Jesse sat in front of the TV, waiting for the doorbell to ring. He flipped the channel for what had to be the hundredth time. Shaking his head, he flung the remote to the floor and ran a hand through his hair.
It was official. He was going stir crazy.
For the past few years, to say he had been in high demand for everything was an understatement. He had been getting movie offers left and right ever since he was fifteen. But, since the wrapping of Inheritance nearly six months ago he had gotten a total of zero offers.
Jesse wasn't crazy, he knew that all actors had a dry spell. Heck, he knew plenty that would kill for a six month vacation. Those guys weren't Jesse St. James, though.
Before he had any chance to wallow in further self-pity, Jesse heard the the noise he had been awaiting far too eagerly.
Ding-dong.
Exited for any distraction from the nothingness that had become his daily routine, Jesse sprang from the couch and headed to unlock the door.
"Dude, why was your door locked?" Puck asked as soon as Jesse had opened the door for him.
Jesse took in Puck's appearance. As usual, he was in a worn t-shirt of a band Jesse had never heard of along with a well-washed grey hoodie casually thrown over it. His dark-wash jeans were carelessly tucked into his beat-up black boot-like shoes that Jesse was almost convinced he slept in. He took a sigh of relief, knowing that somethings would never change.
"You've got to learn to behave like a normal human being. Locking a door and making a guest wait for you to open it is proper protocol. It's about time you start learning that kind of stuff."
"Oh," Puck said with a smug smile. He patted Jesse on the back approvingly. "You're worried about me eventually walking in on something between you and Rachel. I gotcha."
"Well that's just not true."
"Why not?" Puck questioned. He followed Jesse into the living room watching as his best friend dropped himself to the couch.
"Because Rachel and I don't – we haven't –"
"Haven't what?" Puck asked, but then his eyes lit in surprise and amusement. "Wait, you're telling me that you've lived with your girlfriend for over a year, and you haven't had sex."
"Is that really so hard to believe?" Jesse asked, with frustration. "It's none of your business anyway. Rachel would kill me if she knew we were having this conversation. Which we're not, we're not having this conversation."
"Fine," Puck shrugged. "At least now I know why you seem so frustrated all the time."
"I'm not frustrated."
"Dude, you're definitely frustrated."
"Nope."
"Something has definitely got your panties in a wad, and I'm going find out what it is. It would honestly save you a lot more time to just tell me."
"There's nothing to –"
"Cut the act, St. Jackass. I've known you since you were twelve and rehearing lines for your first commercial. Trust me when I say your moody actor shit has no affect on me."
"Fine," Jesse sighed. "I'm just a little anxious lately."
"Not having sex can do that to a guy."
"It's not because of that," Jesse said, shaking his head. "I've been out of work for six months now. Usually I'd be halfway through a project with three others lined up."
Puck took a moment to appraise his long-time friend. It had been a while since he had seen Jesse in anything other than Armani jeans and a button-up shirt. Today, though, he was clad in sweat pants from a hotel in England and a t-shirt scripted with his own band's name.
"Look," Puck said reluctantly, "I'm only going to say this once, and I wouldn't even do that if it wasn't my responsibility as your best bro to knock you out of your girl-like self pity. You're good at what you do, so chill out. Trust me, I wouldn't be seen with you if you weren't."
"That was," Jesse paused, "really cheesy."
"I'm going to kick your ass."
"As entertaining as that sounds, I think I have a better idea."
Rachel climbed the steps leading to the front porch of her house. With a small smile, she pulled out the pink key decorated with a gold star that Jesse had personalized for her. She twisted the key in the lock and opened the door to... a completely dark house.
"Jesse?" Rachel called curiously. She had spoken to him only thirty minutes ago and he told her he was hanging out at home with Puck.
She received no answer so, she called again.
"Puck? ... Anybody?"
Still she received no reply.
With a tad bit of caution, Rachel moved into the living room and began searching for the light switch when she caught a blue glow shining from behind the far chair. Rachel rolled her eyes, but smiled nonetheless. At least they hadn't left.
With quiet feet, she maneuvered her way to the glow and squatted next to it.
