When the clock struck 7.45pm on that late November's night, Rachel Berry was pressed against the warmth of her mattress and gripping onto her duvet with all her might. The very idea of going outside and facing the cold weather made a deep frown crease onto her forehead. It was the kind of weather that made you crave hot chocolates by the fire, but Rachel didn't have a fireplace – and with the recent influx of vegan hot chocolate prices going up, she'd have to settle for tea. She could hear the wind as it hit hard against her window, making it shake and threaten to simply smash open, but she tried to focus on the positive. The positive was that she didn't really mind the night shift, and maybe more importantly, she was lucky to get it. Because getting a job in New York city was hard enough without the constricted availability that NYADA had left her. It seemed that the only places that were looking for people to work late at night were the kind of places that Rachel just didn't think she belonged in. Maybe more importantly the kind of places that Andrew disapproved of. She didn't have the guts to tell him that she was working in a coffee shop in Brooklyn. She knew what her boyfriend would say, and how he'd protest that he had enough money for the both of them. But it wasn't his money, he was still at Columbia, it was his family's money. Money that Rachel didn't want to take, and if she was being honest – didn't need to take. It would just be greedy of her. Or so she tried to remind herself every time she passed a new red coat to replace the battered old one that currently hung solemnly on her door frame.
Rachel had somehow managed to afford an apartment for her second year at NYADA. Maybe it was because she was willing to scrape up every penny she had just to escape the confides of college living, but maybe it was because her home wasn't exactly lavish. She and Andrew spent what little time they actually had together at his, that's how it had always been – that's how Rachel believed it would always go. She hadn't even introduced him to her dads, and it wasn't even because she was worried what he and his family would think – it was what her dad's would think that scared Rachel the most. She didn't actually believe that Andrew was wrong for her, but she could her fathers' voices already. He's just not the one. All these thoughts took place in her little corner away from the world. The apartment was a studio one and fairly open plan, which in less fancy terms just meant it was one room. None the less, the kitchen area was big enough for her to adventure with new recipes and the bedroom area was tucked away with mild discretion, and even the sofa and TV was enough for those Friday nights spent cuddled up with the cat watching Broadway reruns. Olive had been a recent addition to her Brooklyn home, but an addition none the less. The one eyed cat with matted grey fur had succumbed a small place in Rachel's heart, and she probably loved it more than she should, especially when she had to leave it for shifts.
The Big Bean was the cocoon that Rachel spent 8pm till 2pm at, every day except for Sunday's and Mondays. She'd make an effort to get earlier shifts when she could and sometimes she'd even offer to stay later, even though she hated closing the shop. But it paid the bills, and it paid for the transport and the food – and it could always be worse. Something that Rachel had been telling herself a lot lately. It wasn't so bad though, working at the Big Bean. Sure it was tough when someone spilled their drink or claim you got their order wrong – or even worse when it was rush hour and you swear you'll kill the next person whose order takes longer than a minute to say. But the owner was nice and so were her co-workers. The fact it was close to home and she got to have free coffee every morning helped a lot too. But that night Rachel didn't feel like slipping on her working slacks and pulling on her white t-shirt with that odd logo. She just felt like calling it a night and watching friends with olive. As if it was a sign she heard the vibrate of her phone and reluctantly stretched over to look at the bright screen, which read the name of the last person she wanted to talk to right now.
"Andrew?" She mumbled, quickly sitting up and clearing her throat to sound just that little bit more alive. Olive hissed in protest of the disruption and frowned at the fact she got moved from her prime sleeping position by Rachel's chest. Bitterly she sprawled herself on the pillow as Rachel frantically tried to calm herself. It was her first relationship and somehow she'd already worked out that things probably weren't meant to be like this.
"Why didn't you pick up your phone?" he asked in that upper east side accent that indicated years of private school and uniform. Rachel had grown to love it, or at least convince herself that she did. She knew she didn't exactly have the Lima tongue, but she somehow remained to feel inadequate even in the smallest thing such as pronunciation.
"I'm sorry, it must've not come through" she explained earnestly. "What's up?"
"I'm going to pick you up in ten, okay? My parents have just flown back and I was thinking it was time for an introduction." She could tell that he was outside and busy, but the wonder of what he was up to was fully diminished by the fear that followed what he'd just proposed. The idea of Andrew's parents had loomed over Rachel's every subconscious moment, even sinking into her dreams. The dread she felt for the judgment to come was unexplainable – and actually meeting them would take days if not weeks of mental and physical preparation. She stared at her reflection in the mirror with disgust, the bags under her eyes seemed more visible than she'd hoped and her hair seemed to lie as flat as a rug. She silently sighed with anxiety. The fact that she couldn't actually miss this shift because her rent was in next week was just another problem on her mind – her throat grew dry as she panicked for an excuse.
"Andrew don't you think it's a bit soon...I mean they've only just landed and maybe they want to rest and-"
"They're back from London Rach, the time difference means its practically morning for them" he scoffed and Rachel sunk lower into her bed.
"Of course" she weakly replied almost accepting defeat. But then something happened. Rachel Berry's eyes skimmed over her beauty counter and landed straight onto a photo of her the day she got accepted to NYADA. She focused her eyes as she looked at the girl in the same old red coat. But it wasn't the same girl, no matter what coat, because that girl with the bright smile was brave and she was strong and she certainly didn't back down to anyone – even her boyfriend. With a sharp breath from the bottom of her lungs Rachel squeezed her eyes shut as she prepared to do the unthinkable. "Andrew – I can't. I have to go to work today, and I know meeting your parents is more important but I can't miss another shift. And I know you don't understand why...but I just can't and that's that. You know I'd love to meet them, and if you could just give me a heads up in advance I promise I'll be there for that. But not tonight, okay?" she breathed out heavily and hoped for the best, blocking out the anxious thoughts that threatened to pour in. But even if she didn't do it for herself, she did it for that girl in the picture. If she wasn't going to let this city destroy her, she certainly wasn't going to let a guy do it. Rachel's heart came back to a healthy pace as Andrew seemed to mutter something of agreement and then hang up the phone. Even though it wasn't exactly the revelation worthy response she'd hoped for, it meant that he didn't mind that much – and more importantly, she was off the hook. Triumphantly she leaped off the bed with a new found energy and made her way swiftly to the bathroom, attempting not to think about the fact she was already late and just get ready. Quicker than usual Rachel had managed to slip on her humble uniform and tie her hair up, even applying a dapple of make up since that always seemed to improve tips whether she liked it or not. As she rushed out of the door grabbing her bag and coat she felt a new sense of empowerment, meeting the cold and fresh New York air with almost a new outlook in life. Rachel didn't know why, but there was something about tonight that felt right. Little did she know, this very night, would change her life forever.