A/N: Firstly, this might be the only update for a couple of days – we have family down and so I'm thinking writing will be overshadowed by lots of Wii playing and dog walking and the such. But hopefully I'll come back refreshed and able to write tonnes more (here's hoping.)
There's a fair amount of text conversations in this – hope they're not too confusing but I didn't want to put their names at the end of every message because seriously, who does that? (Sorry if you do – I just don't know anyone who does.)
This a tad on the short side, but I hope it's okay and I look forward to you reading, reviewing and enjoying :)
Although her dads saving her from school was a godsend at the time, when she arrives at rehearsal 30 minutes early again, she instantly takes out her phone and proceeds to text Jesse (anything to excuse her from conversing with Jimmy again.)
Going to actually bother to turn up to rehearsals today?
She slips her phone back in her bag and tries to act as if she doesn't care if he replies or not (she does.)
Did you miss me then, Rach?
As soon as she hears the tone of her text message, her face already starts to feel that little bit hotter. She extracts her phone carefully and lets her fingers hover over the buttons before allowing herself to read it. She becomes a little offended at the 'Rach' and he can imagine her pouting away as she furiously types out a reply. Her fingers move at a speed ever her mouth can't usually manage and her reply is received in a matter of minutes.
It's difficult to be the perfect leading lady without the leading man.
She's never going to admit she missed him (even if she did.)
I'm sure you managed.
No 'you'll manage' Rachel notes. It seems he has no plans continue his hiatus.
Naturally. Though of course, I shouldn't have to.
She's right (she's Rachel Berry, of course she's right.) If Jesse should know about one thing, it should be dedication. It was the only language Shelby was fully fluent in back in her Vocal Adrenaline days.
Of course not.
His sarcasm can be read as well in text as in speech – another wonder of Jesse St. James.
For once in your life, fancy just telling the truth Jesse?
She's becoming increasingly irritated (both at Jesse and herself) and he can tell from the speed of her replies.
Channelling Stevie Wonder, Rach? I am surprised. Aren't you lovely.
His play on words doesn't go unnoticed by Rachel but she opts to ignore it and not give him the satisfaction. She goes to reply but he's already sent her another message.
Why don't you just ask me what it is you really want to know.
Her throat goes a little dry but she obliges. Not for his sake though, she'll ask because she wants to know.
Are you coming to rehearsals tonight?
If she thinks she can fob him off with that then she has another thing coming.
Try again, Rachel.
She exhales sharply and grunts in frustration. Jesse has a very adept ability at getting under her skin but she can't really complain – she's never tried to stop him.
Why weren't you at rehearsals yesterday?
So much for not channelling the clingy ex-girlfriend status.
That's better.
When she reads his short (and not so sweet) reply, she realises she's been another pawn in his on-going game.
That is not a substantial answer, Jesse.
She's fed up of playing nice and the fact that Jimmy's starting to wander over to her is only serving to increase her temperament.
Maybe I'm not a substantial person.
She scoffs because Jesse's too arrogant to believe that and sure enough, she gets a second text mere seconds later.
But we both know that's not true, don't we Rachel.
She tries to type out a non-committal reply but ends up deleting every one. She can hear his smugness in her ear each time she's about to press send, until she really does hear his voice and she looks up to see his face hovering in front of hers.
"You need to be fast to keep up with me," he whispers, leaning down to talk straight to her ear. She leans as far away as possible because his presence is overpowering but the wall behind her doesn't give her much room for leverage. "But then, you already knew that."
"I d-don't know what you're talking about." She feigns knowledge and finally manages to push him away and walks further out into the middle of the car park.
"Oh, I think you do, Rachel. Or maybe a re-run would be more appropriate to jog your memory. My house, tonight at 6." He strolls inside and she's left wondering if she's actually meant to take that as an invitation. She mentally curses herself (and Jesse – numerous times) before pocketing her phone and entering the theatre, keeping her distance from Jesse until their scenes call them to do otherwise. They complete them (flawlessly) and it's like nothing is wrong in the world, they're just two teenagers learning lines and reciting them perfectly.
But then when rehearsal draws to a close, he looks at her expectantly and drags a smile across his lips. She turns on hotly on her heels and stalks out the theatre, her skirt lashing at the backs of her legs with the speed of her movement. She pushes all thoughts of Jesse out her mind on the journey home, instead trying to remember what it was Mr Schue had set as an assignment. That is until her phone pings from the top of her pillow and she already knows who it is before she reads it.
Where are you? I've been waiting.
So apparently he wasn't joking when he meant for her to come over. Or the joke's carrying on: Rachel is more than ready to admit that Jesse certainly keeps her on her toes.
