Every morning the alarm clock went off at precisely 6 A.M. That morning was no exception. The only part of that morning that was different than any other was that there was no need for the alarm. She was already up hours before she was supposed to. Rachel Berry woke that morning at four in the morning. The only good the blaring of the alarm did was pull her out of her mind. She had entered her own world the minute she sat up and pulled her knees to her chest. The sun fell on her silhouette and the New York City air breezed through the open window.

She had to go, it was time for her to start her day. She had two auditions that morning and afternoon and had to have lunch with an old friend that evening. Rachel stood and stretched, tugging the gray shirt that covered her petite form for the night into place. When the soft cotton was around her fingers her mouth formed a straight line. It was only a month ago that she would cry by just looking at it. She was truly a masochist for wearing it to bed every night. It was so comfortable though, she would tell herself in the morning. She had to hide the guilt in her heart that she kept it. It was the only thing she had left though. The only memory of..

Rachel cracked open the fridge, searching for breakfast. The racks were almost completely bare, minus the norm. She pulled out the butter, pulled two pieces of bread from the bag on the counter and dropped them into the toaster. The apartment was small, but it was hers. Well, she paid rent, but it was in her name darn it. Rachel Berry would settle for nothing less than having her own apartment. If she had truly left everything…and everyone in Lima, Ohio then she was going to make it. She would put 110% of herself into it. All or nothing, that was the way she always was and always would be.

She jumped, but only slightly, when the toaster popped. Rachel buttered the toast and ate at one piece gingerly, looking around the apartment. The best and worst thing about New York was that she didn't know anybody. When it came to where she lived it was a good thing. Anyone she knew from Lima would look at her apartment and wonder what in the world happened. Rachel Berry, determined Broadway-star-to-be was living in a four room apartment that was not even the size of the Choir room back at McKinley.

Rachel didn't mind though. It wasn't like she was bringing back people to this place. Everyone she cared about was miles away. After High School New Directions split up and went across the country. Mercedes and Kurt road tripped to California to try and make it in Hollywood. Last she heard (which was months ago) Mercedes had been chosen to sing in a commercial for a new type of soda and Kurt's style had been picked up, so he now owned his new boutique. Tina and Artie went to the same out-of-state college and were now living together a little way from Lima. Quinn and Puck were still a couple. They saw Beth every now and then and were living in an apartment together in New Jersey. Finn… Rachel took a sharp breath in when his name replayed in her mind. She had been thinking of everyone so of course his face would show up. Finn was in Lima still. He was now teaching the new New Directions. Mr. Schuester had proposed to Emma shortly after they began dating after her Junior year and so as soon as his choir graduated they packed everything up to move into a house for them to share and make a family in.

He had stayed with music. Finn Hudson, former quarterback, now has a career teaching music. It already changed his life so much, she thought to herself. Music was what brought Finn to Glee, made New Directions so great, and brought them all together. Music is what brought Finn and Rachel together. Rachel drank a glass of water, feeling suddenly very thirsty.

Rachel put the dishes in the sink and retreated back to her small room. She had a bed, a dresser, a small closet, and a small desk on the far wall where she could write letters to her dads. She grabbed a shirt and skirt for the day and then headed to the bathroom.

The brunette had to cut her shower short when she heard "Defying Gravity" playing outside of the shower door. Her phone was ringing. She grabbed a towel and wrapped herself, drying off her hands before answering it with a breathless, "Hello?"

"Hey girl! "

Rachel smiled at the familiar voice, "Mercedes. How have you been?"

Mercedes blabbered about how life in the "fab lane" was. She had recorded for the soda company and they loved her so much they wanted her to do more commercials for other partner products. Rachel felt a small bit of envy when she realized how successful in comparison the two were. Rachel was getting by with small rolls but she never made it to Broadway. Mercedes on the other hand was getting commercials every where, it wouldn't be long until she was recognized. The envy vanished when she realized how much her friend deserved it. Living alone in New York for a few years has made Rachel Berry realize that she's not the only talented one living in the world.

"Listen, Kurt and I were thinking we should meet up and celebrate. Yeah I know, Hollywood to the big NY just to celebrate? But girl, we have to! We should have a.. a New Directions Reunion! It's been five years Rach!"

Rachel closed her eyes at the thought. Five years. Five years she's been away from her dads and away from her friends. That means it's only been one less of a year that she's been away from Finn. All in all, four years since she's been away from anything that reminded her of Lima. Well.. except for the gray t-shirt that she wore to bed every night. The shirt in mind was laying on the ground, pooled at her foot.

"Mercedes.. I don't know if that's such a good idea.. Everyone should be really busy."

"Rachel, it's happening." It was Kurt on the phone this time. She rolled her eyes at the man-diva.

"I've already called just about everyone. Puck and Quinn, Artie and Tina, Brittany, Mike, Matt, and even Santana is in!"

Rachel groaned in her mind. Everyone else was already in with it. Wait..

"What about.. what about Finn?"

"Oh.. well you see Rachel the thing is-" "Girl, we need this. After all of this hectic lawyer-agent stuff I've been going through I need to see my friends."

Rachel couldn't help but smile at the thought of time with everyone again. Why Kurt hadn't asked Finn still made her question it though. It was summer so it wasn't like he needed to be at the school every day. Rachel was silent for a minute and when Mercedes said her name over the phone again she finally looked at herself in the mirror and watched as her mouth formed the words,

"All right.. When should I leave?"