somethingspecial | 20 [Text] 12:30 AM.

I guessed as much, from everyone's reactions.

Especially at midnight, I was sleeping.

[The tiniest huff as she falls quiet.

They could have at least taken it outside.]

Do you think they'll come punch me in my sleep? [He chuckles since, really, really he doesn't care. God knows Jesse can be as dramatic as Rachel but it usually happens when he really cares about something. The fact that this entire place hates him, or that people here already say his name 10 times a day and feel like they know him when they don't - that could have been upsetting if he wasn't Jesse St. James who found most of these people inferior to him and thus didn't even bother to try and change how they see him.

Rachel was the important one, the only one whose opinion he valued]

[She huffs softly. It might have been a laugh.]

Hardly. If they don't have the dignity to punch you while you're awake, then they truly aren't worth the effort.

[Rachel closes her eyes.]

They won't. I told them all to be civil and not be judgmental, but I see how far that lasted.

Thank you though, for asking. [He really does appreciate the effort even if it was a long shot]

I know how it feels to be an outcast. It would be hypocritical to condemn another person to the same fate.

[And oh, hell hath no fury like Rachel Berry scorned. Solve will pay for tonight.]

You know if it'll mean they'll get off - [he wants to say 'our' but -] The subject, I'll allow one of them to punch me. Not in the face, though. [He means it too fkhjf]

Absolutely not.

[Ed has a steel arm, Jesse, you would die. 8|]

You could punch me - maybe I'll do the job, and I won't hold any grudges.

I've only hit someone once in my life and I have no intention of doing it again.

[Although slapping Finn across the face that one time was extraordinarily satisfying.]

[He is...really happy that someone isn't him -]

It'll work out Rachel.

[She has a hell of a right hook for such a little thing. :|]

I know it will. It always does, in a manner of speaking. Somehow, someway.

[He half wonders why it could never ever be just Jesse-and-Rachel, there always has to be someone else.]

I know I never apologized to you publicly, but it was mainly because I didn't think it'll change much. And honestly I cared more about apologizing to you personally, for being such a huge idiot. I would though, if you thought it would help. I don't care what people think of me, but I do care what they think of you and I don't want - those things to repeat themselves because you chose to forgive me and other people didn't.

At the end of the day, I think I care less about what people think of me today than at high school - [he knows he was an arrogant bastard back then too. But the egging - right there he was weak, right there he wanted to be more Vocal Adrenaline than Jesse and right there was when he made a very crucial mistake. After high school Vocal Adrenaline was gone, but the fact was he didn't have Rachel either, so he knew he just lost. He can't - won't - lose her again that easily]

[She's quiet for a long moment. She appreciates the thought and a part of her would love him to take some of the heat off of her --

But the larger half of her shakes her head.]

It will do nothing but cause trouble. It's also none of their business. I told them to be civil and now they will have to deal with me.

Somehow I thought you'd say that. [He smiles a bit] You know you're being amazing, ever since I got here. I know they probably all think you don't know better and that you'e making the wrong choice but - I meant it when I said I'm happy to be here because of you. That I get to talk to you like this.

[It makes her stomach turn over, that he's... happy to be here, because she's here. And Rachel knew Jesse well enough to know that he wasn't lying.]

It's never a choice to be kind when someone needs it. Sometimes that's all you have in the entire world.

[It's quiet, but she does lean into his side, a little more. Rachel knows he doesn't particularly care what they think of him, but Rachel does, because Rachel knows what it's like to be tossed aside without a second thought, and it hurts.

Maybe it's just a confidence issue on her part, she muses, but all the same.]

You won't let me compliment you tonight, I gather? [He laughs a bit, a sound that has affection-fondness-love into it. He knows it would have been easier for her if he didn't love her, he also knows he could never not love her. They spent a year apart, but ever since he got here he has been seeing her quite a lot and it felt oddly natural]

Well, compliment me on something worth complimenting, not being nice.

[But the retort doesn't have much of a bite to it. In fact, she's trying not to smile.]

You know I think you are as talented as I am - and being myself that says something [he laughs a bit, but his tone turns more serious, because he is serious about this. He'll never compliment Rachel as a joke]

You have something else to you, Rachel, passion. And it's amazing, when I say you're amazing it's part of it. You go through things, but in the end you'll always be Rachel Berry, and you'll never apologize for it. You know when I heard your song I really did think you got it right. That you finally see yourself like I saw you when we were together - this really amazing, strong person that could an amazing girlfriend - but could also be amazing without being a girlfriend.

You know you brought out my best, which is also saying something.

[She had mostly said that to be a brat, but hearing it all makes her feel somewhat better. Once he's finished, Rachel is quiet -- it's hard to believe that someone who she practically idolized before meeting thought that highly of her -- and the piece about getting it right nearly makes Rachel cry again, but instead, she does what any well-meaning diva would do.

She elbows him lightly in the ribs.]

That's for being a self-absorbed idiot.

[Before Rachel twists around to hug him, tightly. It was precisely what she needed to hear.]

[he laughs at the elbow. Hugging her back for a few good minutes before falling onto the grass clutching his side and trying not to laugh]

I don't think I'll live through that.

[She's tugged forward when he falls, but keeps herself upright -- it's a fruitless attempt not to laugh, at how dramatic he's being over an elbow.]

It hardly hurt.

[Rachel offers her hands to pull him back up with a grin.]

You're more of a drama queen than I am.

[He's so thrilled that he made her laugh, reaching and taking her hand]

I believe I told you the same thing once. Maybe it's one of those things that will never be determined.

You did.

[She pulls him back up. Rachel Berry: way stronger than she looks.]

And I think you're right.

I can live with that -

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