Hi incredible people in the future, right now I don't have any visits but i will not get discouraged by that, I hope that if someone has the need to binge read St. Berry in the future you find my story and you like it. In the mean time I'll keep posting, I pretend to finish it so don't worry. it will be a long story.

Also if you like St. Berry you probably know about Spring Awakening, if you don't go watch a bootleg or something because it's perfect. Anyway, I wanted to make an aclaration, Steven, Duncan and Kim are all real life people and are indeed the creators of the play. Mr. Sater opened a tik tok account and its full with anecdotes from the production and the workshops and its what i am using as an inspiration ofr many of the interactions here.

As matter of fact, there's this event that did happen. I will give clarify it at the end.

Disclaimer: I own none of this characters.


The audition partners who followed after Rachel and Jesse had their strong points; Steven wasn't going to deny it but nothing like them. Either the girl that "didn't suck so much" - as Kim had called her days prior - was lacking in the chemistry department with her duet partner who seemed so nervous that he would never believe he could portray confident Mr. Know-it-all Melchior or the sitcom girl who actually did it well enough but had too much of tv show mannerisms for his own taste.

By the end of these phase, they had some moments to deliberate.

And while they were discussing everything. Rachel and Jesse found themselves in a quiet conversation aside from the others.

"Well, that was something… we still got it huh" said Jesse with a soft smile and his head tipped slightly to the side.

"I never expected to be able to feel so comfortable and calm in an audition, I'm glad you were my partner Jesse" she replied returning his smile.

That warmed his chest a little bit and he gave a quiet chuckle. He reciprocated the feeling.

"Same Rach, I know I said I forgave you and I mean it, but singing that song with you, I don't know, it felt like a big weight was lifted from my shoulders" he said with a weak pensive smile and a far-off look.

"Yeah, I get it, I felt the same. Like it's all in the past, we were stupid kids, I hurt you, you hurt me, both in a really theatrical weird way proper of only us, I might add" She answered lifting her gaze from the ground and laughing quietly "But now I don't want to hold grudges for something that came with an angsty teenage phase, Jesse. If we get this role…"

"When we get it" he replied lifting his eyebrow with his cocky grin. She giggled in response.

"Ok ok, when we get it Mr. St James, stop being so pushy I'm going to get my hopes up and nothing is written in paper yet" she gave him an annoyed glance "Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is that I want to move forward and past all that happened in high school"

"Are you implying what I think you are implying Miss Berry?" he began to grin and squint his eyes while his arms were crossed "Are you saying that we should be friends?"

"We can try, right?" she said with a quiet voice and notes of hesitation while giving him a pleading look. That made Jesse's stomach took a turn, thank God this was something they both agreed on and was beneficial for both of them. Her control over him apparently never expired and all it took was one look and he came undone and was incapable of saying no to her.

"Yes of course we can Rach, but quit looking at me like that or you're going to make me do crazy things which will ruin our newly friendship status" he said reassuringly and with a humored laugh to make things a little bit lighter uncrossing his arms. He really meant that, following old patterns was really easy with her and he wanted the same, just a friendship.

Due to the light hearted way he said it she decided that she could work with this flirty level in their newly founded friendship. She stuck her tongue out per his request and chuckled.

"That's better" he chuckled too "I don't have any plans for next week's Thursday, want to have some coffee?" he knew he didn't want to pursue anything aside from friendship with her - even if she still had some kind of spell over him - but Rachel was always someone Jesse admired deeply and with whom he felt at ease and understood, losing her was one of the most painful events he had come to regret, because as much as he loved her (what's the point of lying to himself, he never stopped) the thing that he missed the most was the exhilarating numbers they did just for fun or the profound and never dull conversations they shared, even the times she had managed to make him share things from his different childhood that were met with sympathetic eyes and a hug, something that could happen even as friends.

So, if she was willing to forgive him and start with a clean slate, and he did too then he knew he wanted her as a constant in his new life in New York, he was somewhat new to the city and didn't know many people, aside from his group of friends from his courses at the NYU. And if they didn't get the part, he didn't want to lose her again.

"Sure, I finish my classes by 3 o clock so, plan of 5 works for you?" she agreed pulling out her cellphone so she could schedule it in her agenda - something that surprised Jesse - apparently her organizing skills left hand writing calendars for a more virtual approach. "You kept the same number, right?"

He nodded and was distracted by the entrance of one member of the audition staff not registering the fact that she had kept his number all these years despite the animosity and contempt she held towards him.

"Guys we are moving to the next phase, from the rough draft that we send you, you'll enact two scenes with different audition partners" she paused so she could make sure everyone was looking at her "Well the first partners to represent the scene in the woods are going to be …"

She proceeded to call his name and one girl that looked like she could faint from nerves. Ugh. Amateurs. Get a grip.

Rachel was slightly disappointed to not be able to perform again with Jesse, he really was a great acting and singing partner, she missed too those impromptu performances they put together when they dated. But what were the odds of repeating with him again in the draft.

