Hello! I managed to write this chapter before school today! That's what happens when your cat wakes you up at 5 in the morning!

Now, onto the story!


"Noah!" I chased him out of the English classroom and into the hallway. "Noah!" I grabbed hold of his arm and forced him to turn around and face me.

"What?" he asked, looking slightly annoyed. He shook my hand away from his arm.

"Do you really need me to go to the wedding because I am Jewish, or is there any other reason?"

"What are you talking about?" he asked as he narrowed his eyes. "What other reason would there be?"

"Noah, I've been humiliated before, and I refuse to let it happen to me again. Just be honest with me. Why did you ask me to go to this wedding with you?"

"Why do you always assume that I'm the bad guy?" he threw his hands in the air. "I'm not always out to ruin everyone's lives you know."

"Noah, I didn't mean it that way, okay?" I said, grabbing his arm again so he wouldn't walk away from me. He glared down at my hand and I quickly let go, crossing my arms over my chest instead. "It's not everyday that someone actually shows interest in doing something with me. So, forgive me for thinking it was something else."

He shrugged his shoulders and turned around, walking away from me without another word.


"Rachel, darling, how was school today?" my dad asked as I walked into the house that afternoon after school.

"I was fine," I replied, placing my backpack on the couch and then sitting next to it. "How was work today?"

"It was good," he said, nodding his head. "Listen, Rachel, I wanted to talk to you about something."

"Is something wrong?" I asked, becoming concerned.

"No, no, it's nothing like that," he began. "I was thinking last night and I realized that I haven't gotten the chance to properly meet this Jesse fellow. So, I was wondering if you would like to invite him over to dinner tomorrow night."

"Tomorrow night?" I asked. "I'll call him right now and ask him." I skipped up to my bedroom and shut the door behind me. I had no doubt in my mind that the dinner would go wonderfully. Jesse had always been good at making first impressions. I dialed his number in my cell phone and held it up to my ear as it began to ring.

"Hello?" Jesse answered after the third ring.

"Jesse? It's Rachel," I said into the phone. I paced around my room; it was a habit of mine, not being about to stay still while on the phone.

"Rachel? This isn't a good time. Vocal Adrenaline is rehearsing right now. Make it quick," he snapped.

I hesitated, shocked by the harshness of his voice. "Are you free tomorrow night? My dad wants to invite you over for dinner."

"Tomorrow night? Yeah, sure I'll be there," he replied. "I've got to go Rachel, I'll pick you up tomorrow morning before school like usual."

"Okay, I'll see you then," I said and hung up the phone. I smiled; tomorrow was going to be great. My dad was going to love Jesse. What was not to love? He loved musicals, show tunes, old movies, and everything else that my dad loved. Come to think of it, Jesse and I were a lot alike. In some ways he was the male version of me. I shook my head. That was too weird to think about.


"So, what does Jesse like to eat? I'd like to prepare him something he likes for dinner tomorrow night," Dad said that evening during our family game night. Tonight's game was Sorry!

"Anything fancy is fine," I replied. "I don't know what his favorite foods are, but I do know simple meals aren't his thing."

"How about we make the famous Berry lasagna? Everyone loves that," dad suggested. "You could help make it if you'd like."

"Okay, I'm sure he would enjoy that," I said, sliding my last red pawn out of the start area. "I'm sure all of you will get along wonderfully. He fits in very well with our family. Broadway, music, he's in to all that."

"He sounds incredible already," Dad smiled. "So, Rachel, how did you and Jesse meet again? I don't think you've ever mentioned it."

"He's in vocal adrenaline. The lead singer actually. We met at the music store when we were both looking for music for our glee clubs," I explained. "We sung a duet together, and let me tell you, our musical chemistry was incredible! It's so wonderful to finally have someone who can keep up with me vocally."

"What about that other boy you used to always talk about? What was his name? Flint?"

"His name is Finn," I corrected. "We sing together and that's all. Jesse's great. I don't need anyone else."

"Okay. Calm down. I was just wondering," Dad chuckled.


"My dad is very excited to meet you," I said to Jesse on the car ride to school the next morning. "He has the evening all planned out."

Jesse smiled from his position in the driver's seat. "I'm looking forward to meeting too. I'm sure they are terrific. You know, I never understood why guys always got so freaked out when meeting the parents."

"Well, you're naturally charming. You don't ever have to worry about someone not liking you," I told him.

"You're sweet," he smiled. "So, next weekend the theatre downtown is putting on a show. Wicked to be exact." My face lit up. "Would you like to go?"

"Would I like to go!?" I squealed, "Of course! Wicked is one of my favorite shows! Next weekend seems so-"

"Seems so what?"

Next weekend.

The wedding.

Noah.

"I can't go."

"What do you mean you can't go?"

"I already have something to do."

"Can't you cancel? Rachel, its not every weekend Wicked plays in Ohio.

"I know, and I am so grateful that you asked me to accompany you, but I can't. I can't cancel my plans." Why are you saying that Rachel? It's just a wedding with Noah! Oh course you can cancel!

Jesse let out a deep breath and said no more.

I don't know why I didn't want to cancel the date with Noah. It's not like I owe him anything. Something was just telling me that I should go.

What's wrong with you, Rachel?


Oooooooohhhhhhhh :)

Coming up next is the dinner with Jesse and Rachel's dad! How do you think the dinner will go? Good or bad?

Keep on reviewing! :)