A/N: I have no idea why I'm writing this, but this idea has been rolling around my head for a pretty long time and it refuses to go away. If there's any interest, I'll continue the story. :) This is slightly AU. It's like Big Brother never happened, basically. So Cooper never went to McKinley for a visit. I wrote this in the middle of the night, so I'm sure there's much to improve on!
"Why are we doing this? I mean, we must be over this by now, aren't we?"
"I am."
"Good. Then don't feel like you owe me any favours… Just treat me like everybody else."
"Is that what you really want from me? Is this really what you want to do?"
The two actors paused here, and glanced at their director.
"Good," he eventually said, "but it could be better. I've worked with the two of you separately before, and you two working together should be spectacular. But I'm not seeing it. Work on it, give me that tomorrow. That's all for today."
Rachel Berry stood, and sighed softly as she walked over to her bag. Ever since she had entered NYADA, luck seemed to be shining on her. After all, she was twenty-five, and this was already her second role. And Cassie was an important role.
But luck might be starting to desert her, starting with the problem of Zach. Or rather, the actor playing Zach. She glanced across the room at the man who irritated her so much. As if sensing her gaze, he turned around and smirked, raising his eyebrows. Rachel rolled her eyes in response, and quickly grabbed her bag. She walked out of the room, headed for the elevator, the street, and away from Cooper Anderson.
To be quite honest, he had no idea why he had agreed to be on Broadway. After all, he had always believed that Broadway was dead. Is dead. Still, unapologetically ordering people around was something he played well, and since this also paid well… That spoke for itself, didn't it?
In the years since his Free Credit Rating days, Cooper had done pretty well, even if he did say so himself. He had bit parts in assorted movies and television shows, a guest spot on CSI, a recurring role on another series, and his very own supporting role for the past two years. Casting directors had commended him on improvement in his acting, and if it was according to him, a leading role in a movie would be next.
According to his manager though, Broadway was next.
He lugged his backpack over his shoulders and left the room. The elevator doors were just closing, and he lunged forward to press the button. The doors slid open again, revealing one Rachel Berry. Her eyes were slightly wider, lips parted as if she was about to speak. As their gazes locked, her mouth clamped shut, and her eyes narrowed.
The girl was oddly intriguing. She seemed to be perennially annoyed with him; with anyone else she was cheerful, bubbly, slightly bossy, even. He had no idea what he had done to piss her off, or if she just had some kind of weird prejudice against him.
The elevator doors quickly opened again, this time releasing them onto the ground floor of the building. Without as much as a goodbye, Rachel walked past him and out of the door.
Well, goodbye to you, too, Cooper thought wryly.
And our dear director says we have to work on our chemistry. How's that going to happen?
Rachel quickly hailed a taxi, even though she knew there was no danger of Cooper exiting through this door. He would go round back to the carpark, but she didn't want to risk having him pass by this road. She didn't like talking to him, the condescending fellow who only got the role because he was famous and hot.
Perhaps what really stoked the flames for her utter dislike of Cooper Anderson was an interview of his that she had read about a year back. He had proclaimed Broadway dead, and it didn't seem to be in jest. It had offended her in every way, since Broadway was her career, her life, her reason for being!
How am I supposed to work "spectacularly" with Cooper tomorrow? Or ever?
She just about groaned out loud in the taxi. Tonight she would practise her dancing. Cooper would have to remain a problem until tomorrow.