A Threat to Rachel Berry
Chapter 13

"What was that about?" Rachel asked once they were outside the classroom. Jesse was still clutching her hand tightly and was suspiciously looking around him. "Jesse?"

Jesse noticed that he had been ignoring Rachel this whole time and finally gave undivided attention to her, trying to allow the incident with Giselle pass, "Hmm?" She was still looking skeptical. To solve this, he kissed her on her forehead, hoping it would give Rachel reassurance. "It's nothing. Giselle and I have had an on-going rivalry, that's all." He lied again. Rivalry was not the word. Complete and utter domination was more accurate.

"So, I… shouldn't be cautious about any ulterior motives?"

"Of course not," Jesse kicked himself in his mind for lying to her again. They finally reached Rachel's classroom and Jesse smiled down at her in front of the door. "I'll see you soon, care bear."

Rachel nodded embarrassedly at the nickname as her cheeks turned a faint pink. Jesse didn't fail to notice this as his smile grew wider. He turned to leave, but Rachel caught his wrist. He was surprised by this and he inclined his head to see what was wrong. "I love you," Rachel told him, staring deeply into his eyes, searching for sincerity.

"Yeah. Me too," Jesse said before breaking his wrist from her grip.

Rachel stared after him, dumbfounded. She stood there for a few seconds, watching his retreating figure. He never looked back at her. She dropped to her knees, forgetting completely about class. "'Yeah. Me too.' Is that all you have to say, Jesse?" She asked aloud. She gulped and her voice cracked as she spoke. "No, that's not the correct response," she gathered herself together and walked into the classroom.

Rachel found herself to be in her own world, not at all focusing on the lesson. Luckily, she sat in the back, and Rachel wasn't completely obvious when she dazed off. She stared at her paper and crossed her arms. I say I love him and all he says is "Yeah. Me too." Where is the sincerity in that? Was it wrong for me to forgive him so soon? Perhaps I was too caught up in the moment and I impulsively let him back in… So, should I close him out again?

A sharp stab went through her heart at the idea. No. That's the problem. When I said, "I love you," I meant it… I was sincere and there wasn't a doubt in my being that they were my feelings toward him. And that's why I can't lose him; he's become my will to live. If she wasn't in a classroom, a she would probably have her cheeks running with tears. So, that must be why it hurts so much to think that he isn't feeling the same way.

Realization struck Rachel. Jesse has never told me that he loves me. I mean, the phrase has such deep meaning , and if Jesse feels the way I think he does toward me, then he can surely say the phrase, "I love you," to me. Three words, four if I say it first. Maybe that's not the way he feels toward me… What if—

The dismissing bell rang and it left Rachel dumbfounded. She was so absorbed in her thoughts of Jesse, the bell had rung. She looked at the clock. In fact, it was time for lunch. She hadn't realized that she unconsciously walked to class as it was a normal everyday thing. She wondered if she had bumped into people in the halls and if this technique she had invented was always at her disposal. And then, she remembered Jesse and her heart sank to the pit of her stomach.

She walked outside, fully expecting him to be waiting outside her classroom for her.

He wasn't.

She was sure that her heart couldn't sink any lower. She trudged to her locker, thinking that he would be waiting over there. Again, he wasn't. She disappointedly waited at her locker. She leaned against the wall, and let herself sit on the floor with her back to the locker doors. She took out her lunch after hearing her stomach growl and raised the peanut butter and jelly sandwich to her mouth. She tentatively took a bite and hugged her knees to her chest. She picked up her thermos of herbal tea and sipped at the calming drink and began munching on her apple slices. She looked around again for Jesse and dejectedly gave up on the idea that he'd come. She sighed after finishing her lunch and buried her head into her arms, thinking a nap might be beneficial.

"Rachel."

"Jesse?" Rachel called out to the unknown voice. Her eyes blurred before they came into focus before glazing over with disappointment. "Oh. Hi, Finn."

A stab struck his heart when she said Jesse's name. He shook it off and smiled as he took a seat next to her, leaning against the lockers. "What are you doing out here by yourself?" Finn asked, resting his elbow on his knee, with an inquisitive expression.

Rachel sighed deeply and finally looked at Finn. "Waiting for Jesse…"

"What, did he go to the bathroom or something?"

"No… I've been waiting for him since the start of lunch."

Now, Finn looked confused. "Lunch is half over… you've been waiting for half an hour?"

Rachel shrugged. "I took a nap."

Finn noticed Rachel's obvious depression from the absence of Jesse. "Why don't we go look for him, then?" he asked, standing up. He hovered over her with a hand outstretched.

The New Direction's female lead looked up at Finn with confusion. "Why would you want to help with my relationship with Jesse?" She stared, her gaze never straying away from Finn's brown eyes.

Finn shifted his weight, suddenly feeling shy. He rubbed the back of his neck, almost sheepishly. Her piercing stare was too much for him and he turned away, embarrassed. "Well, it's just that," he sighed as if finishing the sentence would be the hardest thing for him. "Okay," he took a deep breath before kneeling down to her level so that she didn't have to stare up.

