Thanks for all the amazing reviews for Head Over Feet! This is the most positive feedback that I have ever received for a story I've written. It's based on a relationship I once had with a friend who eventually became something more, and I love that so many of you can relate to it as well!
I've realized after many failed attempts at writing the second chapter of Head Over Feet that I am more of a one-shot writer. Campus Visit will be my first official attempt at a multi-chapter story.
What I think I've decided to do with Head Over Feet is to post another one-shot that will serve as sort of a sequel to the story, though it will be able to stand on its own.
Here's the teaser:
Nationals is in New York this year and Rachel thinks it's the perfect opportunity to sneak away to see Jesse (who is going to NYU and not UCLA). She explains to Mr. Shue and the rest of New Directions that she is going to be staying with a family friend while the glee club is in the city. What happens when there is a freak storm, the glee club needs a place to stay, and Rachel's family friend cover is blown? Fun times.
Campus Visit.
RACHEL
In late January, Rachel is sitting in the NYU Admissions Office, holding her portfolio in her hand. She's dressed the part of the college student in her green plaid skirt, matching sweater and knee-high boots. The really nice admissions counselor, Allie, is explaining the overnight stay program to her. It's a new program for high school juniors who have expressed interest in attending NYU after graduation. Rachel heard about the program through a local college fair back in October, and had decided to apply immediately. NYU, and more specifically Tisch, has been her dream school since she could remember. She and five others had been selected from among hundreds of candidates to attend a 4-day long program that would introduce them to all that NYU had to offer.
Unfortunately, Rachel had had to give up her spot because Invitationals had been scheduled for that weekend, and New Directions had thrown a collective temper tantrum when she had broached the subject of missing the performance. As reluctant as they were to accept her generally, when performances drew near, she was indispensable. As selfish as she knew they were being, she craved their recognition and acknowledgement of her talent as much as she craved winning. When she had called up the NYU Dean of Admissions to explain why she couldn't make it to the program, he had lauded her dedication to her team (she didn't explain that her dedication was mostly to her co-captain boyfriend) and offered to host her on another weekend. Obviously, he couldn't replicate the junior admissions program for her alone, but Rachel would get a taste of NYU-life nonetheless.
All the details were set and now she was there. They had paid for her flight, and arranged for a sophomore theater major from Kentucky to host her in her dorm room. She would attend classes, eat in the dining halls, and basically become an NYU student for two days.
Allie was explaining that Rachel's host, Brenda, was in classes all day, so she would get one of her favorite freshmen to give Rachel the introductory tour, and take her to dinner before leaving her with Brenda later that night. Rachel nodded agreeably. This way she would meet more young women who obviously shared her goals and dreams. As Allie was speaking, she was handing Rachel maps and brochures, animatedly walking around her office while asking Rachel if she had any questions, without actually giving her any time to pose any.
As Allie spoke, Rachel snuck glances through her window at the small campus quadrangle that lay beneath them. She couldn't wait to get out there and explore! She heard a knock on Allie's door and knew it was her guide. Allie gestured over Rachel's shoulder, signaling that whoever was at the door should come in.
Rachel turns her head, eager to meet the person who will introduce her to her future, and she comes face to face with Jesse St. James.
What the fuck is he doing here?
JESSE
Jesse biked to the NYU Admissions Office on the cool, brisk January afternoon. One of the admissions counselors, Allie, had emailed him earlier about a favor that she needed. She hadn't given him any more details, just asked him to show up at her office around 3:30pm that Thursday afternoon.
Allie was the reason he was at NYU in the first place. Around graduation, after the debacle with Rachel, winning at Regionals and then at Nationals, he had experienced a sort of identity crisis. Whereas the previous year he had been thrilled to attend UCLA on a full scholarship, he realized that New York was where he really wanted to be. That was where Broadway was, obviously, and the glitz and glamour of LA didn't appeal to him as much as the hard work and immediate gratification of live performances. He had been accepted to NYU, and into the arts program there, but he had chosen UCLA because of the full ride it offered and because his rich father was unwilling to foot the bill for Jesse's dreams.
What followed this last-minute realization was a series of phone calls to Allie, who had the misfortune of being the admissions officer on phone duty on a late July day when most of the incoming freshmen had already been confirmed. Jesse had uncharacteristically poured his heart out to her on the phone, explaining his childhood dreams, the scholarship at UCLA, and his desire to be at NYU. Diplomatically, she had not promised him anything that day on the phone, but he was sure that she had gone up to bat for him. After the most harrowing three days of his life, she had called to say he had regained a place at NYU, with a half scholarship to boot.
Further sucking up his pride, he had called his father about footing the rest of the bill, plus living expenses. It had been the most they had spoken in the last five years. Finally, after Jesse had agreed to major in Economics in addition to Theater, his father had agreed to pay the rest of the tuition and give him a living stipend. Vincent St. James believed that at least at NYU, Jesse's failed attempts at stardom might push him towards Wall Street.
That weeklong period had been the most humbling experience of Jesse's life. He had never wanted something out of reach so badly, with no way of getting it for himself. He knew that majoring in Econ in addition to Theater was going to be difficult, but he felt like it was worth it, like NYU was the only correct decision he had made in a long while.
He also savored the certain anonymity that this late change to NYU would provide. Most people back in Ohio, many of whom he had no intention of speaking to ever again, thought he was going to LA for the next four years. New York promised him a fresh start, in so many ways. Quietly, in mid-August, he had packed up all his stuff, digitized his CD collection and sheet music, and hopped on a bus to Manhattan.
He owed Allie quite a lot, and he was glad that she had finally taken him up on the offer to repay her. He couldn't imagine what it was she had in mind, but he was aware that his numerous offers of repayment in the past semester had included babysitting her 15-month old son, Lex, and bringing her chocolate everyday from the deli across the street.
When he walks into Allie's office and sees Rachel Berry sitting there, he wonders how it was that he had gone through so much trouble to escape, and yet, somehow she had still managed to find him.
Next – Allie's point of view and Jesse's grand tour of NYU!