"Laser tag?" Rachel asked, only to be immediately shushed. "Sorry," she continued with a soft whisper, "But really?" Rachel pulled playfully on Jesse's flashing vest.
"Yes, really," Jesse answered in a serious tone he saved purely for competition. "And if you don't bring your voice down, I'm going to lose."
"And Jesse St. James doesn't -"
"And I don't lose."
"Okay, fine, but how exactly are you planning on winning if you're behind this chair the whole time?"
"I haven't been down here the whole time. We're both at 90,000 points. Next point wins, and I have to plan. Puck, on the other hand, doesn't plan anything. So, I'm waiting for him to make a stupid move so I can take my shot." Jesse's eyes shown with boy-like excitement through his protective/night vision glasses. Rachel didn't want to admit to herself that it had been quite some time since she had seen just that look.
She grinned at him and ran a gentle hand through the curls that had fallen down to his eyebrows. With a false forced sigh, Rachel pretended to cave. "Fine. What can I do to help?"
He returned her grin eagerly. "You're the best!"
His eyes darted to the left and right, surveying the room around him. Once he had determined them to be alone, he pressed his lips to hers in what he had intended to be a short peck. But, as he had come to find true in multiple cases involving Rachel, himself, and compromising positions, he found himself twisting his hands into her hair. Their lips pressed together with more force, eyes closing, and just as Jesse was about to force himself to pull away, a bleep of defeat broke through the silence. Along with it came a flash of red light and the two broke apart, turning to face the person who had caused the interruption.
"Damn it!" Jesse frowned with a stomp of his foot. "Maybe next time you shouldn't suck face with your girlfriend and focus on the game!" Puck laughed. "But, for now, you're a little too late. I win!" "This is bullshit." "I think you're confusing this with you're laser tag skills."
"Please, this is the only time you've beaten me! And it doesn't even count! I was distracted!"
"Distracted or not, you still owe me a thousand dollars and your album signed by all four of The Beatles."
"A thousand dollars and your signed Beatles album? Jesse are you insane!" Rachel interrupted, reminding the other two of her presence.
"I've never lost before!" Jesse explained. "Ever. And you know why?" Jesse turned back to Puck. "Because I'm better than you. So, fine. I'll give you a thousand dollars and my Beatles album, but you can just consider it a favor because you didn't really win."
"I would have beat you anyway!" Puck protested.
"Oh really," Jesse taunted. "Prove it."
"Easy. Rematch. If I win I get your album and two thousand dollars."
"Pocket change," Jesse shrugged. "If I win I get the original thousand you were going to give me, the your first edition of Rolling Stone, and your signed Billy Joel yamaka."
"Not to ruin your fun," Rachel interjected, "but we have reservations for five and it's currently four, and there's noway I'm going anywhere with the two of you as sweaty and smelly as you are. I'm demanding showers."
"Rachel," Jesse and Puck whined at the same time.
Rachel appraised the two twenty year old men standing before her, and almost laughed at how they were acting only half that age.
"I guess we can order in."
Immediately Jesse and Puck's shoulders lifted, and their expressions became jovial again.
"You're the best," Jesse smiled, kissing her cheek.
"I owe you one," Puck said.
"Oh, Noah, you'll owe me more than one."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Puck asked. Rachel ignored him, looking at Jesse to ask, "Where's my vest? You can consider not going out to dinner as your prize if I lose. If I win, I get everything that you've offered to each other plus Puck has to mention he still wets the bed in his interview with GQ tomorrow."
"Deal," Jesse said without hesitance.
"Change 'wets the bed' to 'sleeps with a night light,' and I'm in."
Here's Chapter 3!
Mostly just Rachel/Jesse/Puck fun without any real plot development... Well, aside from Jesse's getting role problems...
So.. Thoughts?
P to the S... The response to this sequel has been AMAZING. Seriously, 20 reviews a chapter blows my mind:) So, as a thank you, I've decided the following: P.M. with any question you want me to answer! It could be about my personal life (just not too personal...), the story, my opinions on things... Be creative! I'll pick one or two questions to answer in my AN after each chapter I post! So... Bring it on!