As if on replay, Jake couldnât kick the image of his father that had been burned into his memory, and for what? A chance of rekindling a nonexistent relationship his father seemed to want so badly? Maybe heâd heard about the bowl win through the sports network and hoped to get in on his sonâs good (athletic) graces in the off chance Jake actually went somewhere with his talent. Or maybe he genuinely felt guilty for being a dick all those years? The latter just didnât seem possible for someone like him.
All Jake wanted was to explode. He was finally away from the watching eyes of his mother, and everything heâd faked was coming to an end. Heâd been civil with the man he shared a last name with, but that was about it. While his father worked desperately to make amends, Jake worked even hard to ignore him. After all, who was to say he wasnât going to ghost the second Jake touched ground back at Gins?
When the door swung open and Rachel Berry stepped through it, Jake felt his heart beat a little harder. If anyone was going to challenge him, it was her. Sheâd done everything but beg him to dance with her, and now he was the one with the request. Nodding at her comment, Jake bit down on his bottom lip and paused.Â
What did he wanna do? Heâd never danced with a partner before, let alone someone who had actual experience. Swallowing hard, Jake held out his hand for her to take, speaking no words as he slid behind her, fingers now curled gently around her wrist. He wasnât even sure what he was doing, but as long as she gave him something to work with, theyâd figure it.
Rachel raised an eyebrow - his silence somehow didnât surprise her, but it did intrigue her, did make her heart beat just a little faster. She let him guide her hand, but when he faltered, she took over, sliding it from his hand to rest on his shoulder, in proper position. She caught his other hand and folded her fingers over his palm, and then...she took a breath.
Sheâd never been this close to him before.
A million questions bubbled at her lips. Are you okay and no, really, what dance are we doing here, and did you know your eyes are flecked with gold but they all died in her throat.
But they werenât yet. They were just - staring at each other, and Rachel could suddenly hear her heartbeat in her ears.
âWait,â Rachel said, her voice accidentally coming out in a whisper. She blushed, cleared her throat, and tried again. âHold on. This will make it easier.â She extricated herself from him and darted back over to her purse, where she pulled out her phone and a small portable speaker. She fiddled with her phone for a moment until she found music - something appropriately beat-heavy, loud, and easy to follow - something to match the expression on his face.
She returned to Jake quickly, flashing him a grin as she resumed her place against him, one hand on his shoulder and one hand folded delicately over his hand.
Now that they had a beat, it was easier for Rachel to tug him toward her and step back, showing him how to lead, showing him how sheâd follow his movements, his speed - it was always awkward the first time you danced with a new partner, especially when the new partner clearly had something else on their mind, but the energy between them almost made up for it, and Rachel didnât dare to say anything else, because that was one thing she loved about dancing: it just was what it was, and they were here to dance, and that was it, and that could be enough.
They werenât dancing any particular dance, at least not yet, but she somehow didnât think he was here to ballroom dance with her. Still, this was his invitation, and he would set the pace; sheâd gotten them moving and had found their rhythm, her following his footsteps as they moved aimlessly around the room.
He was very warm, and the expression on his face was still absolutely unreadable. Rachel tried to focus on her feet, and not on the feeling of his fingers on her waist. The energy between them was strange and heavy, and it made everything they did feel - more, though more of what she couldnât say. At least...not yet, she couldnât, because the air was still too thick and dangerous to actually say anything, and even if it wasnât, she didnât know what question sheâd ask.
Instead of saying anything, she just picked up their pace, a little bit, still guiding him along, showing him how to move with her - she knew he had the talent, but it was always awkward the first time you danced with a new partner, especially when there was something more pressing on your mind, so Rachel didnât mind giving him a nudge, just enough to say itâs okay and do what you need to do.
