Author's Note: I have two other fics going right now, but this one came into my head and I just had to get it out. I definitely plan on writing more of all of my fics soon. It's finals time at school and that's kind of getting in the way.
This story's title as well as the chapter titles are all based off of a band and an album. The band: explosions in the sky. The album: The earth is not a cold dead place. I highly suggest you check them out. The full album is on youtube and, in my head, is serving as a soundtrack to this fic. I can't promise how long it will be…but if you guys like it, I'll definitely keep updating.
Quinn had always known Rachel Berry was destined for greatness. However, that didn't stop the initial shock coursing through her body when she had settled down into the auditorium that was being filled quickly by a wide array of individuals.
The lead role of Fanny was destined to be Rachel's the moment she was born. And now the stars aligned. Her debut as a lead in a Broadway musical.
Quinn Fabray wasn't quite sure why she was nervous. She wasn't even going to be interacting with Rachel, they hadn't even seen one another since graduation and that was nearly 8 years ago. But that didn't stop Quinn from making it to every play Rachel had participated in since her first musical production at NYADA, a terribly awkward rendition of Cats. Never to be seen by the brunette, however.
Quinn didn't need Rachel to know that she had been there since freshman year. The close proximity to NYADA was definitely the blonde's favorite part about Yale. After graduating she had relocated to New York City in order to pursue her writing career. So far she had published a book of poems, a children's book, and a novel about a girl making her way out of a small town in the Midwest.
The burdens that had previously weighed Quinn down were now the things she was most thankful for.
The curtain began to open and Quinn quickly pushed her thoughts to the back corner of her mind, her focus now solely on the stage.
There she was, the beautiful and talented girl who Quinn admired deeply. She was putting everything into this role. It seemed so effortless, but Quinn knew that Rachel had probably spent as much time as humanly possible preparing for this night. Some things just never changed. She could feel her heart rate pick up as Rachel sang a mere 20 feet in front of her. She had never been so daring as to sit close to the stage. Her goal by attending wasn't to be seen, but to simply admire the brunette and watch her dreams unfold in front of her. But there was something inside of Quinn that told her she had to be closer for this night. Her first starring role.
As the curtain closed for intermission, the blond let out a breath she hadn't known she was holding. She knew she probably looked visibly shaken. It hit her right before the curtain had fallen that tonight was the night. She decided she was going to wait back behind the building where fans normally would gather after plays in hopes of catching a glimpse or having a few words with the performers. She wanted to congratulate Rachel on finally making it to where she was born to be.
The rest of the play passed by too quickly for Quinn's liking. Truthfully, she could watch Rachel perform all night. Sometimes she did, playing old DVD's of their Glee club performances or even he few DVD performances of Rachel's plays that she had acquired over the years.
As the cast came back out on stage for their curtain call, Quinn found herself nearly in tears, standing up alongside everyone else in the auditorium, clapping as loudly as she could. She wiped the few stray tears that had passed over her eyes and smiled brightly as Rachel came up and bowed for the audience. She wasn't the slightest bit surprised that she had gotten the most applause out of everyone. She always had. Since her very first time performing Don't Rain on My Parade with the Glee club.
She stood outside in the cool fall breeze, standing behind the metal barricades the theater security had set up in order to control the crowd that was growing by the minute. Quinn new she was lucky to get to the front of the crowd, and was now putting nearly all of her energy into figuring out what she would say to the brunette if given the opportunity.
She didn't think Rachel would recognize her instantly. She had changed quite a bit since graduating from McKinley. She had kept the short and shaggy hair cut over the years, loving how free it made her feel. Her wardrobe was still relatively similar. Dresses, skirts, the occasional skinny jeans. Tonight she donned a simple black dress that stopped just above her knee, hugging her curves while still being appropriately loose for a Broadway play. The biggest change was in her facial expressions and her body language. She was visibly more relaxed. Her eyes had calmed and were no longer trying to keep up an unemotional façade. She was no longer as rigid as she was in high school. She relaxed, slouched occasionally. But, try as she might, she knew she'd never be able to fully shake the head cheerleader mentality from herself permanently. Her assistant knew as much on days when she was without coffee.
