𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐍 𝐓𝐎 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 | jesse st. james

7: lay all your love

╰─▗ ▘➤𖥸 chapter seven

where eliza hates the fact that
she hates she can't have jesse.
also, party!

THE GLEE CLUB HAD LONG ago proven themselves as worthy competitors in the title run for the most concerning club at McKinley High, but the current scene of all thirteen members staring collectively at a crumpled piece of paper on the ground surely secured them the title.

There were a fair amount of times now when the glee club felt completely united. There was that acclaimed first performance of Don't Stop Believin', and everyone remembered the camaraderie under the Sectionals spotlights. Now, the glee club had another moment to add to that list: that one time a blond person with a vendetta against Mr. Schue told them that they would never achieve their dreams and connected them through the mutual feeling of mind-numbing, soul-crushing dejection.

Eliza was the first to speak up, but the croak in her voice signalled that it was far too early for that. "Are we sure that wasn't Coach Sylvester in disguise?"

Kurt spoke monotonously. "Cool undertones, shrivelled up, heading for the trash– are we sure that paper isn't me?"

Tina burst into tears.

"Or Tina?" Kurt added.

"Seriously, what was that guy's problem?" Finn sounded less angry and more on the verge of tears. Any other day and surely Puck would have remarked on it.

"Bad haircut?" Santana offered.

"I heard Mr. Schue say something about a crack addiction..." Mercedes muttered, arms crossed over her chest.

The glee club hummed in agreement. One cohesive, depressing acknowledgment of a man's crack addiction as a possible catalyst for the devastating speech he delivered to them.

Rachel stood up. The sudden and vigorous movement startled Eliza. She wasn't sure if Rachel's energy at a time of peril was something to be admired or another indicator that something was terribly off about that girl.

The short brunette looked determined. "We can't let this bring down our week. We're doing Lady Gaga and we have Regionals coming up. We have to be on top of our game."

Santana cupped her hands around her mouth. "Shut up! I'm depressed."

Rachel raised her nose in the air in a pointed effort to ignore the outburst. There were words on the edge of her tongue, but they came out only after what looked to be serious deliberation. "... What if I proposed a party?"

Everyone perked up.

She nodded, pleased that her idea elicited a positive reaction. "Yes, a party. Something to lift our spirits before the journey ahead of us."

"Where?" Mercedes asked.

"In my basement."

Everyone slumped back down.

Rachel looked at Jesse for guidance but even he was not overly thrilled about the prospect of a party in her basement.

Eliza looked at him. She had adeptly evaded every attempt he made to spend time with her over the past weekend. There was something rich and delicate churning in her. Her hope was that it was just the chocolates she'd been keen on munching on lately. The reality was that it was a fervent and ever-growing attraction to Jesse. A meteorite that had burned up her atmosphere, shaken her world when it hit, and contained otherworldly phenomena she so desperately wanted to discover but couldn't.