was empty of students, Jesse knocked and waited for the "Come in!" from the Spanish teacher bent over some papers on his desk.

Stepping in, Jesse waited for the man to look up before taking a seat.

"Hey Jesse!" Mr. Schuester said with surprise all over his face "Come on in, take a seat"

"Thanks" the senior said, settling into the chair closest to Mr. Schue's desk. "I feel like I owe you an apology Mr. Schuester" Jesse began "Leaving for a week without telling you was rash, unprofessional, and juvenile. I do believe it was necessary, but I should have had the decency to tell you that I would be gone, at least so you could plan ahead for rehearsal."

"I appreciate that Jesse. Where did you end up?"

"I went home. To California. I stayed with my best friend, but spent most of my time on the beach feeling bad about being there."

Mr. Schue leaned back in his chair as Jesse spoke. "Did you at least get things worked out?" Even though he wasn't explicit in his meaning, they both knew what he was really asking about. Rachel

Jesse thought carefully before he answered. He could easily tell the choir director that he and Rachel had worked out their friendship problems and would no longer be the root of any issues, but that would require more and more lies as the year carried on, and they would never stop if they kept this up. He really should have talked to Rachel about this potential issue. She knew the director so much better than he did, and would know exactly how to address this. But right now, he was solo and had to make a decision.

"Rachel and I are together" he began slowly, choosing his verbiage carefully "but it is very, very new and we would like to keep it as little of an issue for New Directions as possible. So if you could not address it, I would greatly appreciate it." Mr. Schue nodded. The older man had seen, on several occasions as a matter of fact, what drama could be had due to the volatile teenage feelings running amok in McKinley and in New Directions.

"When you and Rachel decide to tell the club, that is when they'll know, I give you my word they won't be hearing it from me." Jesse exhaled the breath he hadn't realized he was holding "As for regionals, a week missing practice will unlikely have hampered your abilities. I am having you stay in your spot for the opening number. I can't wait to see you and Rachel knock those judges socks off together." Will smiled as the grin now gracing the seniors face was so familiar to his own when he got solos during his tenure in glee. It was nice to see this side of the young man, so different from the other kids but constantly reminding Will of himself. It was one of the more rewarding aspects of teaching, and Will lived for moments like this.

Jesse, now satisfied that his mission was accomplished, stood and shook Mr. Schuester's hand and thanked him. With a promise to see him later that day, he jogged down the stairs as the bell rang, anxious to tell Rachel all that had happened.

xxx

Later that day, Jesse sat huddled over his notes, scribbling the last part of the lecture as the rest of the class noisily departed. He didn't notice as a small, beaming sophomore slipped in and silently made her way up behind his sitting figure. Slipping her arms around his neck and placing a kiss to his cheek, she giggled as he jumped slightly and then relaxed as he realized who it was.

"Well hello Ms. Berry" he said, tracing his fingers along her hooked arm. He turned slightly and allowed her to sit in the chair next to him.

"Hello Mr. St. James" she said back to him, still holding onto his hands. "You're awfully cute when you study, just so you know" Jesse was mortified to find that a heat associated with the unfamiliar feeling of bashfulness was creeping up his face. He automatically felt a showface snap into motion.

"I know" he sighed, faux conceitedly "it's a terrible price for the world to pay. To have me be cute, smart, and talented? It just isn't fair to everyone else." Rachel slapped at his arm and allowed him to pull her into a kiss, smiling into his lips and mirroring his expression.

"How was the rest of your day?" he asked after reluctantly heeding the need for oxygen. They had spent a lunch together off campus that Rachel had been astonished to discover she could take advantage of, and hadn't seen each other since.

"Wonderful" Rachel responded "we discussed the character of Ophelia in Lit class, and whether or not she was a misunderstood heroic figure or simply a weak idiot."

"And what was the outcome?"

"After explaining the role that she played, the struggles she felt to please both father, brother, and lover, I proved that she was anything but an idiot. Kurt and I actually agreed on something for once. It was stunning."

Jesse laughed as he gathered his things and followed his girl out of the class. Putting an arm around her, they walked slowly towards the choir room for practice.

"You sure you're going to be okay with this premise of just friends?" Rachel asked, looking closely at his reaction. He nodded unconcernedly.

"Mr. Schuester already knows, and he really is the only one who can actually claim to have a legitimate need-to-know argument" She still looked unsettled. By this time they had made it to the last corner before the hall where the door was to the choir room. They stopped to finish their conversation in the semi-privacy of the hall. Rachel looked nervous as she spotted Finn shuffling past, too occupied by Santana and Brittany to notice the couple.

"Hey, hey, look at me" Jesse said as he pulled her into his arms, lacing his fingers together on the small of her back. She met his gaze and he smiled down at her. "No matter what Finn does, I'm not going anywhere. I know I can say that until I'm blue in the face and you might not be one hundred percent believing of it, but I'm going to prove it to you." he seemed to be speaking more to himself than her at this point, and she caught how he was speaking in a lower voice, with a sort of quiet determination underneath the words. "I'm going to stick around for you Rach. I swear it."

She let her hand graze over his cheek and leaned up on her tiptoes to softly kiss him, letting the fact that they were so close to a roomful of gossips fall from her mind as the thought of Jesse and only Jesse filled her thoughts. Never had she expected to actually find someone who would say these things to her, make her feel as if she was being written into some television show or movie script. She adored the feeling, but she adored the boy making her experience those feelings even more. And she tried to pour it into that kiss, tried to let him know that.

As she sank back to her feet, the look on his face told her that he understood. I can get used to this being loved arrangement she thought as he hugged her tightly. Letting her go, he smiled his megawatt showface smile at her and planted one last kiss on her lips before releasing his hand from hers and following her into the choir room, ready to pretend that he wasn't madly in love with the girl he was following behind.

xxx

A/N: I admit it: this was fluff. I couldn't handle another chapter lacking in fun sweet St. Berry love anymore, so I overdosed on it in this one. I hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Anyways, the diva and the senior are now together, its a secret to everyone else, regionals are coming up, and that means more drama! Woo! Thanks to saarele for the subplot idea, you'll be seeing that in chapter 10! please review and let me know what you think! Much love! :)