Quinn absentmindedly ran one hand through her hair, brushing it out of her eyes, the other hand clutching her playbill tightly as if she feared it would get away. She had already begun the mental preparations for framing this one. It was a big deal.
The back doors to the theater opened and a few of the cast members came out. The man she recognized as playing Nick stepped out and was greeted with an abundance of yelling. Various younger girls all beckoning for his attention as he furiously signed playbills, tickets, phones, anything the crowd shoved his way. A few times, she noticed, he'd stop for pictures. He made his way closer to her, offering to sign her playbill. She politely shook her head and congratulated him on an amazing performance.
He continued his way down the crowd before he hopped in the cab that had already been hailed for him by, who Quinn assumed, was his manager.
A few other members of the cast came out of the theater and the process was repeated nearly identically to the first performer encounter. Slowly the crowd started to die down and there had still no sign of Rachel.
Quinn was close to giving up hope, thinking Rachel may have escaped the theater immediately following the drop of the curtain.
She had never been so happy to have been mistaken. The large metal doors opened again and out stepped a peppy and vibrant Rachel Berry.
Still short. Quinn thought to herself, a smile pulling at the corners of her lips. She watched as Rachel graciously greeted the fans closest to the door. She could tell there were a few future stars in the crowd as well; the same look of determination Rachel had had playing in their eyes.
Quinn wasn't quite too sure when her hands had started uncharacteristically shaking. But there they were, fighting to keep the playbill still. She went over her planned words again in her mind and was thankful that she was almost the farthest person from the doors. It gave her more time to prepare, and to try and calm those damned shaking hands.
Rachel was two feet away from her. The closest the two had been since they hugged after graduation when Glee club was saying their final goodbyes.
"Who should I make this out to?" Rachel asked, looking down at the playbill in Quinn's hands. She had yet to look up and Quinn was slightly thankful for that so she could gain control of her emotions for just a fraction of a second.
"Quinn…Quinn Fabray," she said, mentally cursing herself for how unconfident it had sounded.
All was forgotten, however, when Rachel looked up from the half-signed playbill, her dark brown eyes meeting the calm hazel orbs.
Quinn noticed a range of emotions in Rachel's eyes. She had always had very expressive eyes. First was shock. She knew that emotion well. Then came disbelief as if Rachel didn't completely believe that this Quinn Fabray was THE Quinn Fabray. Then came sheer happiness. Quinn felt a surge of butterflies inside of her stomach as Rachel dropped the sharpie and threw her arms around Quinn's neck.
"Quinn! What are you doing here? How have you been? I haven't seen you in so long. I wish we had kept in touch. I would like to apologize that my busy schedule over the past eight years hasn't allowed me to keep in touch with those that I knew in high school - " Quinn couldn't help but smile, her head leaning against Rachel's as she savored the hug from the brunette she had greatly missed. Some things just never changed. Rachel Berry's mannerisms were some of those things.
"Rachel Rachel Rachel" she said, grabbing the girl's shoulders and pulling her back. She wasn't too sure where the sudden surge of confidence had come from. A moment ago she couldn't even say her name without stuttering. "Breathe. Stop rambling." This earned a blush from the small brunette. Quinn couldn't help but widen her smile as she continued "If you would like…" she couldn't remember what word she was going to use next. The nerves were back in full force. She spoke a little softer, trying not to encourage onlookers from joining their conversation. Rachel had already made enough of a scene by screaming and latching herself onto the blonde. "I'd um…can I take you for dinner or coffee…anything."
She wasn't too sure why the fear of being denied by Rachel was so immense. Her fears were put to rest when Rachel nodded and smiled that signature Rachel Berry smile. "Let me just finish up here…" she paused, waving over at the man standing by the cab. Quinn took this time to kneel down and pick up the sharpie Rachel had carelessly abandoned. "Quinn here will be joining us!" she said as Quinn stood once again.
