A/N: Hi everybody! So I realized that I have never written a story about Rachel partying in season two and actually showing it before and thought it would be fun to try. This is set after Original Song where everything before happened but some events after may change.
Please read and review to let me know what you think. I hope you aren't all sick of my writing but if you are, that's okay. Let me know either way.
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee. That belongs to Ryan Murphy and Fox.
It was an ordinary Saturday evening for Rachel as she sat alone in her room practicing for glee club. It could have been different however if Rachel had accepted Noah's party invitation to celebrate the win of Regionals like the rest of the club had. Rachel declined, remembering her promise to never drink alcohol again after the mishap that had occurred during alcohol awareness week. It seemed like she was the only one who cared about keeping the promise that they had made to Mr. Schuester about the dangers of drinking and competition.
She had never spent much time thinking about how every one of them was breaking their promise till now when she was taking a break from practicing another original song. It saddened her to think that the club would go back on their word to Mr. Schuester. Sure they all had his number in case of an emergency had happened but that would mean admitting that they broke the pledge. She wouldn't stoop to their level and join them even if it seemed like fun to go out.
She had more important things to do such as practice for Nationals which was not only important for the club to win but her future career as a Broadway star and songwriting future. So after taking a ten minute break, Rachel put her music back on and started again. It was only ten minutes into her rehearsal when she heard her phone go off. Annoyed that someone was cutting her off from her practice time, she got up to see who would be interrupting her.
Finn read the name on the screen. Rachel sighed and flipped open the phone.
"Hello, Finn," Rachel said casually, even though she knew exactly where he was at.
"Rachel, hi. What are you up too?" he asked.
"I'm practicing, like you should be doing," Rachel said annoyed as she could hear loud music in the background.
"It's a Saturday night, Rachel," Finn explained but Rachel failed to see the point.
"Your point is? she asked.
"Look, I know that you vowed not to drink but you should come to the party," Finn said trying his best to persuade her.
"Why? We all signed a contract if you remember," Rachel said pointing out the obvious.
"I know, but we aren't all drinking. I'm not and neither is Kurt," Finn explained. Rachel's face lightened up that at least some of the people in the club were following the pledge.
"I don't know, Finn. You saw how my party got out of control," Rachel said still feeling a bit uneasy and guilty for throwing a party while her dads were away.
"I know but it's just the glee kids. We are celebrating our Regionals win. Please, Rachel? It will be fun," Finn tried again.
Rachel thought for a moment as she was confused. Why would Finn be begging her to come to a party when he was dating Quinn again? It didn't make any sense but then again it was Finn. Once he had Rachel he didn't want her and when he didn't have her he wanted her. No matter what Finn's intentions where though, she did want to celebrate the win of Regionals with her fellow teammates.
"Rachel? Are you there?" Finn yelled snapping her out of her thoughts.
"Okay, fine. I'll come. I'll be there in fifteen minutes," Rachel sighed as she hung up on him.
She got up from her bed and made her way to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. What had she just agreed to? Why was she still thinking there was hope between her and Finn? She had already made a stereotypical needy girl drunk type at her party a couple of weeks ago, was she going to go down that road again? No, she thought. She was only going to celebrate Regionals. That was all.
As she composed herself in the mirror and told her that it was just a glee club party, she headed down stairs to tell her dad's where she was going.
"Alright, have fun sweetie," Leroy said from the couch, throwing an arm up to wave goodbye.
"Be safe," Hiram said as he gave her a hug.
"I will. You don't have to worry about me," Rachel said as she slipped a coat on and grabbed her purse.
As Rachel said, she was at Noah's house in fifteen minutes. As she pulled up, she noticed that there were certainly more people here than just the glee kids. Cars were up and down the street. Rachel finally found a spot on the side of the house, a little ways down around the corner.
She took a breath and composed herself. It is just a party and I don't have to do anything I don't want to, Rachel reminded herself as she stepped out of the car. It's just a party, it's just a party, she kept telling herself as she walked in the front door.
There were dozens of kids in every corner of the house, on the couches, in the living room, in the kitchen. The music blasted through every room making it hard for Rachel to hear. She walked in a little bit, searching for Finn or any of the glee kids.
"Rachel! I'm so glad you came," Kurt said as he tapped her shoulder from behind.
