Author's Note: My first Glee fic, like ever...I know, right? So this is loosely based on Mean Girls; however, after a few chapters it'll branch off into its own storyline with dashes of Mean Girls in it. Reviews and constructive criticism are much appreciated.
Pairings: Faberry, Brittana (there's also some Finchel)
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or Fox or anything. If I did, you wouldn't be reading this as fanfiction.
Of Singing and Pom-Poms
Chapter One: Introducing Rachel Berry
Rachel Berry *
The short brunette girl placed a sticker of a gold star after her signature. It was how she always signed her name. The gold star represented her future of stardom on Broadway. Ever since she was a toddler she had dreams of singing on the Broadway stage, a dream her dads had nurtured well. She had been taking singing lessons since was two years old, and she had had ballet and gymnastic classes since she could walk. The performing arts were her life, her love, her passion. She breathed it. She oozed it.
Now was her big break.
She had just signed up to audition for her new school's glee club.
Back in her old private school, she had been a nobody in her school's choir. William McKinley High School would be different she was sure. Her old high school was large, and it was hard to be noticed. It was for gifted students with superior talents in the arts, and very hard to get in. But in McKinley, a public high school, filled with commoners and slack-offs, she was sure to be big.
When one of her dads got a job transfer to Lima, Ohio, she was sure her life was over. Up until present time, she had been born and raised in Chicago by her doting fathers. But after thinking it over logically, she had an epiphany: this was not her demise, but a break through. A small town would be begging for a talent such as herself. People would notice her. People would love her. People would know she is special.
This was really her year.
It was September, and the first day of school and the start of her sophomore year. Rachel had not been so excited for the school year to begin since her first day of kindergarten. She smiled as she studied her signature, with its flowing R and B so lovingly scripted. New Directions was about to receive the answer to all its prayers: Rachel Berry was here now. She would breathe life into this glee club and make it a winner. Make it special. Being in something special makes one special, she believed. And that was what she was: special.
The bell rang, snapping her out of her reverie. Soon the hallways filled up with other students as they emptied out of their respective classes. Voices buzzed and lockers slammed and foot steps thumped, even the noise was crowding her. Rachel was repeatedly pushed aside by jocks in lettermen jackets, girls in cheerleader uniforms, and other nameless students as she pushed her way through the congregation of teenagers. The short girl was suddenly feeling overwhelmed.
Back in Chicago High School for the Arts, the halls were much tamer. Students spoke softly about songs they were practicing, dances they had learned, or new brush strokes to try on paintings. No one shoved. No one pushed. They said "Excuse me" or "Pardon me." Bullying was minimal to nonexistent. Students held a mutual respect for each other. They were all young artists polishing their skills for future endeavors.
Rachel was brought out of her thoughts once again as she felt someone ram into her, knocking her to the cold, tiled floor. She grunted indignantly as she gathered her books hastily.
"Watch where you're going, midget!"
The brunette looked up to see three girls looking down at her. Two blondes and one brunette, each clad in a red-and-white cheerleader outfit. The shorter blonde, the one who had spoken to her, glared as though she had been wronged by Rachel while the brunette one looked as though Rachel's mere existence offended her. The tallest girl just stared down at her blankly and fidgeted.
Rachel suddenly felt very small.
"I'm sorry," she managed to squeak at the shorter blonde.
The cheerleader huffed and flicked her ponytail in annoyance and walked away, the other two girls following closely behind.
Rachel began to wonder if she had been wrong about public school. She quickly shook the silly thought off and gathered herself to her first class of the day.
When the final bell rang, Rachel could hardly contain herself. Her audition for the New Directions was next. She felt her excitement buzzing through her veins like some sort of powerful drug. Putting on her best smile, she swiftly made her way to the auditorium. Quietly picking her way through the seats, she took a chair next to another girl.
A boy was on stage singing currently, he was finely dressed and had quite a good voice. Not as good as her own, but it was good enough to make Rachel feel a twinge of worry. His voice echoed in the auditorium as he sung his rendition of "Mr. Cellophane." She was not the only Broadway lover here. She was not the only talented student here. She felt the gold star in heart begin to glow just a little less brightly.
When the song came to a finish, the boy smiled and took a bow.
"Thank you, that was excellent, Kurt," said a man with a kind smile.
He was William Schuester, Rachel recalled. She was in his Spanish class as well. He had seemed nice, young enough to remember what it was like to be a student. He almost reminded her of her professors at her old high school.
She had not factored in homesickness when she made out her plans of stardom in a small town.
"Mercedes Jones, you're next," announced Mr. Schuester.
The girl beside Rachel got up and made her way on stage. The petite brunette exchanged a polite smile with Kurt as he sat down.
"I'm gonna be singing 'Respect' by Aretha Franklin," dark-haired girl stated before the music started.
To Rachel's horror and dismay, this girl was good too. She was powerful and soulful in a way Rachel was not sure if she could emulate. That fact scared her. She could almost see her perfect blueprint of sophomore year burning in her mind's eye.
Mr. Schuester clapped. "Thank you, Mercedes, you were amazing."
"Thanks, Mr. Schue!" grinned the diva as she returned to her seat next to Kurt.
Next up was Rachel. She felt nervous for a moment, but only for a moment. It was time to show her competition whom they were dealing with. If there was one thing Rachel Berry could do, it was sing. She felt the gold star inside her glowing at full force as she stepped foot on the stage. It felt like a fire burning within her. Or maybe more like a supernova. Yes, more like a supernova because she always goes out with a brilliant burst of light that was her voice.
Mr. Schuester gave her a warm, welcoming smile which Rachel returned with her own starlet smile.
"Hello, I'll be singing 'On My Own' from the ever classic Le Misarables," she beamed.
The music started and so did she. She started out soft, her voice like a gentle breeze or a feather in said breeze. Her emotions melted into the song. It was a religious experience to her as she became one with the music. She let her surroundings fade as the music progressed. She mentally prepared herself for the long note near the end. When the time came, she belted out the note with grace and power and emotion. The melody drifted away and her voice returned to that soft place before disappearing all together.
"That was awesome, Rachel!" praised Mr. Schuester before he welcomed all three students to New Directions.
This was definitely her year.