"Good luck Jesse, break a leg" she managed to give him a faint smile.

"It's my audition partner who is going to need it, look at her, she looks like she could pass out any moment" he snorted slightly annoyed rolling his eyes. It caused Rachel to laugh, they really were cut from the same cloth.

"Now, don't be mean, not everyone can shine as bright as we do" she stuck her tongue out.

He just snickered quietly and proceeded to follow the casting team member.


"Ok Kim, that was horrible. MelchOR? She couldn't even learn the character's name" he said emphasizing the "or". "That St James kid though, I like him, he could remain calm even with her calling him by the wrong name over and over"

"Yeah, I know, I like him too. Strong contender. Just worried of him outshining the other Wendla's" answered Kim scribbling down some notes.

"Well, I don't think he did when he sang with Miss Rachel Berry" Steven added jerking back and crossing his arms.

"Keep an open mind please Steven, there is still the sitcom girl and she did fine on the singing phase"

He sighed, she was difficult to convince, but he had an ace up his sleeve. He gave Duncan one pleading look and he just rolled his eyes annoyed.

"Hey Kim, you know I have some doubts about this part on the scenery and how it will play out with the orchestration of this song…" Duncan began leading her away from the table they were gathered. They didn't work for 7 years together for nothing.

Steven used the opportunity of Kim's distraction to rearrange the audition partners and matched Rachel Berry with Jesse St James on the next acting phase on the clipping board that Victoria, Kim's intern, was going to take outside when she called their names.

He needed Kim to see that Rachel Berry was the perfect Wendla for Jesse St James's Melchior.


"I swear Rachel, Melchor. In my days as Vocal Adrenaline coach I would have ripped her a good one for messing the LEAD character's name" he whined mortified rolling his eyes after Rachel returned from her acting exercise and they were waiting for the other pair to finish theirs so they could move on to the next stage.

"Jesse hush, you miva. You are being too loud, what if she hears us" she replied mortified and began to look sideways to make sure the girl wasn't anywhere near hearing distance.

He looked at her as if she had grown another head on her shoulders.

"Oh, since when do you spare other people's feelings if they suck, Rachel Berry?" he tried to stifle a laugh of incredulity with his hand.

"I'm trying to, you know, be a decent empathetic human" she retorted folding her arms offended by the lack of faith in her ability of being a good sport in auditions.

"Cut the crap Rachel, I can see through you" he quipped with a raised eyebrow and a sardonic smile "You are not feeling empathy, you pity her"

She huffed indignantly and he only raised his eye brow even more.

"Fine, yes. I pity her because she poses no threat to my application, happy?" she sticked her tongue out.

"Now that's the Rachel that I know and like" he said content with his smug smile.

"Moving on" she replied annoyed "Look at it this way, they probably appreciated your control of the situation"

"Good point" he agreed and began to look as if he was lost in a train of thought "Wished you could have been my partner in the stage though, we would have rocked that scene"

They were interrupted again.

"Huh would you look at that… Rachel Berry and Jesse St James you are again together for the next acting phase" said the casting lady.

"I swear Jesse, its like you talk and it just happens. Next time ask for the lottery" she began to walk towards the room and he followed her.

"I'm a trust fund baby, I don't need the lottery Rach" he replied snottily.

"Oh! You are such a conceited brat" she answered laughing disbelievingly and following close behind.


They finished their scene.

And Steven could not contain his excitement. He could detect the looks of veiled realization and resignation in Kim's face that this was the correct casting decision.

"Perfect guys, we will be in touch" said Kim.

He gave them a wink before they left and then turned towards Kim.

"Please save your smug grin Steven, I agree with you. Happy?" she rolled her eyes. "The sitcom girl was too much sitcom-y anyway"


"I think Mr. Sater is kind of fangirling for us a bit, don't you think?" Jesse asked her chuckling when they left the building while opening the door for her.

"Oh, he most definitely is, you are such a gentleman, thanks" she laughed too when she stepped out of the theatre "I think we got it in the bag after this last phase"

They began to head towards the subway at a slow pace not wanting to leave each other's company, it had been a while since they felt such at ease at another person's presence.

"Well Rach, my flat is some blocks away from here, we still on for the coffee for a catch up, right?"

She nodded. "I'll send a text if I hear any word"

"So will I Rach, take care" they stared at each other awkwardly not knowing if they should just leave, give each other a hug or a goodbye kiss in the cheek, this was the first time they tried being just friends and not eating each other's mouth.

"Friendly hug?" she added clearing her throat and looking embarrassed. He chuckled and they hugged shortly.

They continued with their day and went to their respective classes, with a warm feeling in their chests, and hopeful that they were closing a chapter full of deceit and missed chances for a new one with support and understanding from each other in their new lives in New York.


Mr Sater has admitted to actually manipulate with the auditions so Lea Michele and Jonathan Groff always were together because he could see their chemistry. The casting panel actually was favoring a sitcom actress. ;) those are the facts.