"Kurt!" Rachel said as she turned around to hug him. They had become a lot closer ever since the whole incident with Blaine had cleared up.
"How are you? Where's Blaine?" Rachel practically yelled.
"I'm good and he is in the kitchen. I think looking for a drink. I told him to go easy, remembering that last time he kissed you," Kurt said while Rachel blushed from embarrassment from the memory.
"What made you change your mind and come to the party?" Kurt asked.
"Well Finn called me and asked to come. I wasn't going to but he persuaded me I guess saying it was only going to be glee kids," Rachel said.
"Finn called you?" Kurt asked in suspicion. Rachel could see his eyebrow rise up.
"Yes and I know what you are thinking. I don't know why he called either," Rachel said.
"Maybe he wants to get back together with you?" Kurt suggested even though that was a long shot since he was back with Quinn.
"He's with Quinn now. Why would he want me again?" Rachel asked. Kurt shrugged unsure of how to respond.
"Want to go find Blaine?" Rachel asked changing the subject. Kurt nodded and both took off in the direction of the kitchen. While on their way, Rachel turned the corner without looking and bumped into a large figure.
"Rachel!" Finn said turning to her with a smile. "I'm really glad you came," he said placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Yeah," Rachel said unsure of what to say. Just as Rachel was about to talk to him, Quinn appeared causing her to close her mouth again.
"Ah, Rachel. I'm surprised to see you here," Quinn said with a certain tone filled with coldness.
"Yeah, me too actually. After my party I vowed never to drink again but I thought I could use some fun, not that I 'm going to drink," Rachel said as she rambled on. She was nervous and Finn could tell.
"Well I'm glad you are here, Rach," he said smiling at her. Rachel nodded back.
"Well I'll talk to you later. I need to go find Kurt and Blaine," Rachel said after a long pause as Finn gave her a nod. Rachel hurried into the kitchen and found them at the table.
"Rachel! There's my duet partner!" Blaine shouted, clearly giving off the effect that he had had a couple of drinks.
"Hi, Blaine," Rachel said taking a seat next to Kurt.
"Having fun?" she asked him while glancing at Kurt.
"This is the best party ever!" he shouted causing Rachel to chuckle. "Are you having anything to drink?" Blaine asked.
"No, remember we all had to sign a contract from Mr. Schue," Rachel said once again looking at Kurt.
"Right, Kurt told me about that," Blaine said. "But it doesn't look like anyone is really following it," he said. Rachel shrugged then realized that she had not seen Noah since she got here.
"Anyone seen Noah?" Rachel asked seeing as she had been there for at least twenty minutes and saw no sign of him.
"I'm right here," he said walking up behind her.
"What's up my hot, Jewish princess?" he said sloppily.
"Noah, how many drinks have you had?" Rachel asked taking in his sight.
"I don't know. I lost track. Why don't you take a shot with me on my next one and I'll start over saying it was my first one?" Puck asked.
"No, no, remember we said we wouldn't drink anymore," Rachel said.
"So, everyone else is," Puck said back.
"Yes, but we promised Mr. Schuester," Rachel reminded.
"Mr. Schuester? He's one to talk, or did you not hear his drunk dial message?" Puck answered. Rachel looked at him uneasy. He did have a point. Mr. Schuester had been drinking that night as well. What would one little drink do to me anyway? Rachel thought. But I promised myself, that I wouldn't do it again. But what about my music? If I need more hit songs, I need more life experience, Rachel thought as she battled with herself.
"So, you in Berry?" Puck asked.
"I, I," Rachel stammered. "Rachel," Kurt said concerned as he remembered a couple of weeks ago.
"Come on, have some fun. We won Regionals and are going to New York for Nationals for crying out loud," Puck said. Rachel looked at him and a smile appeared on her face. What will one shot do? she thought.
"Alright, Noah. You can count me in," Rachel said as Puck was already up filling the shot glasses. Kurt looked over to Rachel and gave her a look of concern. She smiled back, letting him know that she was only going to have one and that she knew what she was doing.
"Alright," Noah said as he placed it in front of her. "On the count of three. One, two, three!" he shouted as they both picked up and drank the glasses.
"That's my Berry," Puck said as he started to fill another one. One more wouldn't hurt, Rachel thought but little did she know that one shot does lead to many, many more.