It's one of those days, he can just fucking tell. Right when he opens the door, it is there.
"Hey."
Rachel looks up, flashes him a quick grin, then looks back at the magazine she holds with a death grip. He reaches over her shoulder to gently pry it away and she just lets him. It's a tabloid, the one that you would find next to the supermarket check-out with the shit news and trash. On the cover is her sitting with Kurt, both at a coffee shop, laughing. In bright red ink, 'Is Broadway diva seeing someone else? All that and more in this weeks special edition of Rachel Berry!'
He rolls his eyes but she can't see that.
"Babe, I know it's shit. But what's wrong?"
"I've already gotten e-mails from fans asking why I would cheat on you and if you were available."
"Rach, it is okay. I wouldn't leave you and you wouldn't leave me for Kurt. Blaine would probably kill you first. But seriously, it's not something you can control."
She turns around, facing him.
"I just miss - I miss being anonymous. I mean, it is fantastic to be able to get practically any role I want, and the Tonys are really nice. And I enjoy being a role model to all my younger fans. But this, this, stuff. It just makes me frustrated."
There are tears forming in her eyes. He reaches down to brush them away.
"Hey, hey Rach, Rach listen to me. You are doing fine. You have plenty of fans who aren't stupid and know this is crap. And then you have your biggest fan who will aways believe in you. Okay?"
She smiles, for real this time, and stands up to give a him a kiss.
"Thanks, Noah."
"No problem, Rach."