Forever Has to Start Somewhere

Chapter 32: Prom Queen I

"You're absolutely certain everything's taken care of?" Rachel questioned. She was sitting on her bed in her pajamas. Her computer balanced on her crossed knees, the screen tilted up so her webcam could see her.

"One hundred percent," Jesse assured. He was seated in his desk chair. He'd drawn one foot up to rest on the edge, wrapping his arms around it and settling his chin on his propped up knee. A mirthful smile played on his lips.

"You're laughing at me," Rachel observed, pressing her lips in a firm line.

"Not laughing," Jesse corrected. "But I won't lie and say I'm not amused, though."

She did her best to portray how displeased she was by his reaction, giving him a sharp look. "Jesse, this is important to me!"

"I know it is, sweetheart," he assured. "Which is why I made sure everything was ready when you asked me the first time. Forgive me if I find it a little funny that you're still asking two days later."

She tried not to react. It didn't work, her mouth opening and asking, "Everything?"

The corners of Jesse's lips went a little higher as his smile widened. He nodded, "Everything. I asked Josh to take one of my suits out and have it taken care of, Kurt ordered your corsage so that it matches the color of your dress, and my plane ticket's been booked for Friday night."

"There's really no way for you to come Friday morning?" she questioned. She chewed on her lip. "I hate the idea of something happening and your flight getting canceled."

He shook his head. "Not unless you want me to leave Kurt's date behind. Adam's got class on Friday morning." When she seemed to hesitate at the question, Jesse stated, "I'm not leaving Kurt's date behind."

"Fine," she said with a long sigh. "But if your flight gets canceled, you better find a way to get here before prom starts."

He gave another indulgent smile. "I will drive all night if I have to."

She gave a small smile of her own, though it looked a little stressed. "You'd better."

Rachel was sitting at the piano bench when she heard the door slide open.

Glancing up from the sheet music she had been working on, a piece she had been considering doing for one of her songs at prom, to find Karofsky entering the room.

"David. You're here early today," she remarked, a little surprised to see him. She was even more surprised when she saw the red rimming his eyes and the guilt covering his face. She stood up quickly. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he grumbled. He reached one hand up, wiping hastily at his eyes.

She hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should point it out, before saying, "Do you want to talk about it?"

"You wouldn't get it."

She thought about the conversation they'd had when she'd been considering a nose job.

It was true she would never really be able to properly understand what Karofsky was going through, but that didn't mean she didn't want to help him if she could.

"No, I probably wouldn't," she admitted. "But sometimes you just need someone to listen."

He stared at her for a moment. At last, he said, "I'll keep that in mind."

"Alright." Rachel glanced back down at her sheet music. As she examined the black notes printed on the page, she said, "I know you and Santana probably have plans with the cheerios and football players for before prom, but I'd love for you to join us after."

"Whose 'us'?" he questioned.

"Myself and Jesse obviously, Kurt and his boyfriend, Adam, Puck, and Matt. Mike would be there, but he and Tina have plans if you know what I mean."

He let out a small laugh as he crossed the room to her. "I get it. You don't have plans like that? Mike and Tina can bang anytime they want, but your guy lives in New York."

"I'm going to spend the night with him, but we both agreed to spend some time with everyone else as well. And since I didn't really want to go to an after party, we agreed having everyone at his place for a small gathering would be better." She was quiet for a minute before saying, "Of course, if you don't feel comfortable being around Adam and Kurt then-"

"It's fine, Rachel." He propped his elbows on the top of the piano. His gaze darted to the doorway, checking that it was actually shut, before focusing on her. "I didn't think Kurt and I were ever going to be anything, not after all that stuff I did, and while we're not really friends, we are friendly. I think that's the most I can hope for."

She considered whether or not she would be crossing a line before reaching up. She settled her hand on his forearm, "Maybe that's all you're going to get with Kurt, but there will be others."

They were quiet for a minute before he gave a small nod. "Yeah, maybe."

"Definitely," she corrected. Withdrawing her hand from his skin, she settled her fingers on the piano keys. "I wanna practice this number again. Will you listen and tell me what you think?"

"Sure. Go ahead."

"Jesse!" Leroy exclaimed when he threw the door open on Saturday night. "Hello."

"Hey Mr. Berry," Jesse greeted with an easy smile.

He raked his eyes over Jesse, taking in the young man's appearance, before giving a sharp nod. "Very nice."

"Thank you. Is Rachel ready?"

Leroy opened his mouth to answer, only to be cut off by Rachel saying, "I am."

Jesse turned towards the sound.

When his eyes caught sight of Rachel, he felt the air rush out of his lungs.

She was standing on the stairwell in her dress, a strapless pale pink number with a skirt that flowed around her legs, and her hair was pinned to the top of her head in a tangle of brown girls. There was a thin sheen of pink lip gloss on her lips and glitter on her cheeks.

"You look beautiful," Jesse muttered as he gravitated towards her.

Her lips tipped in a small, shy smile. She reached up one hand, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. "Really?"

"Absolutely breathtaking," he assured, his lips tipping up in a smile of his own.

"Thank you." Standing at the bottom of the steps, he held a hand up for her. Her smile curled up even further. As she set her hand in his, she remarked, "This is making me feel like a princess."

"You are a princess," Jesse said. He lifted her hand to his mouth, pressing a light kiss against her knuckles. "I miss you."

"I missed you too," she answered, giving his hand a tight squeeze.

"Alright, enough of that kids," Hiram interrupted. Jesse glanced up, noticing for the first time that he stood at the top of the stairs with a camera around his neck. "I know you haven't seen each other in a few weeks, but no flirting in front of the parents. We'll take some pictures and then you can get out of here. Jesse, should I make copies for your uncle?"

"If it's not too much trouble, sir."

Rachel adjusted their grip so their fingers slotted together as she came down the stairs.

Her father slipped down the stairs after her, walking over to his partner as he made suggestions about where they should take the pictures.

Jesse took the opportunity to lean over and press his lips against Rachel's cheek, not wanting to risk musing her lip gloss before the night had even started

"I love you," he whispered against her skin.

She didn't say it back, but the widening of her smile and the way she squeezed his hand again were enough of a response.