Forever Has to Start Somewhere
Chapter 6: Journey to Regionals
"No one wants pizza?" Mr. Schue questioned, when he stepped into his living room to find a group of somber and silent teenagers.
Jesse leaned forward to grab a piece, having waited only because the manners he'd been taught dictated to wait for the host, only to stop. He glanced at Rachel, she was sitting in his lap with her arms looped around his neck, "You don't mind right?"
She shook her head.
He gave a quick peck on the lips, knowing that she wasn't a fan of kissing after he ate something that went against her vegan diet, before leaning over her to flip the pizza box open and slapping two pieces onto a plate.
Mr. Schue flashed him a small smile.
Jesse just shrugged.
He didn't really understand why his teammates were in such a sour mood, but he wasn't going to complain about it. Today was his cheat day, his day to eat like a normal high schooler and not the budding Broadway star he was, and he certainly wasn't going to complain if they were leaving more food for him.
"Alright then," Mr. Schue declared, giving a brief clap of his hands, "Let's get started. Thank you for coming to the first annual regional set list nominations."
"I don't really care what we sing," Jesse said, quick to speak before anyone else could, "but I want a solo or a duet with Rachel."
His words seemed to penetrate the fog that surrounded some of the club members because Finn sat straight. He bit out, "Why would we give you either of those?"
"You're new to the club," Kurt followed. "If regionals is going to be our last competition, the members the club who have been here the whole time deserve the solos."
"Regionals is not going to be your last competition," Mr. Schue insisted.
Jesse ignored him, answering instead, "I may be the newest member, but I'm also the oldest. I'm a senior. This is my last regionals competition regardless of whether New Direction's gets cut. Aside from that, my scholarship for UCLA is on thin-ice since Ms. Corcoran's connections are what secured it for me. She basically hates me now and I'm willing to bet she's pulling strings to get it pulled. I need to prove to them that I'm talented enough to risk being on her bad side. The only way I'm going to be able to do that is by singing the best I can and the only times I can sing without holding back are when I'm alone or with Rachel."
Ignoring the outrage that was bubbling around him, Jesse met Mr. Schue's eyes.
The teacher met his gaze.
Their stare down was interrupted by Santana saying, "Why do you even care so much, St. Jackass? They'll just pull your scholarship anyway when we lose."
"There's no guarantee we're going to lose. In fact, I'd say either of my suggestions would actually increase our chances of winning given that I'm a superb performer." Jesse turned his head to look at her, even as members of the group huffed at his arrogance. "Regardless, a loss doesn't necessarily mean the loss of my scholarship. Show choir is a team event. You don't win by yourself."
Finn huffed, "Aren't you the one always saying you carried Vocal Adrenaline single-handedly?"
"I am single-handedly responsible for the level Vocal Adrenaline was performing at," Jesse stated. "They suffer without me because they continue trying to perform at my level when they can't. However even without me, their natural performance level is higher then ours as the whole group works hard and gives it their all."
When no one argued any further, he took the opportunity to take his first bite of pizza.
If their prerogative was to clam up when told the truth, he wasn't going to object.
It was on the drive home afterwards that Rachel finally spoke.
He was singing along to the Rascal Flatts song playing from the stereo, the one of three country artists that he actually allowed in his vehicle, when she interrupted him.
"Do you really think we stand a chance?"
The next line of Mayberry died on his lips. He glanced at her, keeping one on the road flashing in front of them. She was staring out the passengers window, one knee drawn up to her chest and her arms locked around it. She looked fragile, and smaller then usual, in the glow of passing street lamps and moonlight
"I think so," Jesse murmured. He returned his gaze to the windshield. "Coach Sylvester is only one of the judges. Vocal Adrenaline doesn't have anyone that holds a candle to me, so their performances are either going to be a mess because their new male lead can't step up or far below their usual standards because even Shelby can't retrain them in a few weeks."
He heard her make a small sound of acknowledgment.
A few moments passed before she said, her voice softer then it had been before, "If I don't have glee club, I won't have anything to get me through a day in that school."
He reached over, setting his palm on her knee. She shifted her own hand to lace their fingers together without dropping her leg.
"You'll have me," Jesse murmured. He swiped his thumb against her knuckles. "Even if I'm in California, you'll have a beautiful boy waiting on skype to hear all about your day."
Her laugh was uneven and rough with unshed tears. But it was genuine and that was all Jesse cared about.
"Jesse, Rachel, can I speak to you two for a moment?"
The couple glanced at each other before joining Mr. Schue at the piano.
There was sheet music settled on top of it.
"Is this about my request the other night?" Jesse questioned.
Mr. Schue had announced they would be doing Journey at regionals, but hadn't given them any numbers other then Don't Stop Believing.
He didn't beat around the bush, stating directly, "My preference is to open with Rachel and Finn doing a duet of Faithfully, followed by Jesse doing a solo of Anyway You Want It, and ending with Don't Stop Believing." Jesse's arm tightened around Rachel's shoulders and Rachel traced a calming circle on the back of his hand. Mr. Schue's face softened a bit when he saw the gesture. "But, the two of you are good for each other. You accept the parts of each other that no one else understands and you support each other. I know the strain that would put on your relationship, so there's another option. That would be for the two of you to do the duet, followed by a mash-up for Anyway You Want It and Touching, Loving, Squeezing, then Don't Stop Believing."
