A.N. #1 Sorry for the ridiculously long wait for this next chapter, I wasn't inspired for the longest time, then my computer pretty much got destroyed and I of course was fully inspired and outlined nearly the whole story... So I plan on updating this fic as often as I can. :D * warning there is some Finchel, but its necessary for the story... Dont hate me!* Special thanks to AmyLeigh88 for her help. You're an inspiration to us St. Berry Authors. Love ya!
Journey to Regionals
Rachel's POV: Jesse is crying? I cannot deal with this right now, I have to focus on Regionals! This is all part of Jesse and Shelby's plan to ruin us. I'm going home to practice before my emotions take over. If I want New Directions to win over Vocal Adrenaline I must become like what they are. A Soul-less Automaton. When Mr. Schue decided that we were going to do the Journey Medley, I wasn't sure it was going to be enough but I trust him since he has gotten us this far.
The day of Regionals we are all on edge after hearing Oral Intensity's ode to the judges. We were next, Finn tells me before we go up to sing that he loves me. I am shocked, I can't do this right now we are about to perform! Naturally, I did what I always do to cope with my emotions, I poured out all my emotions into song. As I sing "Faithfully" to Finn, I cant help but think of Jesse and how he is in the crowd. Take that! I can't help thinking with smug satisfaction. We round out our performance with a mash-up "Anyway you Want" and "Touchin', Lovin', Squeezin'".
We are all excited afterwards when Quinn's water breaks. Everyone is panicking and running around and before my mind has a chance to catch up with my mouth, I hear myself volunteer to stay and wait for the results in case they don't make it on time. I go to the auditorium and listen to Vocal Adrenaline. Jesse, of course, is leading them to a beautiful rendition of "Bohemian Rhapsody". I look a him singing he is conveying Freddie Mercury's pain as though it was his own. He is owning the stage as only he (and I ) could. Memories of us together all seem to rush at me at once. Our first meeting at the music store, our rendezvous at Caramel, the night that I couldn't go through making love to him (he was so painfully understanding offering to sing our feelings) and how could I forget when he vowed to make all my dreams come true. It hurt to see him up there, without me. I get my head out of the clouds just in time to her Jesse sing the last note, something about his eyes, they bore into me as though trying to look into my very being and they are trying to express what? An apology? I don't know what to make of it, but if I look any longer at him I will lose any progress I had made in trying to forget how he has hurt me. The team, minus Quinn and Noah, return just in time to hear the results. We lost. I look at Artie, heartbroken, knowing that this is the end of our club. Finn finds and comforts me and we fall into old patterns because despite the bad, we did have some good moments. Finn was the first boy that noticed me for me. I needed him. I needed to feel loved, so we officially get back together the next week. By some miracle, Mr. Schue tell's us that the Glee club isn't over and that we have one more year to prove ourselves. I am happy for the first time in weeks.
Jesse's POV:
After crying the tears that I have been holding since I gave Rachel the tape, really since I had that chat with Shelby in the car, I go back to Caramel to practice because if I'm not going to have Rachel, I'm damn well going to have my fourth consecutive national title. As well as my full ride to UCLA. Shelby was wrong about how it all turned out. I hurt Rachel for nothing. Shelby not only rejected her, but she never told her that what I did was so they could meet, not because I was a spy. She betrayed me. The woman who took me under her wing freshman year and made me who I am today in one fell swoop destroyed three relationships. Our relationship as mentor/mentee, my relationship with Rachel, and what would've been a mother/daughter relationship with Rachel. It kills me everyday, but with Shelby holding my scholarship over my head, I have no choice but to continue with Vocal Adrenaline and get the national title. It is now the day of Regionals, and It's so hard to see Rachel sing "Faithfully" of all songs, to Finn freakin' Hudson. The oaf doesn't compliment her voice, not like I can. I remember like it was yesterday the first time we sang together at that music store, I fell for her right then and there. It hurts to see her with with someone else, especially Finn Hudson. I don't understand what kind of hold he has on her, and fear that I lost her already, not wanting to face my feelings with Rachel during the competition, I exit the auditorium.
When it is our turn to perform, I sing brilliantly as usual. That doesn't mean that I liked what Shelby chose for us to perform. How cruel was it of Andrea to suggest to Shelby that we perform another Queen song? She knew how much it would hurt Rachel. I really shouldn't have excepted any less though, especially being in the show choir circuit as long as I have. Shelby taught us to use control our emotions so that our singing would be authentic but not overpowering. Andrea is emotionless, as most of Vocal Adrenaline. The only friend I have on my "team" was a girl named Hayley, she's my singing companion for most of our numbers. She's the only one who,besides yours truly, sings with emotion. As I sing "Bohemian Rhapsody", I look up and see Rachel in the back of the crowd. I'm overcome with a melancholia that would rival that of Sondheim. I think of Rachel, every moment we have shared over the past few months and it breaks my heart. I try to explain to her how sorry I was as I sing out the last note. I watch as she turns away, tears brimming her eyes. The auditorium door closes behind Rachel, and a couple of seconds later, Hayley brings me back to the performance. The crowd is on its feet, giving us a standing ovation.
We win the title that day. Seeing New Directions not even place was hard. I know what that meant for Rachel. I want to tell her that it doesn't matter. That her talent wouldn't be denied. That she would make it to the Great White Way, but my teammates pulled me in the other direction. A few months later we win Nationals and I'm off to UCLA soon after. I try to forget Rachel but who was I kidding? There's only one Rachel Berry and she's not an easy girl to forget.