She blinked expectantly at him.

He, on the other hand, gulped down a lump that felt like a rock. "I'm just going to go ahead and say it. I… I love you, Rachel. And… well," he stopped midsentence to mutter, "as much as I hate him…" he continued, "he makes you happy. And I can see that, so for you, I'm willing to let go and—"

Rachel jumped Finn, nearly successful in knocking him into the ground. He had amazing balance, and though he staggered from the sudden weight, he maintained his stability despite his astonishment. "R-Rachel!" He managed to croak out. He looked to the side, embarrassed, "I didn't think it'd make you this happy…"

"He's never said that to me…" Rachel whispered near Finn's ear, which made him shiver. She gulped and held back tears, "He's never said he loved me as sincerely as you did…"

Finn's expression softened as several emotions washed over him. Disappointment with Jesse, sympathy for Rachel, but most of all, anger at himself for what he did next. He pulled her away from choking him in her bear hug, "But, you love him. Don't you?"

Rachel didn't hesitate in her response, "More than anything or anyone."

Once again, he felt a stab at his heart at the words "anyone." He ignored the sharp pain and continued, "Give up on him, Rachel. I'll love you, and take care of you. The only tears you'll cry are tears of happiness. I'll treat you right this time, and I'll go on board with any ideas you have… no matter how crazy they are," Finn told her, grabbing both of her shoulders.

Immediately, Rachel's expression transformed from one of grief to one of guilt. "Finn, I—"

"When are you going to understand that he's just not into you the way that I am?"

"But—"

"You know he doesn't feel the same way you do, and yet you just keep holding on!"

"I know, but—"

"He's our enemy, Rachel! And the only reason he started dating you is because—"

"I KNOW!" Rachel shouted, sick of being cut off by Finn. "I know…" Rachel whispered, still fighting off tears. Courage washed over her as she looked Finn in the eye, "But, he's all I've got."

"But you've got me…"

"He's all I want, he's all I need, he's my everything!" she stood up now, a look of determination replacing her once dejected and depressed expression. She grabbed her book bag before leaving the scene, off to find Jesse.

Finn, on the other hand, was left with his thoughts as he leaned against the lockers. He sighed deeply and ran his fingers through his hair before frantically rubbing the back of his neck as if scolding himself. "'Don't worry about me, Rachel! I'm happy as long as you're happy!'" He stared at the crazy cat calendars she had given him. Picking them up, a defeated expression graced his features. He sighed, "As if a selfish guy like me can be happy without you."

He stood up slowly before walking in the direction of the Cheerio's table. "Maybe I should go ask Kurt to practice some lines from the song…"

Rachel had checked everywhere to find Jesse: his classrooms, the lunch line, the student store, the library, the auditorium, the Glee table, and even Mr. Schuester's office. The only place left was the Glee Club room. She was jogging up to the room when she heard voices from the room. She stopped a few feet from the door, still in earshot. She hid between the door frame and the hall window. She listened to the conversation being held.

"You're not actually interested in her. I know you're not."

She heard mumbling, but she couldn't quite make out the response.

"Oh, don't give me that. You said the same thing about me to our buddies back at V.A."

Rachel covered her mouth to control the sound of her hyper ventilation and the gasp that nearly escaped. What had he said about Giselle and her?

Once again, Jesse's response was mumbled and Rachel couldn't understand at all.

"Oh, come on! I know you're not interested in her because I know you're still not over me!" Giselle had shouted loudly, and yet her voice still sounded as peaceful and pleasant as a bird.

Rachel really wished she could hear what Jesse's responses were.

"It's okay, Jesse! I understand if you don't want to admit it! I mean, after all, I am the one who's been stealing all your thunder, and Ms. Corcoran is already deciding to make me your replacement. It's only natural to feel jealousy."

"Shut up," Finally Rachel could hear Jesse clearer. "The only thing I feel toward you now is a burning sense of disgust."

"I highly doubt you felt that way at your junior prom. After all, I was your first—"

"That's the past! I told you that I don't feel anything—"

Rachel had now decided to make an appearance at the door, her eyes wide with disbelief, and her knees were shaking. Jesse stared back, eyes wide as well. "Rachel…" Suddenly, fear struck him, "How much did you hear?" He asked, reaching a hand toward her.

I was your first. I was your first. I was your first. The words echoed in Rachel's mind. She held her hands over her ears as if that would drown out the noise.

The Vocal Adrenaline female lead grinned from ear to ear. "Rachel, yoo hoo," Giselle called.

She looked up to be greeted with her boyfriend in the arms of Giselle star. She gasped, remembering her previous nightmare again.

"You understand, don't you?" Giselle asked as she wrapped her arms tighter around Jesse's torso.

Rachel didn't even look a second longer before running out the door.

"Rachel!"

Ending was kind of rushed. I would've just abandoned this story (like a lot of other ones I posted) but I don't think I could handle another incomplete story on my conscience before starting a new one. Who here likes a Sonny with A Chance fic based off of Skip Beat? :D