Jesse looked down at Rachel.
A silent communication passed between them, then they said in unison, "We'll go with the first one."
Mr. Schue's eyebrows raised. He clearly hadn't expected them to have a decision so soon. "You're sure?"
"UCLA is important to me," Jesse said. "And recent events have made it clear that although Rachel wanted Finn first, I'm her choice now and I will be for the foreseeable future. I can handle watching her sing with him."
"It's like you said, Mr. Schue," Rachel followed, "we support each other. I support Jesse in his desire to go to UCLA. I can get over any discomfort singing a song such as Faithfully with Finn may cause me and put on an excellent performance."
He glanced between them for a moment before nodding. "Alright. Option number one it is then."
Jesse swept Rachel up in his arms as soon as they were off the stage.
She laughed, the sound bright and loud, as she clung to his shoulders and wrapped her legs around his waist
"We were fantastic!" he exclaimed. He spun them around, stepping further away from the stage as he did so instead of staying stationary. His performance high didn't allow for even that bit of lag. "Absolutely fantastic."
"Your solo was amazing," Rachel complimented.
There were beads of sweat dripping down her forehead and some of her hair was sticking to her skin. Her cheeks were flushed a rosy red from exertion. Her eyes were sparkling, though, and her mouth was split in a wide grin.
She was running on the same high as him.
This was more then their Hello in the music store with it's promise of more, more then Like a Virgin in her bedroom with all of the sexual tension hovering between them, more even then Total Eclipse of The Heart which had led them to pour their hearts out to each other.
This was the two of them under bright lights and in front of a crowd of people. This was them where they were meant to be, on a stage performing side-by-side.
They were so finely tuned to each other that every emotion, touch, and thought seemed to be shared between them. It connected them in a way which was vivid and intense.
"Your duet was amazing and your acting was just as superb as your singing." She pressed closer to him as he spun them again. "There wasn't a single person out there who didn't buy into it."
"Except you, right?"
"Except me," he agreed.
He halted his steps, surging forward and kissed a line from her earlobe to her jaw before taking her mouth. She returned the kiss with gusto, reaching up to twine her hands in his hair and wrapping her legs tighter around him.
They were so lost in the thrill of a performance, the rush of a real performance, that neither of them remembered their teammates until Puck let out a high whistle. He said, "That shit is hot."
There was a disgruntled noise, then Santana following with, "It figures this shit would get those two hot and bothered."
Jesse was aware, for the first time since they stepped off stage, of the rest of New Directions standing still and quiet around them.
He pulled away from Rachel's mouth.
When they separated they were both breathing heavily. Their lips were plump and bruised.
Everything between them was still bright and alive with the excitement of the stage, but the interruption had stolen some of the adrenaline. As it burned away, it left something warmer and more content in it's wake.
They leaned forward at the same time, pressing sweaty foreheads together. She murmured, "I love you."
Jesse's eyes drifted shut. "I love you too."
"Somehow," Kurt mused from behind them, "intruding on this makes me feel dirtier then that kiss did."
Quinn goes into labor soon after that.
Rachel and he are the only ones who stay to watch Vocal Adrenaline perform.
They sit in the audience with their hands clasped and their head bowed together as they critique the performance happening in front of them.
The bond between them feels more alive then ever.
Vocal Adrenaline wins.
New Directions doesn't even place.
Jesse doesn't stay it out-loud, but he knows it's solely on account of Coach Sylvester whispering into the ears of the other judges and possibly making a few threats.
The look on Shelby's face as she lifts the trophy made it clear that she knew it too.
There was no doubt in Jesse's mind that his performance of Anyway You Want It was spectacular. More then enough to keep his scholarship locked down against whatever Shelby pulled to take it away from him.
The thing is, though, that UCLA was a dream that included a fourth national title and leaving everything in Ohio behind.
On the bus home, he turned to Rachel and asked, "Do you know what's a lot closer then California?"
"What?" she asked.
He wasn't sure if she was questioning his question or asking for the answer.
It didn't really matter.
"New York. And I just happen to have never officially turned down NYADA."
E/n: Whew okay this chapter was a doozy to write. I am actually a little bit in love with it? Like I'm iffy on the beginning, but the rest of it I actually am super proud of it? I love the clash between the sweetness of the car scene and the passion of the scene after their performance.
I spent a lot of time considering what to do with Jesse and I hope you guys like my decision with NYADA? I'm thinking that while this is a rewrite and I'm going to be following the plot of season two after this, I would like to add Jesse in NYADA. Potentially in a friendship with Brody and Adam? Though I'm not sure Adam's age quite matches up. Let me know what you think on that?
On that note, before I go into the season two plot I'm going to do a chapter or two on the end of the school year and the summer.
Thats really all I have to say?
Review especially appreciated on account of this chapter being my baby, but favorites and follows are awesome too.