"I believe you'll be in need of this, Star." She said with a wink as she handed the pen back to Rachel.
"Thank you…"Rachel blushed once more and Quinn let out a content laugh. Though she had transformed and grown in ways Quinn could have never imagined, Rachel was still Rachel. And she was thankful for that.
"Go great those fans of yours; they definitely deserve to meet the star of Funny Girl." The blonde said before she stepped back from the metal barricade and worked her way through the crowd. She greeted the man that Rachel had called to. He introduced himself as Steve. She opted to stand next to the cab instead of wait inside. She wanted to watch Rachel shine and soak in all of the praise being thrown her way. Rachel deserved every word.
Quinn finally acknowledged that her biggest hesitation in reaching out to Rachel had been the fear that she would have changed. But, so far, Rachel was Rachel. And Quinn couldn't have asked for anything more.
Rachel finished up with the crowd, waving back at them as she took a few steps backwards towards the cab. Turning on her heels, she smiled up at Quinn. "Shall we grab that bite to eat?" Rachel asked, motioning toward the yellow cab.
"After you." Quinn answered simply, in a more relaxed tone than her words had been earlier. She held open the door for Rachel, not missing the shy smile that flashed across the brunette's face, before she climbed in the cab herself.
The door shut behind her and the reality of the situation finally settled. She was in a car with Rachel Berry.
"What did you have in mind?" Rachel asked. She had always been so accommodating.
"There's this really amazing vegan Italian restaurant a couple of blocks from my apartment. I've been dying to try it. What do you say?"
"Quinn Fabray! After all these years, you still remember I'm a vegan. I have to say I'm impressed. And that sounds awfully delicious. I'd be more than happy to accompany you in your endeavor to find delicious animal-free Italian food."
Quinn playfully rolled her eyes and directed the cab driver where he should be heading. He nodded and she settled back into her seat, turning her body slightly so she could face Rachel.
"It has been way too long." The brunette stated simply, "I…I haven't seen you since graduation. I just can't believe how fast time passes."
Quinn nodded in agreement. It did seem like just yesterday they were in the halls of McKinley, singing some Journey song Mr. Schue had picked out. Her nerves were definitely getting the best of her and she couldn't help but fidget with her fingers. "You were amazing out there tonight. I knew it was just a matter of time before you landed that starring role. I've known since high school."
"I'm so glad that you made it to the show tonight. It was nice to see a familiar face after, quite possibly, the most hectic night of my existence."
Quinn cut her off with a laugh "I'm pretty sure that performance of Cats had to have been more hectic than this." She said, only realizing that she had just informed Rachel of her prior presence after she had finished speaking.
"YOU WERE THERE?" Rachel asked astonished, immediately remembering the disaster of the set falling apart around them while she tried her best to remain in character.
Quinn knew Rachel was bound to find out about her perfect attendance record of opening night performances sooner or later, so she nodded, knowing her nervous voice wasn't prepared to answer anything at the moment. She watched Rachel as she recalled the slew of disasters during that particular performance. Cutting her off before she got too deep in thought, Quinn spoke "and every opening night since." Her voice was back to its regular tone and she was more than pleased that it didn't shake the slightest.
"I don't think I'm following….you mean to tell me, you've been to every play and haven't once made your presence known?" Her tone was borderline accusatory, almost as if Rachel was offended that Quinn hadn't spoken up. She couldn't really blame the brunette. It was something she would change if she could.
"You act as if I've kidnapped your puppy while you were sleeping. We're almost to the restaurant. How about I explain my lovely reasoning over dinner." She said, reaching over and giving Rachel's hands a squeeze. There were those butterflies again, just from the mere contact with Rachel's skin.
"Fine." The diva huffed, doing her best to keep a pout on her lips.