Forever Has to Start Somewhere

Chapter 12: The Rocky Horror Glee Show

"Rocky Horror is certainly in season," Jesse drawled as he walked up the dorm stairs. His backpack was slung over his shoulders. He was holding his phone to his ear with one hand while his other held the drink he'd picked up from the Starbucks on campus. "But, isn't it a little risque for a high school production?"

"That's what I said," Rachel answered. "Mr. Schue said he was going to make some cuts in order to make it more appropriate."

"Why though? Wouldn't it be less trouble to just pick a different production?"

"I think it has something to do with Ms. Pillsbury," Rachel confessed.

Jesse pushed the door to the third floor open with his back as he questioned, "What makes you think that?"

"She's working as our costume director. She seems to really love the show."

"Didn't you tell me she was dating a dentist?"

"She is. It appears that her relationship status hasn't deterred Mr. Schue any."

"No wonder Finn's his favorite student then," Jesse said with a snort. "They share a similar disrespect for relationships."

"Jesse..." Her voice was a low warning.

"Right, sorry. I forgot I'm not supposed to insult people no matter how much they deserve it." He heard her let out a soft sigh, but she didn't raise any objection. "New topic then?"

"Well, I was hoping you would indulge me."

He raised an eyebrow even though she couldn't see it. He reached his room and pinned his phone between his shoulder so he could dig his keys out of his pocket. "How so?"

"Janet's only solo will likely get cut. I was hoping you would let me sing it for you."

He ran through the Rock Horror soundtrack in his head. He latched onto what song she was talking about right as he pulled his keys from his pocket. They fumbled in his hand and crashed to the floor as he choked out, "You want to sing Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me?"

"Yes. I rarely get the chance to sing songs like that. I'd benefit from the experience."

Jesse resisted the urge to groan as he bent to pick his keys back up. He wondered if Rachel had any idea what she was doing to him.

As his fingers closed around the cold metal of his key-chain, he said, "Alright. But this doesn't count as part of our rotation."

"Of course not."

"I'm not comfortable with it!" Finn argued. Rachel hugged the script close to her chest and watched as he paced in front of her. "I can't just strip down to my tighty-whiteys in front of the whole school!"

"Why not?" she questioned. "Sam is more than comfortable with it and-"

"I'm not Sam!" Finn interrupted. "I don't have the blonde hair or the abs of steel or-"

Rachel cut in this time, "There's more then one type of attractiveness. Just because you don't look like Sam doesn't mean you aren't attractive."

"Clearly I'm not!" Finn screeched. "If I was then Quinn wouldn't have cheated on me and you wouldn't have left me!"

Rachel felt anger flare up in her. She took a step towards him and hissed, "Do not blame your lack of self confidence on Quinn or I! I don't condone what she did in the least, but the fact of the matter is that Quinn cheated on you because you cheated on her."

"I did not-"

"We kissed while you were dating her! Multiple times!" Rachel reminded him. She didn't stop there. "And I did not leave you for Jesse! You dumped me, Finn! If either of us were to gain self confidence issues from that whole situation, it should have been me! You broke up with me to go out with two girls who make my high school career a living hell! Not to mention the several disparaging remarks you made about my character!"

"I realized my mistake!" Finn shouted. "I tried to come back to you and you had already moved on! I went on one date with them while you were already in a relationship! It was like nothing we had even mattered to you!"

"Because it doesn't!" Rachel's words were enough for Finn's mouth to click shut. They stared at each other, her chest heaving from screaming and his eyes shining with hurt. She took a deep breath and spoke again. "What we had doesn't matter to me, Finn, because you didn't give it time to grow into something that could have mattered. And I refuse to let you blame that on me."

Once she finished speaking, Rachel felt as though a weight had been lifted off her chest. She was in love with Jesse and Finn had been nothing but a passing memory since Total Eclipse of the Heart, but that hadn't erased everything that had happened between them.

"Find a way to get comfortable with the scene, Finn. You've already made the commitment," Rachel said. She turned away from him, grabbing her bag on her way. "I'll see you at glee tomorrow."

Jesse leaned over to press accept on the incoming skype call before turning his attention back to Brody.

As he fussed with the other boys' shirt, Rachel said, "You didn't tell me you're costumes matched."

"They didn't originally," Brody said. He turned his head to the computer screen and grinned. "Hey, Rachel!"

"Hello Brody," Rachel greeted. "You make a very dashing Captain Hook."

"And I am a rather charming Peter Pan, aren't I?" Jesse said. He turned his lips up in his most charming smile and directed it her way.

She laughed. "Of course."

"So what are your plans tonight, Rachel?" asked Brody. "Considering I'm dragging your man out for the night."

"I'm having some friends over in an hour or so. We're going to watch some horror movies since none of us had time to get costumes ready."

"Who's all going?" Jesse questioned. He pulled away from Brody, eyeing the shirt from a distance. He gave a small nod when he deemed the ruffles looked much better now then they had before.

"Kurt, Matthew, and Michael," Rachel said. "I think Michael might be bringing Tina with him, but I'm not quite sure."

"Sounds fun," Jesse said. He turned his attention to her. "Stay inside, please. The idiots at your school will no doubt be out and causing more trouble than usual tonight."

"We will," Rachel agreed. She gave him a small smile. "You two are going trick or treating around the dorm right?"

"Yeah. Apparently the RA's set it up every year," Brody informed. "I'm dragging him out to a party across campus after."

"Have fun," she said. "And be safe if you drink."

"Careful, Rachel," Brody teased, "someone might think you're the older one in the relationship."

"You only say that because you've never seen her execute a storm out," Jesse advised. "We've gotta get going."

"Alright. I really only called to see your costume."

Jesse gave a small hum. As Brody started walking towards the door, Jesse said, "I love you."

"I love you too," Rachel responded. "Have a good night."

She kissed the palm of her hand and blew him a kiss.

It instilled a little more happiness in him then he should have.

He kissed two of his fingers to return the gesture before ending the call.

"Hurry up, casanova!" Brody called from the doorway. "You'll see her in person in three weeks!"

Jesse closed the laptop before following after him. "Thanksgiving is way too far away."

E/n: Okay, so originally I struggled with this chapter but once I got started I found i really liked the direction it was going in?

Hopefully Rachel and Finn's confrontation didn't seem too out of place? I thought that scene seemed like a good place to air out any lingering feelings between them. I'm not saying Finn won't do anything - because I am honestly a huge sucker for Finn drama - but I think Rachel's feelings on the matter had to be made clear.

Also, I want to address the Brody and Rachel interaction. It is completely platonic. I'm sure most of you know that, but just incase anyone thought Brody was flirting with her or something...It's not like that? It's just that they're friends. Brody lives with Jesse and has undoubtfully been subjected to listening to many of his conversations with Rachel, and joined a few when he wasn't doing anything else.

Review and favorite/follow if you please!