Jesse, be serious. I have school tomorrow.
He laughs as he reads her reply and it never surprises him how seriously futile she can be.
And?
Like that's going to stop him. He's had a taste of Rachel Berry and now he's hooked. It's like an addiction and each little bit her sees of her keeps him wanting more.
My dads are home, I couldn't come out even if I wanted to.
She doesn't want to. Because she knows that if she does, before she knows it he'll be muttering those things in her ears again and his fingers will be wandering around of their own accord. She doesn't know how he does it, but Jesse manages to wipe all her self restraint as soon as he enters a one metre radius. When he doesn't reply for a little while, she half expects him to turn up on her doorstep and a smile twitches at the corners of her mouth as she shakes the image from her head.
Tell them you have a late night rehearsal.
It's not the best excuse she's ever heard but she could easily enough pull it off. It's not so much a question of if she could though; she's more worried about whether she should.
Why are you so intent on this?
She doesn't quite know what she hopes to gain from this but she knows she's treading a dangerous line to try and play Jesse at his own game.
Fine, I'll drop it.
He knows it's a just a matter of time before she relents; he knows he's wearing her down because she's doing exactly the same to him. She knows he's waiting for her reply, but decides he can wait a little longer. She takes a leisurely shower and then returns her attention to her phone as she dries her hair and applies just the faintest amount of make up.
I don't even know where you live.
It's not a promise that she's even going to meet him; it's far from that because she knows better than to make (or break) promises. Jesse taught her that (in a round-about way.)
Not a problem. Nothing ever is for Jesse. I'll pick you up. Meet me at the aquarium.
Jesse goes from one extreme to the other and Rachel's pretty sure with him it's either all or nothing. There's no middle ground, no in-between, it's Jesse or nothing. And she's had nothing, these last few months, and she's not sure she wants that anymore. But she's not sure she's ready to give her all to Jesse either. He's overly talented at everything and that includes breaking her heart.
I have a glee club assignment. I should stay home and research, they deserve my full attention.
In other words, he doesn't deserve it. But he knows she's just having cold feet: he's close enough to persuading her so he's not about to give up now.
I know you want to know why I wasn't at rehearsals. Come along and maybe you'll find out.
This time it's Jesse who's not promising anything but it's enough of a temptation to entice Rachel into relenting. She doesn't reply; instead she stands on her landing where she's sure her fathers will hear and quickly dials Quinn's number.
"Hello, Esmeralda is that you?"
"No, you idiot. It's Quinn." For reasons unbeknown to Rachel, Quinn is hissing down the phone. "What do you want, Berry? It's half past seven and I'm sort of in the middle of something." Quinn's purposefully disclosing the minimum amount of information but Rachel can just about hear a male voice in the background.
"Rehearsal tonight? I'm not sure I can-"
"Berry, what on earth are you doing? This is crazy, even for you." Quinn's exasperated but Rachel ignores it and carries on regardless.
"Well, he does need a little work, granted. Okay, I'll be there; I just have to square it with my dads."
"Rachel, if this is you using me a little decoy to meet that jerk, I swear I-"
"No worries, Esmeralda. I'll get someone to drop me off home afterwards. See you soon. Bye."
Rachel ends the call before Quinn has time to embark on another voodoo inspired verbal bashing of Jesse and dashes down the stairs to inform her dads she has rehearsals this evening.
"We know, honey, we heard. Maybe you should work on your indoor voice for future phone calls." Rachel nods and agrees – she'd agree to anything right now, she's so desperate to keep her composure and not let on to her dads that she's lying completely. "Do you need a lift?"
"No, I'm good thank you, Esmeralda's arranged a few car shares, I think she's a little guilty seeing as it's very impromptu."
"Okay honey, just be careful and try not to wake us if you come in late." Rachel tries not to exhale a breath of relief too openly so quickly grabs a bottle of water and runs up the stairs, two at a time, the knee high socks she's wearing gradually slipping further down her calves as she runs.
Aquarium it is. And if you dare stand me up St. James, I will personally hire Noah to pucker your face.
Jesse laughs when he reads the text and almost wants to bow to her challenged just to see Puck try. But contrary to popular belief, Jesse does have a heart in his perfectly toned chest and he's not about to break Rachel's by standing her up on a street corner, where all manner of atrocities could happen to her. (But he really need not worry – he forgets she carries her rape whistle.)
Rachel ignores several more calls from Quinn as she makes her way to the aquarium, only t see Jesse's car already there and waiting. She climbs in and as he goes to move into gear, his fingers brush accidentally against hers and her eyes flutter shut before she yanks both her hands into the middle of her lap.
And if the car journey was anything to go by, it was about to be a long rehearsal.